Extended Diploma Music Practitioner (Rock School – RSL) Level 3

Many of the music tutors are active musicians or producers and the music team have years of music industry experience, including management, performance and production.

Students on both pathways study these core units:

• music production techniques,
• MIDI and audio sequencing,
• composing music,
• the sound and music industry,
• music events management,
• marketing and promotion,
• music notation software,
• listening skills.

Students on the Music Performance pathway study these additional units:

• music performance techniques,
• pop music in practice,
• music performance session styles,
• working and developing as a music ensemble,
• solo music perfromance skills or song writing.

Students on the Music Production pathway study these additional units:

• sound creation and manipulation,
• music and sound for the moving image,
• audio engineering,
• live sound techniques.

Music Technology students have access to our three air-conditioned recording studios equipped with industry standard equipment, including:

• Universal Audio Apollos,
• Focusrite ISA 828,
• Avid control surfaces,
• KRK 2.1 monitoring,

If you do not want to bring your own guitar you can hire one from college, with a large number of electric, acoustic and bass guitars to choose from. There is also a performance space with stage, lights and full PA.

You will work in one of three recording studios. Studio 1 is a dedicated Pro Tools studio mainly used for tracking with a Control 24 desk, KRK monitors and a range of outboard. Studios 2 and 3 run Pro Tools and Logic with KRK monitoring and Euphonics MC Mix. You will also be working in one of our three Mac suites, where you will use Logic, Cubase, Reason and Sibelius to compose and produce music.

In the second year of the course you will have the opportunity to perform at local venues in Huddersfield. Music production students also do live sound for the shows and all students get involved in arranging gigs and events as part of the course.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of five GCSEs grade A*-C, including English language, and maths at grade D or above, or
• Level 2 qualification at overall merit grade, preferably in music, English at level 2 and maths at level 1.

There are additional entry requirements depending on which pathway you choose:

Performance
You should be competent on your instrument and be at grade 3 or equivalent. If you have no formal music qualification you should have some experience of playing in a band. You will have a short audition at interview to assess your ability.

Technology
You should be competent with one of the popular music sequencing packages – Live, Logic or Cubase – and have maths GCSE at grade C. Playing an instrument or having a music qualification, such as GCSE music, is not essential but would be useful as you will be studying some music theory and practice.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of five GCSEs grade A*-C, including English language, and maths at grade D or above, or
• Level 2 qualification at overall merit grade, preferably in music, English at level 2 and maths at level 1.

There are additional entry requirements depending on which pathway you choose:

Performance
You should be competent on your instrument and be at grade 3 or equivalent. If you have no formal music qualification you should have some experience of playing in a band. You will have a short audition at interview to assess your ability.

Technology
You should be competent with one of the popular music sequencing packages – Live, Logic or Cubase – and have maths GCSE at grade C. Playing an instrument or having a music qualification, such as GCSE music, is not essential but would be useful as you will be studying some music theory and practice.