Creative Music Technology - BSc(Hons)

The underlying content of this course is music and computing allowing you to develop your creative skills, as a composer and performer, and behind the scenes both backstage and in the studio.

Year 1

In your first year you will be introduced to the programming skills that you will continue to develop in subsequent years.This is especially important in terms of developing general problem solving and fundamental engineering skills. You will study composition and keep up your performance skills by playing in a variety of settings.

You will study the following compulsory modules:

• Introductory Audio Programming
• Audio Engineering
• Audio Technology
• Composition and Performance

Year 2

Your second year will contain some technological aspects of music but with an emphasis on creativity and the creative application of technology. The course covers the physics of sound itself and how various musical instruments are engineered to produce their characteristic sound behaviour.

You will study the following compulsory modules:

• Audio Process Design and Implementation
• Audio Recording
• Applied Audio Systems
• Advanced Composition

In your third year, you will also have the option of spending a year on a salaried placement. For students on placement, there is an opportunity to complete a professional practice module and be awarded 15 level 3 credits. The professional experience module is shown in the option list for the final year, but is actually completed during the year out.

Final Year

In your final year you will study acoustics and recording in depth, as well as the appreciation of audio for video and film. Module options allow you the freedom to develop your own particular specialisms. These options are likely to change, depending on staff interests, and in response to feedback from the music business. You will also undertake an individual final year project, a showcase for your composition and performance skills.

You will study the following compulsory modules:

• Music Technology Project
• Advanced Performance Recital
• Sonic Art

Plus three of the following optional modules:

• Audio Post Production
• Game Audio Programming
• Live Sound
• Instrument Recording Investigation
• Audio for Game
• Software Development for Audio
• Professional Experience

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved we will inform you.

There will be a small group of you on this course. You will work together in the specialised Composition and Performance modules whilst for other subjects, you will join with students studying music technology from other aspects, so classes will be larger, including some lectures.

Using a practical approach, during studio and computer laboratory sessions , theory and principles can be more easily assimilated. Much of the work is carried out in pairs or small teams, which helps you to really understand difficult concepts by discussing them with friends and colleagues.

For more details see our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Each module is assessed individually. There is a mixture of assessment styles but the pattern of assessments is designed to be appropriate to the learning within each module. Some modules are assessed entirely on practical work and in-class tests whilst for others there are written assignments and end of module exams.

For more details see our full glossary of assessment terms.