Music Production - BA (Hons) [Full-Time]

Overview

The BA (Hons) Music Production course is aimed at a very wide range of practitioner from DJs, Electronic Music Producers, Hip-Hop and Grime Producers to more traditional Band Music Producers and Studio & Live Sound Engineers. You will have the choice to specialise in a pathway relevant to your industry needs.

Choose from one of the following pathways:

Electronic Music Production Pathway
This pathway offers a unique and dedicated specialist Electronic Music Production pathway, embedding Electronic Music Production, Performance and DJing modules combined. We cover all aspects of the Electronic Music Sphere, from Hip-Hop to Grime, from House to Techno, from Drum and Bass to Breakcore or if you are a ‘cross over’ electronic musician, you can develop additional electronic music skills by utilising our state of the art electronic music equipment.

We have developed strong links with publications such as DJ Mag, local and international nightclubs, international DJs and record labels all with the expertise to help you stand out from the crowd as a producer or electronic music performer. Course tutors will help you harness your passion and creativity, as well as offering advice and guidance in starting up your own record label or working with our ‘in house’ Push Puzzle Records, releasing tracks, promoting events and not forgetting the commercial aspect of making it as an electronic musician or performer.
 

Music Technology, Production & Sound Engineering
This pathway will build your technical knowledge and practical music production skills into a professional standard craft. As part of the course you will engage in practical workshops which will investigate historical and contemporary music production techniques and practices across many different genres. These will range from traditional, contemporary and experimental microphone placement techniques through to the recording, editing, mixing and manipulation of sound sources, all the way to the mastering process and release of product. This will be realised via the latest Digital Audio Workstation software packages and virtual studio equipment plug-ins. You’ll learn how to plan, organise, manage and successfully complete production sessions and projects through quality control, budgeting and effective communication. Through engagement with our own in-house record label, Push Puzzle Records, you will learn how the role of a music producer fits into the wider music industry.

As a sound engineering student you’ll have access to high quality industry standard 200 capacity music venue with both analogue and digital mixing consoles and a full separate monitoring system and a fully equipped theatre space for special events and project work.

This course runs on the following dates:

Start Date: September 2021. For further information, please call 0191 200 4000 or email enquiries@ncl-coll.ac.uk.
Duration: 3 Years
Venue: Performance Academy, Rye Hill Campus

Work Ready Guarantee

As part of our work ready guarantee you will be fully supported to secure a professional placement or internship within your chosen specialist practice. You will also be encouraged to work on live briefs wherever possible with external clients as well as with students from the course to enhance your portfolio of work with employers.

Throughout your time on the course you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside DJs, producers, engineers, musicians, A&R teams, live sound engineers, and promoters as well as other industry professionals.

There will be numerous opportunities for you to gain work experience within the industry. Our record label Push Puzzle Records is run by students for students and gives you the chance to be signed as one of their artists and release your music digitally on a worldwide platform. There are also other roles available on the label from sound engineering and production work to creative roles in graphic design, marketing, and videography.

Other projects and placements undertaken by our current students have included live electronic music events working with The Cosmic Ballroom nightclub and OCTAVE promotions allowing our students to play alongside international DJs and promote their own night as well as projects with Jaunt Records, compiling a remix for a vinyl release. Sound engineering students have benefitted from work placement opportunities with Nitelites, an internationally renowned live sound production company and music production students have undertaken challenging placements with local recording studios including Blast Recording Studios.
 

Who the course is for

This course is ideally suited to anyone who is wishing to broaden their scope and music production knowledge and experience to a professional level. It is perfect for those who wish to study across a range of disciplines or focus on one area of interest.

Qualification Gained

On successful completion you will be awarded a BA (Hons) Music Production by NCG. 

How to Apply

Apply 

Applications for full-time degrees at Newcastle College University Centre need to be made through UCAS. You can visit our institution page on UCAS here.

If you are an international student please visit our international application section for further information about how to apply and entrance requirements. Additional start dates may be available please speak to our International Office on +44 191 226 6323 or email international@ncl-coll.ac.uk

Course Content

Year one

Core Modules
Production Analysis
Industry Studies

Optional Modules (pathway dependent)
Electronic Music Production & Sound Engineering
Electronic Music Production Audio Production
DJ & Electronic Music Performance Sound Reinforcement
Intro to Synthesis & Sound Design Work Experience
MIDI & Analogue Devices Equipment Maintenance Skills
Electronic Music Audio Techniques Studio and Venue Acoustics

Year two

Core Modules
Project Planning
Creative Project

Optional Modules (pathway modules)
Electronic Music Music Production & Sound Engineering
Remixing Advanced Audio / Media Production
Events and Performance Advanced Live Audio Production
Modular Synthesis Sound Experimentation
Mastering Electronics
Audio Recording for Electronic Musicians *Rigging for Live Sound – or -
*Music Theory for Producers

Year three

Core Modules
Major Project
Music Entrepreneur

Optional Modules (pathway modules)
Electronic Music Music Production & Sound Engineering
Live Electronic Music Applied Audio Techniques
Creative Composition Portfolio Professional Profile Building

Learning Methods

You may be expected, depending on your specialism, to complete original compositions, performances, portfolios of recordings, commissions and collaborations as well as participating in seminars, practical workshops, tutorials and lectures. These modes are used for many of the assessments which will encourage you to develop your professional music career.

Assessment Methods

You may be expected, depending on your specialism, to complete original compositions, commissions and collaborations as well as participating in seminars, practical workshops, tutorials and lectures. These modes are used for many of the assessments which will encourage you to develop your professional music career.

Progression Opportunities

PCGE qualification, Level 7 MA programmes or straight into chosen employment.

Career Opportunities

Previous students within the subject areas have progressed into the commercial music industry as DJ's, Producer, recording artist, music teacher, music lecturer, music journalist, acoustics engineer (architectural and studio acoustic design), studio recording engineer, live sound engineer, electronics, and software and hardware designer.

Entry Requirements

A minimum of 48 - 64 UCAS Tariff Points at A-level, BTEC QCF Subsidiary, 90 Credit, National or Extended Diploma.

Applicants are normally expected to have achieved grade C in GCSE Maths & English Language or the Level 2 equivalents.

Mature students (age 21) will be considered only on the basis of relevant industry experience.

Applicants for whom English Language is not their first language are expected to achieve a minimum IELTS Score of 5.5 or the nationally recognised equivalent.

Further Information

If you have a query about this course or would like advice on your study options, you can contact Student Services by using the LiveChat function on this page, by emailing enquiries@ncl-coll.ac.uk or by telephoning 0191 200 4000. We are currently open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Course Costs