Popular Music Performance - London BMus (Hons)

In this module, you will learn and apply different DAW techniques to create audio projects through a series of set tasks. This module will give you the base level skills and knowledge needed to support your studies as your progress through your course.

In this module you will evaluate your core instrumental technique in either guitar, bass, drums, keyboards or vocals and through clear guidance, establish key areas for your instrumental or vocal development. You will be introduced to musical notation and understand the work needed to become a sight-reader.

In a group performance context, you will work, play and communicate with other student musicians, vocalists, engineers and producers in both live and recording studio environments. You will start to develop your understanding of the importance of becoming an empathetic musician.

In this module you will play key material to continue the structured development of your technical ability, creativity and all-round musicality. As you work towards becoming a well-rounded musician, you will learn to perform in a variety of playing situations, play cornerstone tunes and expand your repertoire. You will explore what it is to play in a variety of genres and understand the context the songs evolved in. You will improve your ability to memorise material, recognise common structures and begin to transcribe parts by ear. Through basic rhythmic and harmonic analysis, you will learn how to improvise be it to create effective parts, embellishments, or solos.

In this module you will explore the breadth of the creative industries landscape and then focus on a specific business area in detail. You will analyse market data and other information to devise a creative project and pitch it to a panel. Working collaboratively, you will learn how to use a range of tools to analyse and present your findings in a group presentation which will include slides, infographics and a concise persuasive paper to substantiate your argument.

In this module you will strengthen your core instrumental technique in either guitar, bass, drums, keyboards or vocals and through clear guidance, establish key areas for your instrumental or vocal development. You will improve your confidence with musical notation and understand the work needed to become a sight-reader.

In a group performance context, you will work, play and communicate with other student musicians, vocalists, engineers and producers in both live and recording studio environments. You will deepen your understanding and importance of being an empathetic musician. Working to professional briefs, your ability to perform material in different styles and work with different vocalists will develop. You will begin to understand the level of skills a professional musician must have to sustain a career in music.

In this module you will play essential material to extend the structured development of your technical ability, creativity and all-round musicality. As you work towards becoming a well-rounded musician, you will learn to perform in a variety of playing situations, play key tunes and expand your repertoire. You will explore what it is to play in a variety of genres and understand the context the songs evolved in. You will improve your ability to memorise material, recognise common structures and begin to transcribe parts by ear. Through basic rhythmic and harmonic analysis, you will learn how to improvise be it to create effective parts, embellishments, or solos. This structured exposure to new material will help you understand that it is the overall musicality and groove of the collective that elevates a performance from the routine to something that can ignite an audience.

In this module you will sharpen your instrumental technique in either guitar, bass, drums, keyboards or vocals and identify key areas for your instrumental or vocal development. You will improve your confidence with musical notation and understand the work needed to become a sight-reader.

In a group performance context, you will work, play and communicate with other student musicians, vocalists, engineers and producers in both live and recording studio environments. You will deepen your understanding of the importance of being an empathetic musician. Working to professional briefs, your ability to perform material in different styles and work with different vocalists will develop. You will begin to understand the level of skills a professional musician must have to sustain a career in music.

Through active participation with team-based problem solving, you will work together in mixed teams on a project where you will use your creative ideas to generate solutions to the challenge or brief. Your project will allow you to explore how creativity can make an impact in society, as you choose a theme of sustainability, social justice, enterprise and innovation or community. This collaborative learning experience will expose you to a range of new processes and approaches that will develop your creative thinking.

In this module you will play complex material to extend your technical ability, creativity, and all-round musicality. As a developing musician, you will approach a variety of playing situations, play key tunes from memory and broaden your repertoire. You will improve your ability to play in a variety of genres and understand the context the songs originated from. You will refine your ability to memorise material and to transcribe more complex parts and lines by ear. Through rhythmic and harmonic analysis, you will develop your skills as an improviser. Exploring more sophisticated material will help you understand that above all, it is the overall musicality and groove of the collective that elevates a performance from the routine to something that can ignite an audience.

In this module you will advance your instrumental technique in either guitar, bass, drums, keyboards or vocals and begin to manage your own technical development in your chosen instrument or voice. You will start to work confidently with musical notation and understand the work needed to become a sight-reader.

In a group performance context, you will work, play and communicate with other student musicians, vocalists, engineers and producers in both live and recording studio environments. You will enhance your ability to collaborate as an empathetic musician. Working to professional briefs, your ability to perform material in different styles and work effectively with different vocalists will improve. You will understand the level of skills a professional musician must have to sustain a career in music.

In this module you will perform and interpret complex material to advance your technical ability, creativity, and all-round musicality. As a developing musician, you will approach a variety of playing situations, play key tunes from memory and broaden your repertoire. You will sharpen your ability to play in a variety of genres and understand the context the songs originated from. You will refine your ability to memorise challenging material and to transcribe complex parts and lines accurately by ear. Through rhythmic and harmonic analysis, you will develop your skills as an improviser. Exploring sophisticated material will help you understand that above all, it is the overall musicality and groove of the collective that elevates a performance from the routine to something that can ignite an audience.

In this module, you will develop a range of sound design skills that will allow you to complete various sound design briefs, for example in the large industries of films and gaming, but equally for personal content creation or public-facing events or media, such as exhibitions and podcasts. You will learn how to analyse existing sounds for recreation and how to manipulate audio to generate new content. The module will provide a creative, practical and playful approach to the discipline, using sampling, synthesis and recording techniques.

