MUSIC PERFORMANCE

LEVEL 3: Extended Certificate (BTEC FOUNDATION DIPLOMA)
EXAMINING BOARD: PEARSON

Whatever your preferred genre, Rock, Pop, Folk or Fusion, this course is for those who enjoy performing on stage and wish to grow as performers. 

It provides you with the skills and knowledge needed for a future in music and suits all types of musicians, from drummers to singers and guitarists to keyboard players.

The qualification you achieve is a Foundation Diploma, which equates to 1.5 A Levels, and it can be combined with two other subjects (A Levels or Extended Certificates) to form your Study Programme.

You will be taught in our Aspen Music Centre which was purpose-built for the teaching of Music and features state-of-the-art recording and technology equipment.

The course involves practical and investigative work centred on the performance of contemporary music and learning about the inner workings of the music industry.

You will work closely with the Music Production students to record your music and put on live events.

As part of a production team, you will put on a tour at the end of the year, choosing repertoire, perhaps writing songs, designing promotional material and working with a budget, to experience what it is like to put on live music events.

 

Content

You will study the following topics:

  • Performance (group and solo)
  • Music Industry Studies
  • Marketing and Promotion
  • Session Styles
  • History of Popular Music
  • Music Theory
  • Event Management
  • Recording and Production

Gigs

You will perform many gigs to get as much experience as possible performing in the real world.

We aim to gig every fortnight at local venues as well as travelling further afield to venues like The Cavern Club in Exeter and Gloucester University.

Speakers

Past speakers have included:

  • Jim Fox –  John Peel Stage Glastonbury Festival
  • Zac Peters – DMF Music Exeter
  • Paul Grey – Musicians Union
  • Chris Tait – Shipboard Musician

Trips

Past trips include:

  • The John Peel Stage, Glastonbury Festival (we have taken groups of students for over a decade)
  • Loud Mastering, Taunton
  • Real World Studios Box, near Bath (Peter Gabriel’s studio)
  • Theatre Royal, Bath
  • Theatre Royal, Plymouth
  • Bristol Old Vic
  • Bristol Beacon
  • The Phoenix Art Centre, Exeter

As a minimum, you will need (or equivalent to):

  • GCSE Mathematics grade 4
  • GCSE English Language grade 4
  • plus three more GCSEs at grade 4

You will also need to have musical ability (ability to play an instrument/sing) and be prepared to perform in front of others.

There are regular formal assessments in the form of performances, recordings, presentations, and creative written work.

Previous students have continued their studies at university, music college, or ACM and Tech schools. 

Popular subjects include:

  • Music Performance
  • Music Industry Management
  • Commercial Music

Others have:

  • toured as part of professional bands (e.g. October Drift, Last One Home)
  • worked in recording studios (including Abbey Road)
  • gone into Music Management and promotional jobs (e.g. Senior Account Manager at Be-Hookd Digital and Artist Manager)

This course will prepare you with a range of skills to join the Music industry.

Can I also study Music Production?

If you are certain you want to pursue a Music career you may wish to consider an Extended Diploma in Music Performance and Production.