Music Performance Higher Diploma

The ACM Higher Diploma is mapped against the Certificate of Higher Education in Contemporary Music Performance.

Students graduating from this programme will be awarded two qualifications:

• The ACM Higher Diploma in Contemporary Popular Music and
• The Certificate of Higher Education (CertHe) in Contemporary Music Performance.

This qualification is run at Level 4 and sits alongside other Level 4 awards.

• The Higher Diploma course has been specifically designed to provide students with some of the most intensive and practical training, offering a progressive study path leading to a vocation within the music industry.
• The range of programmes available gives musicians / artists the opportunity to select the appropriate academic / vocational weighting, taking into consideration their previous experience and professional aspirations.
• This programme gives students an intensive vocational experience combining the opportunity to develop world-class skills, whilst gaining a comprehensive understanding of the music industry.
• Successful completion of this course also opens up the possibility of further study progression, including ACM Degrees.
• The Higher Diploma lasts for one year and consists of 12 hours of lectures per week over 30 weeks. In addition to lectures, students are expected to undertake individual and group practise and get involved with the numerous extra curricular and Business and Artist Development Centre activities.

Students will study the following modules:

• Live Performance Workshop - Live Performance Workshop provides students with the opportunity to enhance their performance skills in a variety of musical genres, in a professional yet supportive context with other musicians. Students will be able to evaluate their own performances, receive tutor feedback and make direct comparisons to the work of successful artists. Aspects of live performance covered include stagecraft, arrangements, technical requirements and musical direction.
• Technical & Stylistic Development - Students receive theoretical and practical knowledge of playing techniques and sound production relevant to their specific discipline. This module also helps support the creative application of technique into different musical styles with the goal of developing an individual ‘voice' as a performer. Students will observe and analyse the methodologies of successful artists/
  musicians and incorporate these techniques into their own skill set.
• Music Industry Preparation - This module introduces performance students to current trends and issues that are relevant and having an impact on the music industry. The module requires students to evaluate the wider musical context in which musicians wish to position themselves in and examine the work and career decisions of successful artists/ musicians. The aim is to give students insight into how to present themselves formally to relevant and realistic sectors of the music industry, in order to construct a firm foundation for their careers.
• Professional Musicianship - This module requires students to demonstrate an understanding of written musical notation (in both an objective and an interpretive capacity) and also to develop a sense of aural recognition (relevant to their own instrument and others). Students will also be able to develop and incorporate theoretical knowledge and an understanding of different styles of music. The module will cover realworld areas of importance to the professional musician such as reading in a studio environment
  or theatre production.
• Songcraft- Songcraft provides students with the opportunity to construct contemporary music and song while learning the rudiments of music theory in an accessible, realistic and practical way. Students will be expected to construct a portfolio of songs or pieces of music utilising their understanding of music theory
  and the songwriting techniques covered in the syllabus.
• Contemporary Repertoire - Contemporary Repertoire offers students the opportunity to learn repertoire in a variety of musical genres to be performed with other students on the course. Students will evaluate their own performance, be critiqued by tutors, and make direct reference to the work of successful artists/ musicians.

GENERAL INFORMATION

QUALIFICATION

• ACM full time courses run in association with our Educational partners, University of Surrey, Middlesex University and Guildford College of Further and Higher Education.

ACCOMMODATION
• ACM’s Student Support Team will be happy to advise on living cost’s and accommodation in the Guildford Area.

STUDENTS SHOULD PROVIDE
Guitar and Bass students must provide their own instruments, drummers must provide their own sticks and
vocalists must provide a microphone.
• All students must provide headphones.
• All students must provide blank manuscript paper.
• All students should own a metronome.
• Additional desirable items may include a practice pad or kit for drum students, Line 6 POD for guitarists and Line 6 BOD for bass players.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Due to the volume level sometimes associated with live performance / rehearsal, all students must provide and wear earplugs.

ACM AND INDUSTRY
• ACM has forged strong links with industry and many of the rooms are supported by our industry partners:
Ableton, Aguilar, AKG, Apple, CATO, Cornford Amps, DBX, Ernie Ball, Fender, Focusrite, Gibson, Hal Leonard, HK Audio, Ibanez, JBL, JHS, Korg, Laney, Lexicon, Line 6, M-Audio, Mapex, Marshall, Matchless, Musicman, Pearl, Roland, Sabian, Shure, Soundcraft, Takamine, Tama, Vox, Yamaha and Zildjian.

• Andertons Music Company can provide students with all their equipment needs.