This module is aimed at anyone who already plays an instrument, sings, or composes music. It invites you to reconceptualise rhythm as more than a system of counts and measures. Through practical exploration and critical listening, you will engage with rhythmic concepts that challenge conventional approaches to time and groove.

You will examine alternative approaches to 4/4 time, moving beyond its traditional, perceived limitations, and explore clave-inspired frameworks for navigating odd meters and improvising confidently within them. Drawing on a selection of global rhythmic systems from diverse musical cultures, you will develop strategies for internalising complex time signatures and phrasing ideas rather than relying on counting.

For composition, the module introduces phrasing techniques, including note groupings, repetition, and call-and-response tools, enabling you to create rhythmically sophisticated material.

By the end of this module, you will have developed a deeper, embodied understanding of rhythm, empowering you to apply advanced rhythmic ideas creatively in performance, composition, and collaborative contexts.

This creative, practical module is designed for aspiring artists and songwriters who wish to refine both their songwriting craft and captivate audiences with their live performance skills.

You will explore the art of songwriting, exploring lyric composition, melody creation, and the intricacies of performing your original music live.

With hands-on workshops and expert-led feedback sessions, you'll develop your unique sound and hone your performance skills in a supportive environment. You will engage in collaborative projects and live showcases, gaining invaluable experience in songwriting and live performance.

We have an option for all of our students to undertake a placement year and allow you to decide whether this is right for you once you have completed years 1 and 2 of your course. This time spent working in industry provides our students with crucial work experience, which is highly prized and much sought after by employers upon graduation. If you are successful in securing a placement you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration.

The additional placement year incurs a fee. For international students considering the transfer to the 4-yr SW route it's important to seek advice from the International Student Support team and the Home Office regarding any potential visa implications and costs. For UK students, advice should also be sought regarding SLC eligibility, if applicable.

* If you choose to take the sandwich route option, you will need to apply for this course by using the full-time UCAS code.

If you're studying on our sandwich route you can also opt to study abroad for a full academic year, or for a semester, during Year Three. This is an optional and additional period of study that complements your degree at NTU as an alternative to taking a work placement.

This is an exciting opportunity to experience a different national culture, teaching and learning styles and subjects in an international environment. The destination university must be a year abroad / exchange partner of NTU or member of a formally recognised scheme such as the International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP).

Our NTU Global and student mobility team will support you in finding the right opportunity from one of the many international partners available around the world.

Successful completion of a period of international study will earn you a standalone award an International Study Certificate (minimum six weeks) or the International Study Diploma (minimum 36 weeks).

Get ready to dive into the real world of the creative industries! This module is all about tackling live industry work via real briefs or other professional practices and developing the skills you need to thrive in your career. Whatever you're producing, you’ll be responding to industry challenges, pushing your problem solving, project management and creativity to build a portfolio that sets you apart. With skills workshops, and hands-on experience, this is your chance to level up and prove what you can do within professional parameters.

By the end of the module you will have assets that could support your Future Pathways module outward facing portfolio for semester 2, and the skills can support your Capstone Project.

In this module you will apply what you have learnt throughout your course and start developing a Final Capstone Project. Working with your peers and lecturers, you will negotiate collaborative practice and individual achievement with the view of showcasing your work.

Depending on your course, these final capstone projects may be prescribed, collaborative or individual.

By the end of the module, you are expected to have arrived at an evidence-backed plan that can be implemented in Semester 2. You will have assessed any possible challenges and risks, including how collaboration and ethical considerations may affect your journey.

You will be submitting a project proposal for approval at the end of the module. In addition, you are expected to provide planning documentation and/or examples of work which will be negotiated with the course team when the assessment is set.

Any project work or expenditure can only take place after the project has been approved by the relevant course team.

The delivery comprises discipline-specific practical classes as well as lectures that will help you to design and contextualise the project.

This module provides an opportunity for you to consolidate your academic, practical, and professional learning into a focused and strategic portfolio that reflects your readiness for the next stage of your career.

Drawing on the experiences, insights, and skills developed throughout your degree, you will curate a body of work that articulates your professional identity and future direction within Music and Events industries. This is a chance to synthesise your journey so far and present a compelling narrative of your abilities, values, and ambitions.

The emphasis is on finalising your career or further study plans, demonstrating a clear understanding of industry expectations, and showcasing your preparedness for employment or continued education. Through engagement with professional practices and critical self-reflection, you will develop a portfolio that not only highlights your achievements but positions you confidently for your next steps.

Final Capstone Project is the culmination of your degree and an opportunity to integrate your learning, skills and experiences. This is your chance to create something meaningful, challenge yourself, and showcase who you are as a professional in your field.

At the core of your project is a practical, creative or research-led negotiated output – what this entails depends on your discipline area. These projects may be prescribed, collaborative or individual.

Whatever form your project takes, you are expected to frame it as a research project as well as to consider aspects such as existing and/or emerging technologies (including AI), ways of working, sustainability and social responsibility. Moreover, you are required to critically reflect on the distance travelled, the role collaboration played and any challenges you faced and overcame. You are invited to link this reflection with your personal and professional goals. Your appendices will evidence processes and experimentation within your subject area.

In this module you will play challenging material to advance your technical ability, creativity, and all-round musicality. As a well-rounded musician, you will handle a variety of playing situations, play key tunes from memory and expand your repertoire.

You will learn to play confidently in a variety of genres and learn how to transcribe parts by ear. Through rhythmic and harmonic analysis, you will learn how to improvise over the material be it to create effective parts, embellishments, or exciting solos. This exposure to challenging material with its complex harmony and metre will help you understand that it is the overall musicality and groove of the collective that elevates a performance from the routine to something that can ignite an audience.