BMus Popular Music Degree

Overview & facilities

The Pop Music Degree with honours is the ideal university course for anyone wanting to study pop music in London. As well as being a songwriting course, it will be your introduction to the music industry and musicology at a specialist level and lay a firm foundation for a career in those areas.

You'll start by exploring popular music styles, in theory and performance, and examining the history and criticism of popular music and its role alongside other art-forms such as video, fashion and literature. From there you'll begin to develop your chosen area(s) of specialism, receiving training in the craft of songwriting, performance and studying pop music's cultural concepts to an advanced level.

This innovative music degree also allows you to further personalise your learning, optional modules are available in promotion, music contracts, event management, theory and analysis and e-music.

You will study in a well-equipped Music Centre, situated in an attractive country setting within easy reach of London's vibrant arts scene. The location is ideal to develop relationships with a wide range of arts organisations, with visits, work experiences and placement options.

You will gain valuable experience from working with dedicated staff whose career backgrounds include record label management,composition, record production, performance and artistic direction. You will also have the opportunity to perform with various ensembles in the music department (optional) and collaborate with students of Jazz, Music and Art Management, Composition and Performance.

Content & modules

The course is aimed at students wishing to develop their interest in songwriting, performance, the music industry and-or musicology to a specialist level and to lay a firm foundation for a career in these areas. You ll start by exploring popular music styles, in theory and performance, and examining the history and criticism of popular music and its role alongside other art-forms such as video, fashion and literature. From there you ll begin to develop your chosen area(s) of specialism, receiving training in the craft of songwriting, performance and studying popular music's cultural concepts to an advanced level. To further personalise your learning, optional modules are available in promotion, music contracts, event management, theory and analysis and e-music.

The course includes the following modules

Year One
Genres in Popular Music
Writing about Music and Musicians
The History of Popular Music
Across the Culture Industry

Year Two
Songwriting and Performance 1
Popular Music in the 21st Century
Issues in E-Music (optional)
Music Theory and Analysis (optional)
Promoting and Marketing Music (optional)

Year Three
Advanced Popular Music Studies
Songwriting and Performance 2
Music Contracts and Copyrights (optional)
Event and Artist Management (optional)
Independent Project (optional)

Modules

• Year 2

  Issues in e-music (30 Credits) - Optional

  Music Theory and Analysis (30 Credits) - Optional

  This module aims to enable students to: acquire a more advanced understanding of the theory and analysis of popular music; acquire detailed knowledge of musical elements, relevant extramusical issues and theories of interpretation; receive training in relevant analytical skills.

  Popular Music in the 21st Century (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  The module appraises recent and current trends in popular music and identifies related concepts for students to explore and evaluate. The module s relatively narrow timeframe enables detailed investigation of such concepts, which will necessarily be updated annually but will include discussion of canon formation, study of interdisciplinary fields, advanced issues in genre and new popular musical styles, and are likely to include authenticity, revivalism and anti commercialism.

  Promoting and Marketing Music (30 Credits) - Optional

  The module aims to study the specialist knowledge and skills needed in considering the function of marketing from a strategic standpoint by looking at the political, sociological and economic factors which affect people working in the music and the arts. It draws upon the literature and experience of practitioners to examine the wide range of principles and practices which can be used to attract and retain audiences and attendees.

  Songwriting and Performance 1 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module explores performance issues and harmonic-structural principles and enables students to demonstrate that understanding practically through related songwriting, performance and musicianship skills. Focussed technical expertise, critical self- awareness and aesthetic knowledge are developed through free and pastiche songwriting and performance practice.

• Year 3

  Advanced Popular Music Studies (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module provides an advanced study of popular music through a selective overview of songs, styles, genres and related concepts. Movements related to the birth of Modernism and rebirth of popular music in the twentieth century are examined in their relevant musical, cultural and philosophical contexts. The relationship between artistic creativity and music-industrial practices offers a further perspective from which students may acquire a detailed understanding of issues such as musical authorship, borrowing , post modernism and the internationalisation of popular music.

  Event and Artist Management (30 Credits) - Optional

  This module aims to develop the organisational knowledge and skills needed in the areas of event and artist management; to draw them together in the context of problem-solving in real management projects conceptually, strategically and practically; and to consider political and socio-economic factors affecting those working commercially in the arts.

  Independent Project (30 Credits) - Optional

  This module develops further knowledge, understanding and skills in an area of study that particularly interests the student, whether arising from previous learning or enabling the student to pursue an interest not other otherwise catered for in taught modules. Because of the diversity of Independent Projects, their specific aims will vary according to the nature of the project and will be defined by the student in their proposal, subject to the approval of the Module Leader.

  Music Contracts and Copyrights (30 Credits) - Optional

  This module provides an advanced study of music contracts and copyrights in the music and cultural industries. Analysis of historical and contemporary conditions across various industry sectors, genres and territories offers students a detailed theoretical background upon which to develop specialist practical skills appropriate to recording, arts administration, management and agency.

  Songwriting and Performance 2 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module will enhance students skills in songwriting, performance practice and inter-related issues by developing a semi-autonomous framework of learning in which the student creatively and practically demonstrates their understanding. Specifically, the two related modes of teaching enable the student both to further develop their songwriting- and performance-based knowledge and to employ appropriate creative, evaluative and project-managing strategies to meet these aims.

Entry & applying

We normally make ofers on 240 UCAS tariff points or equivalent qualification in which Music and /or a relevant subject plays a substantial part;or Music Foundation course,e.g.Popular Music SUM0071 at Middlesex University Summer School see www.mdx.ac.uk/summer ;or mature applicants without formal qualifications but with appropriate musical skills,knowledge and understanding subject to interview .

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Qualifications accepted

For a comprehensive list of qualifications accepted by Middlesex, see further information under entry requirements

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components) or TOEFL paper based 550 (no less than 4 in test of written English) or TOEFL internet based 80 (with no less than 17 in each component). Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks, depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk. For details of other equivalent English language requirements that Middlesex accepts see international entry requirements. 

Entry into year two or three (transfer students)

If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex course in year two or three. For full details of how this works see transfer students

UK/EU applicants with existing higher education qualifications

If you have already been awarded a qualification at the same level as the course you are applying for, you may not be eligible for a tuition fee loan, see fees and funding for more information.

Applying

Applications for UK and EU students should be made to UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. The institution code for Middlesex is M80, and the code name is MIDDX. You also need the code for the course you wish to apply for – this is found in the 'at a glance' box above.

International students from outside the EU can make a direct application.  We have a network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application.  They have worked with people from your region coming to Middlesex before and can help. Read more on international applications

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for UK/EU students is £9,000.
The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for International students is £10,400.

Click here to find out more about fees, funding and our scholarships in 2012.

Careers & placements

As a graduate, you will have acquired skills which are transferable across various sectors of the music and cultural industries and allow career options including arts administration and management; community and corporate artswork; copyright administration (royalty industry);education and training; live and session-based performance, including touring; music journalism-criticism; music research; music publishing; production, retail and distribution of sheet music, recorded music and-or instruments; recording and audio editing, including studio production; representation, promotion and music marketing; songwriting and composition; venue management.