Music Technology - BTEC National Extended Diploma level 3

This course is designed to give you, the modern music producer, the skills and knowledge you need to pursue a career in the music industry in a variety of roles. It is a two year course with students studying the subsidiary diploma in the first year before progressing into year two complete the extended diploma. Students must pass year one to progress to year two. The Extended Diploma carries UCAS points and universities recognise the qualification as a method of progressing to relevant degree courses. If you are aged 16 to 18, you will be enrolled on a study programme, which will include retaking GCSEs or undertaking Functional Skills in English and maths if you haven't already achieved a grade 4 or above. You will also be required to complete a work experience placement and an employability programme.

In year one, you will study units on programming (covering Digital Audio Workstation use with synthesis, sampling and audio sequencing on Ableton and Logic Pro); music business (careers and the flow of money around the industry); composition (genre specific and to brief); recording (microphone techniques, use of hardware and software, mixing and mastering) and audio principles (acoustics and studio equipment). Subjects from the first year are covered in more detail during the second year, with more of an emphasis on independent study and in-depth study. You will explore live performance using technology, running a record label, running your own recording projects, composing for media and dissertation writing.

Assessment is via coursework completed over the year. Examples of assessment include reports, recordings, compositions and presentations. You will need to evidence in your work that your skills and understanding are sufficient to pass each unit.

Entry to this course requires five GCSEs at grade 4 (C) including English (essential) and maths (desirable). You will be required to provide one reference and it is desirable that you can demonstrate 90% attendance at your last place of work or study. You will be invited to attend a welcome event where you will participate in an audition to show you have a suitable level of experience in either recording, live sound or using computers to make music, this is to support your careers choice and ensure that we place you on the right programme for you. Consideration will be given to all applicants over the age of 19 who do not hold formal English and maths qualifications.

Successful completion of the first year leads to the second year of the course. Upon completion, you will be eligible to study for a degree in a music technology (including our own foundation degree) or other related subjects or progress to related jobs such as technicians, live engineers, producing, teaching, or composing for media. The non-musical skills you will learn on the course such as managing multiple projects to deadline are very much transferable skills to jobs that aren't necessarily music related.