Popular Music, BA (Hons), with industry placement

Whether it’s underground or mainstream, DIY or commercial, acoustic or electric, this course is for musicians, songwriters and producers with eclectic styles and open- minded approaches to music making.As an independent artist, you’ll learn how to promote and release your own work, creating innovative audio-visual portfolios based on experimentation, musicianship and a confident understanding of the industry. You’ll study the audio-visual elements of pop and develop ways of critically conceiving and creating ‘real’ and ‘virtual’ presences. As someone invested in how pop makes meaning, you’ll define a practice that’s stylistically sophisticated and future facing.You will:Cultivate songwriting techniques and performance and production skills, to develop and produce your own sound and artistic identityWork creatively in high-spec live, digital and studio environments, learning how to incorporate technology into your practiceEstablish experimental and innovative approaches to music making, the music business and self-promotion, which may include touring or running a labelThink critically about the place and contribution of music as part of culture, with an emphasis on identities, sustainability and the challenges of the digital ageBenefit from staff expertise, alumni and visiting lecturers, which have included Ed O’Brien (Radiohead), Martha Tilston, Mary Hampton and Darcus Beese (Warner Music UK)