Music - Level 3 National Extended Diploma

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Full-time
Start date: 2nd September 2024
End date: 5th June 2026
Information Event: Yes

Course fee: FREE (Eligibility criteria may apply)

Course Content

Building on the success of our Performing Arts course, we have developed a music course that offers you the opportunity to develop as a performer, composer and producer. Over the two years, you will have the opportunity to pursue your individual interests, while also developing new skills. Our state-of-the-art studio will provide you with the latest digital equipment, allowing you to record and edit your own professional music. You will primarily get to grips with Apple Logic Pro, an industry standard software, but you will also be able to explore other platforms including ProTools and Ableton. Alongside this you will have opportunities to perform at our newly restored professional venue, St Patrick's Centre.

This course offers a wide variety of both practical and academic units, giving you a fundamental understanding of music styles, the music industry, recording and performing. Ultimately, this course will provide you with the foundation to progress towards a career in the music industry or university education.

Year 1 Modules:

• Performing as an Ensemble
• Creating Musical Material
• Using Musical Tyles
• Planning a Career in the Industry

Year 2 Modules:

• Personal Music Profile
• Collaborative Music Project

Course Aims

This course will aim to improve a range of music skills, allowing you to become an artist who can self-produce or a producer who can engineer as well as lift an instrument when you need to.

Special Features

Across this course we encourage you to use and explore industry equipment. Technical skills are taught to a very high level by industry professionals and you will regularly use professional standard equipment including:

• Nord Stage 3 Keyboard - a versatile keyboard containing a myriad of sound design options
• Gretsch Brooklyn Drum Kit - a durable kit made from a maple/poplar blend that produces a balanced warm tone
• Roland TD-1  Electronic Drum Kit - provides an opportunity for students to explore rhythmic patterns and percussive sounds traditionally seen within electronic music production
• Allen and Heath SQ7 - a high performance Digital mixing desk with 33 faders
• iMacs - the latest iMacs with high spec RAM and processing speeds, containing industry standard musical creation tools.
• Kawai Baby Grand Piano - rich and resonant sounding baby grand piano that allows students to explore acoustic recording techniques.
• Traktor Kontrol S8 - professional grade DJ controllers provides students with the opportunity to explore all areas of DJing; mixing, remixing and live performance - sampling, resampling, live triggering. 
• Neumann U87 - professional grade condenser microphone
• Shure SM57 + Shure SM58 - another staple of virtually every professional recording studio in the world. Industry standard live performance microphones that can also be used within a multitracking context.
• Variety of Guitar/Bass Amplifiers - the college has a number of instrument amplifiers that allow students to explore the vast sonic, aesthetic and control differences that are present within amplifiers. Both solid-state digital amplifiers - Boss Katana - with plenty of built-in effects and more traditional analogue valve amplifiers - Marshall JVM 205C - can be found.

Assessment Methods

All modules are assessed through coursework (written blogs, presentations, performances and compositional portfolios).

Applicants should have at least 4 GCSEs at Grades C or above plus demonstrable a interest in music, performance and/or production.  

Directly into the music industry as a producer / performer, or continue on to a related university degree