FdA Contemporary Musicianship

Year 1

Core modules

• Music Business (PETR1070)

  This module concentrates on organisations involved in regulating the music business, safeguarding intellectual property and royalty collection. Lectures will introduce contract law, copyright issues, developments with music promotion/distribution through traditional means and the Internet, also entrepreneurial/freelance aspects of employment in the music industry.

• Research & Context (PETR1071)

  This module is designed to enable students to gain knowledge of theory and principles relating to their area of study and transferable skills necessary to support an emerging professional practice. The application of that knowledge will embrace written responses and portfolio building (PDP). Within which the students demonstrate an appropriate awareness of their subject sector, its contemporary and traditional practice, employability and entrepreneurial requirements.

• Styles & Techniques (PETR1076)

  This module delivers a comprehensive study into the varying styles of music and their accompanying practitioners and musical vocabulary. This module aims to develop students awareness of the stylistic development behind genre, and a theoretical awareness of each discipline. There is a large focus on aural perception skills within this module and it will also require students to engage with research into the historical context and associated techniques behind genre.

• Music Theory (PETR1077)

  This module equips learners with the foundation of music theory that is necessary in any musical career path. It will allow the student to develop their musical understanding to respond to the requirements of a broad range of industry scenarios. This module cements key knowledge in music theory essential topics that will prove vital to the success of the students studies and, in due course, to the pursuit of any successful music-related career.

• Music Production (PETR1078)

  This module introduces the student to a broad spectrum of skills and techniques necessary for the development of a Music Producer. This module focuses on teaching each student the technical requirements behind setting up, signal checking, and successful operation of advanced recording equipment. Students will operate within a professional recording studio environment with the view to confidently create a multitrack studio recording.

• Performance Techniques (PETR1079)

  This module will assess through audit the existing skills of the performer and identify how and where progression needs to take place. Students will be expected to develop and record development of performance skills, and the module will concentrate on developing skills of the group member. The module focuses on the development of music performance skills with the view to putting theory to practice in multiple performance scenarios.

Final year

Core modules

• The Music Video (PETR2085)

  The module introduces learners to a comprehensive set of skills and techniques within the art of creating a Music Video. Learners will gain an enhanced understanding of the principle theories and practices behind the planning, pre-production, post production and delivery of a Music Video. By the end of this project learners will be expected to have planned and realised their own individual Music Video projects.

• Performance in Practice (PETR2086)

  This module takes theories and practices taught within PETR1079 and develops them further with the view of students putting these theories to practice within an industry setting. By this point students will have developed a strong array of technical performance skills; this module allows for students to take these skills and use them within an external live performance environment such as a live music tour or short succession of gigs.

• Artist Development (PETR2087)

  This module allows students to develop a comprehensive understanding of what is required in order to become a professional musician working with the competitive music market. This module focuses on the personal artist development, branding and marketing strategies, and core entrepreneurial skills that are required for the development of a professional musician.

• Composition & Arrangement (PETR2088)

  Music composition has many foundations and pathways and there is always room for more composers within the music industry. This module focuses on the core and extended theories and techniques behind the manipulation and organisation of sonic materials. Students will apply established fundamental skills and put their music ideas together within their own creative music compositions.

• Professional Musicianship (PETR2089)

  This module allows for students to demonstrate the high technical development of their instrument ability. Whether that may be the development of their ability within guitar, bass, drums or vocals. This module focuses on working with students in order to develop a high standard of instrument proficiency and technique. Each student will work with their lectures to choose a particular area relating to their discipline to specialise in.

• Music Project (PETR2090)

  This module gives the students the opportunity to culminate their learning over the last 2 years with the development and realisation of their own Music Project. The main focus of this module is to allow students to develop the creative, technical and organisational skills necessary for the completion of a successful Music Project. Students will have a unique opportunity to plan and realise their own creative and practical Music Projects, and the project idea is completely up to them.