Commercial Music Performance BMus Honours

Our degree is focused on performance in three primary domains:
The development of artistic identity
The creation of content as an expressive vehicle
The cultivation of networks to aid discovery including traditional mediums such as Radio to online activities
We use a range of teaching and tutoring methods. Taking advantage of exceptionally well resourced and equipped facilities, this course will equip you with the skills you need to succeed. We support a wide range of music practitioners working in a variety of domains including performer, songwriter, composer, musicologist, music journalist, DJ, technologist or educator or any combination suitable for a portfolio based career. This course will equip you with the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development in the world of making, doing and being.
The course supports the development of your instrumental skills in both workshop and individual settings, and the development of group performance skills coupled with individual and collaborative composition and songwriting. Underpinning the degree is a considered and thought-provoking contemporary programme of contextual studies combining musicology, music business and music education. Assessment and teaching take place across both practical and theoretical areas of the course with an emphasis on work being assessed at points for a number of related modules.
Our strong music industry links allow us to provide guest lectures from leading practitioners, and maximise opportunities for you to begin your career in music prior to graduation.
As part of an arts-dedicated campus, you will have unique opportunities to collaborate with students from other academic disciplines including film, TV, radio, fashion and media, and to network with other Music Department courses while developing a strong portfolio of work and experiences to launch a career in music or continue on to postgraduate study.
Our music courses are based at our state-of-the-art Harrow Campus, one of the main media education campuses in Europe, where facilities include 13 professional recording studios, 21 rehearsal studios, a new teaching recording studio, a purpose-built venue with video and streaming capacity, and satellite public performance spaces, 2 dedicated music labs, an Emerging Media Space and an array of television, post-production, radio, film, video and multimedia facilities and opportunities for the engaged student. We also offer 'Triple A' training and certification for Avid, Apple and Adobe products for our students.
Subjects of study
The course sets high standards for professional achievement and practice, preparing you for the challenge of the fast-moving and demanding music sector. By doing this we aim to nurture your ability to adapt to creative opportunities that emerge in new music and/or media forms, or in response to new creative partnerships, and develop your capacity to participate in contemporary musical, business and cultural debates. Throughout the course students are expected to develop their awareness of the political, ethical and aesthetic implications of their work and the industry in general.
Teaching methods include masterclasses, lectures, seminars, individual tutorials, and instrumental and vocal workshops; the wide range of assessment methods includes oral presentations, reports, essays, group projects, and presentations of creative work.
The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course. For more details on course structure and modules, and how you will be taught and assessed, see the full course document.
Year 1 (Credit Level 4)
Subjects of study include:
Artist Development for Commercial Music Performance
Commercial Music Performance – Contemporary Practice
Commercial Music Performance – Instrumental Musicianship
Commercial Music Performance Portfolio
Individual and Professional Development
Music in Context
Year 2 (Credit Level 5)
Subjects of study include:
Commercial Music Performance – Instrumental Musicianship
Commercial Music Performance – Producing Performance
Commercial Music Performance Portfolio
Individual and Professional Development
The Creative Industries and You
Music Marketing & Artist Development
Year 3 (Credit Level 6)
Subjects of study include:
Commercial Music Performance – Final Major Project
Commercial Music Performance – Instrumental Musicianship
Dissertation or Research Paper and Extended Essay
Individual and Professional Development
Westminster electives
As part of your course you can take elective modules. Electives are an exciting opportunity to widen your experience at university and to gain skills and knowledge that will help make you more employable. Find out about Westminster electives.
Course team
Hussein Boon, Course Leader
Cathryn Robson, Course Lecturer
Pete Astor, Course Lecturer
Adrian York, Course Lecturer
Matthew Gooderson, Course Lecturer
Kristen Hermes, Course Lecturer
Additional costs information
Download course fee information to check what your tuition fees cover and what you may need to pay for separately on this course.