Popular Music, BMus (Hons)

Course summary

This ground-breaking degree embraces popular music in its many forms from the mainstream to the underground and puts exploration and experimentation in creative practice at the heart of the degree.Collaboration with Matthew Herbert's Accidental Records has enabled us to create NX Records, an independent record label based at Goldsmiths, giving us the potential to promote Goldsmiths students' work on an international stage.Why study BMus Popular Music at GoldsmithsThis programme will allow you to acquire and develop a variety of skills, both individually and collaboratively, including musicianship and ensemble playing, songwriting, production and recording (at Goldsmiths Music Studios), composition and making music for film, and alternative sites for music.London and PerformanceYou'll be within easy reach of South East London's many venues, as well as those across the capital, which provide a connection to music, art, dance, and theatre with an international focus, but also to local promoters, labels and the London-based music industry.You'll also have the opportunity to perform at student-run showcases, in department ensembles, and at PureGold, our annual music festival that celebrates music created and performed at Goldsmiths.Employment and Industry LinksThe Goldsmiths Music department has strong links with the music industry, employing professional musicians, producers, and artists as lecturers. We also present frequent, high-profile speakers from the music industry at our talks and events. Recently, these have included Dave Okumu, Nigel Godrich, Darkstar, Mica Levi, Matana Roberts, and Arts Council Music Relationship Managers.Beyond music, you’ll be very well set-up for the world of work. Employers look for initiative-driven graduates who think critically about their actions, work well with others and adapt quickly and creatively to new ideas. These ideas are written into the DNA of the degree, which will help you develop these skills. Graduates from this programme include Rosie Lowe, Another Sky, La Lief (Oram Award winner, 2018), James Blake, Katy B, and Ross from Friends, among others.Please note the BMus Popular Music only accepts applications for first year entry and does not accept applications for deferred entry.

Year 1 (credit level 4) In your first year you study a range of areas including creative and practical music studies, textual and contextual analysis of popular music, and an introduction to music technology. All modules are compulsory at this level as we feel it is essential that all our students develop the necessary key skills and knowledge base before further specialisation. The modules are: Songform and Practice Popular Music Contexts Practical Popular Music Studies Critical Approaches to Contemporary Music Creative Music Technology Popular Music History Year 2 (credit level 5) In term one you will choose from the following Group A choices: Musicians, Commerce and Commodification Music and Identity Music in Film And these Group B options: Making Experimental Sound Performance: Ensemble Songwriting Techniques in Jazz and Popular Music In the second term you will choose from the following Group A option: Music of Africa and Asia What is Jazz? Mapping 20th-Century Music And these Group B choices: Popular Music Production Electroacoustic Composition Media Composition Performance: New Contexts Arranging in Jazz and Popular Music A maximum of 30 credits can be in Related Study (modules offered by other departments). Year 3 (credit level 6) You select modules to the value of 120 (credits) across the year. Across terms one, two and three you choose a maximum of 60 credits from the following Group C options: Creative Research Project Creative Performance Research Project You choose the remainder from these Group D options. In term one these are: Minimalism and Postminimalism Phonography Performing South-East Asian Music Fringe and Underground Musics Creative Orchestration and Arrangement Music/Modernities DIY Practice and Alternative Sites for Music Music Teaching Skills Music in Educational, Community and Therapeutic Contexts In the second term you will choose from the following options: Live Electronics Music Workshop Skills Narrative, Representation and Popular Song Improvisation Psychological Approaches to Music Advanced Topics in Music and Screen Media A maximum of 30 credits can be in Related Study (modules offered by other departments). Individual vocal and instrumental tuition Our location in London means that we are able to attract visiting instrumental and vocal teachers of the highest quality, with many of our staff also teaching at the major music conservatoires. We provide a generous allocation of tuition time. Our performance modules are supplemented with ensemble classes and workshops/masterclasses given by top professional musicians. First-year BMus Popular Music students are currently entitled to 12 hours of one-to-one tuition per year. Tuition is available to BMus Popular Music students taking performance options in years two and three. The Popular Music programme currently includes up to 12 hours of one-to-one tuition in both years, with regular workshops and masterclasses. If you do not opt for performance modules you are not automatically entitled to individual lessons, but we can help make private arrangements with our visiting staff, at preferential rates. Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.