BA (Hons) Music

Course overview

Based at Sighthill, our Music BA (Hons), delivered in partnership with Kingston University London, allows students who have an HND in Music to gain an honours degree in one year (rather than the two-year top-up from an HND typically offered through Scotland).

Our purpose-built Music Box boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including practice booths, classrooms, midi suites, rehearsal rooms, recording studios and an auditorium.

We welcome applicants from all musical backgrounds and disciplines, including classical, popular, traditional and jazz.

There are three core modules, each of which allows students a great deal of flexibility and creativity in their learning: they can shape the content in each case to suit their own interests, strengths and ambitions.

Professional Project makes up 50% of the year's work. In this module students complete and disseminate substantial self-led projects such as solo recitals, composition or songwriting portfolios, research dissertations or studio recording work, under the guidance of expert supervisors. This module is led by Jess Abrams. 

Creative Arrangement: Shapes, Structures and Styles are worth 25% of the degree. Here students analyse pieces of music in various styles and go on to arrange and re-work music for their choice of instruments and/or voices. The work may involve traditional notation, or be realised in performance without notation - or lie somewhere in between. Students take advantage of each other's experience in practical sessions as they craft and hone their arrangements. This module is led by Finlay Hetherington.

Engagement in Music Making: The Emerging Practitioner makes up the final 25% of the work. In this module, students gain an understanding of music education and musical leadership in formal and informal settings. They then design a series of activities to be delivered in an appropriate setting; there is a fantastic range of placement opportunities both within and out with the college. This module is led by Jess Abrams.

• Professional Project (60 Credits)
• Creative Arrangement: Shapes, Structures and Styles (30 Credits)
• Engagement in Music Making: The Emerging Practitioner (30 Credits)

Placement information

• Placements will suit your area of interest.
• They may be completed in primary or secondary schools, in community music projects or within other music organisations as appropriate.

How the course is assessed

• Project-based coursework (50%)
• Written assessment (20%)
• Practice-based assessment (30%) 

Number of days per week

• 2.5 days per week contact time

Entry requirements

• HND Music (Grade A or B) OR
• SQCF L8 or RCF L5 equivalent (please contact our admissions team for more information)

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

Within your personal statement, please indicate what you hope to focus on for your Professional Project within the BA from the following list OR an alternative of your own choosing.

• performance
• composition/songwriting
• research (academic writing)
• studio recording

Once we have reviewed your application, we will contact you offering you a time and place for a live audition/interview.

If you have indicated that you expect to focus on performance, your audition will involve a short informal interview and a performance of two contrasting pieces of your choice.

Please bring backing tracks or sheet music accompaniments as required.

If you have backing tracks on your phone and have a non-standard headphone output, it would be helpful if you can bring an adaptor so the tracks can be played through an amplifier.

For sheet music accompaniments, we will provide an accompanist. You may also bring your own accompanist if you would prefer.

If you have indicated that you expect to focus on an area other than performance, your interview will involve a discussion of your experience and ideas for your project. We also ask you to bring hard copies of relevant completed work you can leave with us OR be prepared to provide links to your work online.

English Proficiency Requirements

Progression and Articulation Routes

• Post-graduate teaching programmes (in secondary music teaching or general primary teaching)
• Post-graduate performing programmes 
• Post-graduate academic programmes

Career options

• Performing musician
• Instrumental music teacher
• Music producer
• Composer
• Songwriter
• Community musician
• Classroom teacher (after further study) 
• Music therapist (after further study)