Popular Music BA(Hons)

Modules

Audio Culture and Critical Theory

In an age that’s seeing rapid technological changes and huge political, social and financial shifts across the globe, this module explores sound and music practices as they evolve within ever-changing audio cultures.  

Playing Live: Creative Performance

This live performance module encourages you to creatively develop your ability to perform live on stage, while teaching you how to write and arrange songs as part of a collaborative project. 

Making Popular Music: Technology and Aesthetics

During this module, you’ll become immersed in the possibilities of music technology. You will be encouraged to integrate different kinds of music technology into your current approach, pushing the boundaries of your songwriting and the perception of your sound. 

Core Music Practice

The ‘music industry’ is vast and broadly termed, encompassing a wide variety of approaches and roles. This module explores some of these aspects, while also covering key skills pertinent to all professionals, such as communication, collaborative work, independently managed self-discipline and a strong work ethic.  

Signs & Lyrics: Making Meaning in Popular Music

This module explores the relationships and interactions between popular music, art and literature. Together, we’ll consider specific case studies of popular musicians and how the influence of different art forms and cultural texts such as film, dance, poetry and painting can be read and analysed in their music and performance. 

Creative Recording: Studio Practice

This module explores the studio environment, asking questions about the nature and context of the studio. You’ll build on your existing technological skillset and look towards the recording, processing and production of acoustic and electronic sound sources, with a view to making contemporary recordings. 

Modules

Creative Writing and Research in Virtual Music Cultures

This module explores the interdependency of technology, language and culture. You’ll undertake a written project based on self-promotion or the analysis and evaluation of a relevant case study. This will carefully consider context, module concepts, critical reflection, thorough research and appropriate language. 

Dark Sound: Reading Desire in Popular Music

In an attempt to access the fundamentals of pop, this module examines the ways in which emotion, desire and physicality are embodied in popular music and how identities are constructed in and through the music we listen to, write and play. 

Professional Music Practice

This module moves you towards the realities of working in the sound and music industries as a professionally minded creative individual. You’ll continue the acquisition, development, deployment and evaluation of your specialist skillset. Strong emphasis is placed on self-evaluating your practice with respect to professional contexts, as well as seeking out future development and career opportunities. 

Enterprise: Innovative Practice in Contemporary Music Industries

This module investigates contemporary music industries and the ways in which music is commodified and disseminated through various media and live contexts. Case studies will pose questions around the significance of the artefact, media and digital technology, while encouraging you to propose entrepreneurial strategies for commodification, promotion and dissemination that are contextually appropriate to your music and/or area of specialism. 

Optional modules

Voice
Timbre
Supersonic
The Working Musician: Reproduce; Arrange; Mutate
The Hit Machine
The Music Educator
Music and the Moving Image
Creative Performance Technology

You can choose to take an optional placement year after your second year on a three-year programme, or after your third year if you’re studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year. 

You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the RealWORKS employability team. 

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. 

How you’ll study during your placement year 

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. 

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. 

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth. 

We'll support you as you develop your professional practice and push your skills and projects – whether you write and promote an album, go on a UK or European tour, or take on an internship at a major management company or independent record label. You could also choose an alternative route, like joining an overseas charity project, leading music education in schools or starting your own business. 

Modules

Specialist Practice in Context

In this module, we’ll help you to realise your professional aims and ambitions by developing an in-depth, specialist understanding of the relationship between your practice and context.  

Dissertation

The dissertation module provides an opportunity for you to carry out in-depth research and critical analysis of a topic relevant to the direction and development of your practice. 

Professional Portfolio

This module will enable you, in consultation with your tutor(s), to develop and consolidate your creative, theoretical and contextual enquiries into your own independent practice. You’ll also receive support in devising a professionalisation strategy for bridging your practice from university to employment or an entrepreneurial future.