Programme summary for BA (Hons) Songwriting
The Institute’s BA (Hons) Songwriting is an industry led and practically focused course for those who want to be professional Songwriters, whether that is performing or not. It combines intensive and practical study in songwriting whilst expanding your creative repertoire, with studying music business and the wider topics associated with the History & Culture of Songwriting to achieve a Degree award.
The programme is delivered with more contact hours than similar courses on offer and you will learn from, and interact with, a staff of leading educators, musicians and other professionals from the wider creative arts and the music industry.
About the Programme
The Institute’s BA (Hons) Songwriting course has been developed entirely by music industry writers & producers, and it provides students with a unique opportunity to learn through working alongside talented artists.
The course benefits from industry style ‘Artist and Repertoire’ (A&R) feedback specific to your individual writing goals, weekly performance classes to showcase your material with a professional band, a variety of studio based applications and recording skills covered suitable for songwriters. Students get the opportunity to co-write songs to real music industry briefs with expert feedback and tuition, learn to write within different contemporary musical genres, learn to read, write and arrange music and research your favourite songwriter and their songs for your dissertation.
Further information
For further information on this Programme and the Institute, please visit www.icmp.co.uk
Programme Structure
The expected duration of this programme is 3 years when attended in full-time mode. The teaching year begins in September and ends in June. A typical student, in full-time attendance mode of study, will register for 120 credits in an academic year. This programme is part of a modular degree scheme. A student registered in a full-time attendance mode will take six 20 credit modules (or fewer, if any are 40 credit modules) per year. An honours degree student will complete modules totalling 120 credits at level one, modules totalling 120 credits at level 2 and modules totalling 120 credits at level 3.
Available modules include; Creative Songwriting, The Performing Songwriter, Technical Skills for Songwriters, The Music Industry, Introduction to Music Theory, Commercial Songwriting, Live Demonstration, Recorded Demonstration, Entrepreneurship, Music Composition for Songwriters, Creative Identity & Repertoire and Individual A&R Project
Career opportunities
Students on the BA (Hons) Songwriting will be offered many opportunities for collaborative work both with other Creative Programmes in London and professional organisations. These opportunities, offered in addition to the curriculum, are a great way for students to build their show reels. Successful graduates would be expected to have portfolio career in music consisting of professional performing or non-performing singer / songwriter, professional non-performing writer / producer, co-writing as a member of a band project or working as a music business professional in a specialist song writing related role or for an industry song writing body.
Support
Students are fully supported throughout their course by professional and experienced personnel from both the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance and the University of East London. Institute personnel provide day to day advice on a wide range of practical matters, including accommodation, learning resources, library access, career development and general wellbeing.
A wide variety of professional musicians are involved in the delivery of the programme. Students learn from an experienced and committed faculty of leading educators and top professional musicians who have developed performance-led curriculum in line with the demands of today’s ever changing music industry. This ensures that students are able to interact and network with professional musicians and experienced industry practitioners throughout the programme. Importantly, there are a wide variety of musical activities in which to engage, including showcase events and public performance opportunities, and opportunities to work in professional settings.
Admissions
Applicants will typically have GCE /VCE A levels equivalent to 200 UCAS points, Institute BTEC level 3 Diploma MP profile, Institute Higher Diploma BTEC level 5 pass profile or equivalent qualifications in suitable subject areas.
Applicants will usually be expected to possess 3 GCSEs with grades A-C, including Maths and English Language.
In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) is required.
All applicants will be expected to attend an audition that will assess their suitability for study on the programme. Students should come to audition prepared to play three original songs, one of which must be live, and present lyric sheets. These can be finished songs or draft songs. Tracks and/or musical accompaniment can be basic level.
The Institute also welcomes applications from established practitioners who are keen to undertake study at the HE level but may not possess the required qualifications.
Students may be admitted through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes.
International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes.
Key facts
You can start many programmes in either September or February and applications are simple to make. Click below to:
Apply online Songwriting (BA (Hons))
