About this course
This degree is delivered at our London Campus in Whitechapel.
This course gives you the opportunity to develop the advanced creative skills, knowledge and technological understanding necessary to succeed as a professional songwriter and vocal artist in a music industry where creative technologies continue to transform the creation, production, performance and distribution of music.
Successful songwriters and artists have routines to help make them prolific. They have a broad skillset including vocal performance technique and the technological know how to be self-reliant, so they write and record their songs before they go to market.
Professional songwriters write all the time, not just when the mood takes them. They hear toplines and can craft interesting lyrics that paint pictures in the mind of the listener. They write songs that cross and blend genres, straddle the experimental and the commercial, whatever the brief requires. They write with others, sparking creativity from their ideas and input; collaboration is always key.
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As a music student you will work together with student vocalists, songwriters, sound engineers, producers and music business and events students to create, perform, record, market and release music in a way that mirrors today’s music industry -
Our partnerships with the UK music industry give you access to live briefs, work experience, networking events, industry-based mentors and regular guests from the music business -
Study in the heart of creative east London, a hub for the UK creative industries -
Students on all courses across music, content and events work together to perform in an annual large scale, content rich, immersive festival of music for the public with external acts as headliners
What you’ll study
Designed with songwriting and vocal performance at its core, this is a course with unrivalled industry links. It is taught by industry professionals who will inspire you and guide you through the art of crafting compelling lyrics and unforgettable melodies. You will develop your vocal technique, stage presence and performance skills and collaborate with like-minded peers. Whether you dream of writing your own hits or captivating audiences with your voice, or both, this immersive experience will empower you to express your unique identity as a songwriter, musician and vocal artist.
In addition to technical skills for your voice and songcraft, to succeed as a professional you must also be adept at using DAWs and other technologies needed. Having a compelling professional identity and an understanding of how to market yourself effectively is essential, too. To be a career songwriter and performer, you need to know how the music business works in commercial terms and how to generate income from the different revenue streams available to you.
This course aims to give you an education that encompasses all these facets. It offers a broad technical education you need to thrive in different performance contexts and the knowledge you need to sustain a financially viable career as a professional musician.
Songwriting and Repertoire 1
(20 Crefit Points)
Professional songwriters know their music. They understand genre references. They can place songs and artists in a social and historical context and recognise musical sequences. They write in a style that fits the genre with creativity and originality. They know how to get the right sound. They can do this because they know and understand the songs that have defined the music industry – and popular culture more generally – from the mid-20th century to the present day. They have well-developed melodic and harmonic skills, as well as lyrical and aural skills. They can memorise and reproduce musical aspects quickly in addition to being able to collaborate as songwriters.
In this module, you will engage with essential material designed to systematically enhance your creativity, originality, and songwriting skillset. As you progress towards becoming a versatile songwriter, you will learn to perform across diverse settings, expand your repertoire with key songs and explore the intricacies of songwriting in various genres.
Principal Instrument 1
Live Performance
(40 Credit Points)
Today’s professional musicians can adapt to a myriad of musical situations from playing a small live show to being filmed or touring with a name artist. Working empathetically as part of a team is an essential part of the professional musician's skillset. As new technologies and high production values become the norm for audiences, musicians must also understand how current and emerging technologies are transforming recorded and live music.
In this performance-based module, 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 recognise the importance of becoming 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.
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Skills
(20 Credit Points)
Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) have become a key tool for all music practitioners. As recording technology has become smaller and more affordable, more people than ever can create music and audio content using a DAW. Regardless of whether you want to produce commercial records, quickly sketch song or audio ideas or create backing parts to practice over, being able to use a DAW to the level you want is an essential skill for today’s professional music practitioners.
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.
Songwriting and Repertoire 2
(20 Credit Points)
Professional songwriters know their music. They understand genre references. They can place songs and artists in a social and historical context and recognise musical sequences. They write in a style that fits the genre with creativity and originality. They know how to get the right sound. They can do this because they know and understand the songs that have defined the music industry – and popular culture more generally – from the mid-20th century to the present day. They have well-developed melodic and harmonic skills, as well as lyrical and aural skills. They can memorise and reproduce musical aspects quickly in addition to being able to collaborate as songwriters.
