BTEC National Diploma in Music Practice

BTEC National Diploma in Music Practice
The course is designed to be able to:
· Develop skills and gain confidence in performing in a wide range of musical styles.
· Develop specific skills in rehearsing, arranging and preparing for performances, working from a variety of sources including recorded music and various forms of notation.
· Learn to perform effectively to an audience, paying attention both to musical issues and other issues such as appropriate dress, stance, communicating with the audience etc.
· Have an understanding of music's place in the world; how it functions as an industry, the work opportunities available for musicians today, the role of music in society, how it is effected by politics and economics.
· Learn specific music related skills including music theory skills, use of notation software and safe and appropriate use of equipment.
· Develop appropriate skills to organise and run musical events, including marketing, programming, customer care, and working safely.
· Have opportunities to chose areas to develop specialist skills, including operating live sound equipment, leading community-based music workshops, developing a portfolio of compositions or doing in-depth researching into an area of your choice.
Is it for me?
The course suits those who have some experience of playing an instrument and want to develop their skills in a new direction. You should be interested in a career in the music industry. This course is equivalent to three A Levels and assessment is all coursework based.
What's involved?
The BTEC National Diploma is made up of 18 units studied over two years. Some units are given as alternatives for you to chose from, depending on your skills and interests. Of the six lessons you have each week, two will be spent rehearsing and practicing, generally developing material for performances. The rest of the week is involved in classroom based studies. During the second year you will get the chance to select some areas of study from a variety of options.
For the practical units you will often be given projects which will lead to a Gig. The size of your band and the type of material you will be playing will vary greatly - it is an aim of the course to introduce you to a wide variety of music and performance experiences. In previous years students have performed 50s Rock'n'Roll, Latin American dance music, Folk Songs from Britain and Ireland, Classic 60s soul, songs from the year 1968, Experimental andelectronic music, and many more.
This is the list of units from which you will study 18 to complete a National Diploma;
Listening Skills for Musicians
Major Music Project (double value unit)
Music and Society
Planning a Music Project
The Sound and Music Industry
Aural Perception Skills
Composing Music
Improvising Music
Music in the Community
Music performance Session Styles
Music Performance Techniques
Music Theory and Harmony
Pop Music in Practice
Singing Techniques and Performance
Special Subject Investigation
Studying Music from Around the World
The Music Freelance World
Working and Developing as a Musical Ensemble
Working with Music Notation Software Packages
Operating Live Sound
Progression
Students who successfully complete the National Diploma in music can go on to higher education courses in a variety of subjects including;
Popular Music
Popular Music and Music Technology
Popular Music and Music Management
Events Management
Community Music
Students may well start working as musicians on a freelance basis very soon after the end of the course. This could include activities such as running workshop as a community musician, performing, private tuition, promoting concerts, live sound technician work, and songwriting.