In this module, you are expected to deepen your grasp of various genres, contextualising songs and artists within social and historical frameworks. Your ability to recognise and understand common musical elements that characterise distinctive styles remains crucial. This module will engage you with a diverse range of song materials, aimed at enhancing your technical skills, creative expression and overall songwriting. You will have the opportunity to perform in various contexts, expanding your repertoire through individual and collaborative songwriting.
Public Performance
In this performance-based module, you will work, play and communicate with other student musicians, vocalists, engineers and producers in both live and recording studio environments. You will develop as an empathetic musician listening and responding to the different musical situations you face. You will explore the difference between playing live and recording. Working to professional briefs, you will develop your ability to arrange and adapt cover versions for different vocalists. Your understanding of how to adapt both musically and personally to real-world situations will develop and prepare you for further study.
Principal Instrument 2
(40 Credit Points)
Professional musicians and vocalists have the technical mastery and creative ideas to perform at the highest level. They understand different musical genres and aim to sound credible in a range of styles. They know how and when to bring their individual creativity to a performance or when emulating a seasoned musician or vocalist is required. Whatever the scenario, their technique, facility and all-round musical skill is paramount – it is the musician’s professional calling card.
In this module you will extend your core instrumental technique in either guitar, bass, drums, keyboards or vocals. You will improve your sight-reading skills and apply them to work-like scenarios. You will explore a range of approaches to daily instrumental or vocal practice and understand how to set effective goals. The specific skills and techniques you will cover will be tailored to your specific instrument.
The Music Industry in Numbers
In this module you will explore the breadth of this 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 an expert 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.
Songwriting and Repertoire 3
In this advanced module, you will enhance your creative expression and songwriting identity. Your understanding of music will transcend the basics as you delve into intricate layers of artistry and expression in songwriting and performance. Final year students are expected to exhibit a sophisticated grasp of various genres with the ability to place songs and artists precisely in both mainstream and niche contexts. Analysing song and compositional elements that define genres is crucial for accomplished songwriters. Writing to brief, both as an individual and as part of a collaborative songwriting team, is central to this module.
Professional Performance
In this performance-based module, you will work, play and communicate with other student musicians, vocalists, engineers and producers in both live and recording studio environments. As your skills and understanding increase, you will become an empathetic musician listening and responding to every musical situation you face. You will learn the difference between playing live and recording and understand how the techniques differ for each scenario. Working to professional briefs, you will develop your ability to arrange original material and cover versions. Your ability to create authentic sounding musical parts and capture, control and influence an audience with your on-stage performance will be developed. Ultimately, you will know how to adapt both musically and personally to any number of real-world situations and so feel prepared to work as a professional.
Principal Instrument 3
(40 Credit Points)
Professional musicians and vocalists have the technical mastery and creative ideas to perform at the highest level. They understand different musical genres and aim to sound credible in a range of styles. They know how and when to bring their individual creativity to a performance or when emulating a seasoned musician or vocalist is required. Whatever the scenario, their technique, facility and all-round musical skill is paramount – it is the musician’s professional calling card.
In this module you will advance your core instrumental technique in either guitar, bass, drums, keyboards or vocals. You will extend your sight-reading skills and apply them in a variety of work-like scenarios. You will develop your own approach to daily instrumental or vocal practice, set your own goals and ultimately establish your unique identity as a musician. The specific skills and techniques you will cover will be tailored to your specific instrument.
Professional Identity
(20 Credit Points)
The notion of ‘brand’ is fundamental to all professional communications. Whether we are referring to an artist, a freelance professional or a globally recognised household-name business, the ability to present an offer that engages and converts its target audience is fundamental to success.
Building on the analytical and presenting skills developed at level 5, in this module you will explore brand, identity, the psychology of communications and marketing. Through the analysis of both corporate brands and individual public profiles, you will create your own professional identity across web and social media be it for you as a musician, freelancer, label or other artist services business.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
How you're taught
This course forms part of a wider suite of music courses designed to work collaboratively with other courses in the London campus in Events, content and broadcast production technologies. Every course in the London campus works towards an annual large scale final live music event designed to replicate a professional work-like environment. External input from industry will be included in its design and execution.
Industry visits, guest speakers and networking opportunities are provided at all levels of the course through extensive access to London-based music industry companies, individuals and organisations.
Career information guidance is embedded throughout the course and in the modules Music Industry in Numbers and Professional Identity in particular.
Assessment strategies and choice of assessment method are designed to relate to the type of work students would be expected to undertake in related employment.
Students will develop and practice skills in industry relevant software, as well as looking at new and emerging technologies.
Course staff have worked extensively in the contemporary music industry ensuring current working practices are designed into every aspect of the course.
How you're assessed
The course provides you with a broad range of assessment opportunities designed to both challenge you and help you develop a broad range of skills and understanding relevant to the course outcomes. These assessment methods can include:
- Performance
- Skills assessments
- Finished physical items
- Presentations
- Written work
People excel in different ways, and we want everybody to have the best possible chance of success. On this course you will be assessed on a range of individual and group presentations, and your final year project. Your work in Year Two accounts for 20% of your final degree mark, and your work in your final year accounts for the other 80%
Careers and employability
Your time at Nottingham School of Art & Design doesn’t have to stop once you finish your undergraduate course. Choose to continue your studies on our postgraduate degrees that can help you further develop your skills and obtain the experience you need to get a head start in your career. Browse our postgraduate degrees.
Typical job roles in industry might include:
- Singer songwriter/artist
- Vocalist performer
- Session singer
- Backing vocals
- Vocal coach
- Songwriting collaborator
- Top line writer
- Screen/TV/film/media composer
YouFirst – working with our Employability Team
Studying a degree at a popular university has many benefits, none more so than having access to a large employability team.
Our friendly, experienced careers consultants will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice you won't find in a book or on the internet. You can benefit from this at any time during your studies and up to three years after completing your course.
Campus and facilities
Whether you’re a songwriter, performer, producer or someone who wants to get into the live events industry, you’ll study and learn in the heart of a world-class venue – Metronome
By day, it’s an incredible place to study music performance, live events and audio technology. By night, Metronome transforms into a live events venue, hosting sell-out music gigs, comedy nights, theatre productions, esports tournaments, spoken word – the list goes on!
For our students, we can offer unrivalled facilities which include:
- 600 capacity live music venue
- 10 rehearsal spaces
- 4 recording studios
- Mastering, Atmos and post-production studio
- Live events production workspace.
Entry requirements
UK students
- Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
- Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
Additional entry criteria:
- A related music qualification such as BTEC Music Performance or similar (eg RSL or A Level Music); and
- A Grade 5 (ABRSM, RSL, Trinity or equivalent) in Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano / Keyboards or singing.
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Additional requirements for UK students
We very much welcome self-taught applicants who do not have the formal entry requirements, but we need to know you're at the right level to support your ambition. If that’s you, we’ll request a video of you playing 2 songs from start to finish in contrasting styles. This can be performing along to a backing track, or solo.
Contextual offers
If you don’t quite meet our entry requirements, we might be able to make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and your individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer, and we get data from UCAS to help make these decisions. We do this because we believe everyone with the potential to succeed at NTU should have the opportunity to do so, no matter what barriers you may face.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.
Other requirements:
- A related music qualification such as BTEC Music Performance or similar (eg RSL or A Level Music); and
- A Grade 5 (ABRSM, RSL, Trinity or equivalent) in Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano / Keyboards or singing.
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
We very much welcome self-taught applicants who do not have the formal entry requirements, but we need to know you're at the right level to support your ambition. If that’s you, we’ll request a video of you playing 2 songs from start to finish in contrasting styles. This can be performing along to a backing track, or solo.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
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Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
