Popular Music Performance and Songwriting BA (Hons)

The first step to becoming a popular musician is to think of yourself as one. This course is a practice-based, ‘outward-facing’ course that seeks to prepare you to be a versatile, flexible, and adaptable operator within the twenty-first-century music industry. <br/><br/>We are looking to produce critically astute musicians who are confident performers and songwriters, working with today’s technologies to make, reproduce, and disseminate music, and who understand the potential income streams available to them in the profession. Unleash your skills, build your practical talents and emerge industry-ready.<br/><br/>**Key Course Benefits:**<br/><br/>We offer you a focus on creative-based music skills in performance and songwriting which is underpinned by popular music theory and the chance to experience this in a vibrant and creative environment which gives you access to professional practices, new research and outstanding graduate support. <br/><br/>You get to engage effectively with a range of technology in the creation, performance and recording of music, including recording studios and live performance. And you can develop your own personal website which by the later stages of the course, is intended to be a professional-looking, outward-facing website that demonstrates the breadth of your learning and professional experience. <br/><br/>Visiting master classes are embedded within the course and have in the past included: Black Sabbath founder Tony Iommi, singer/songwriter Gwyneth Herbert; composers: Nick Ryan, Derek Nesbitt, Kit Turnbull and Juwon Ogungbe; sonic artist Trevor Wishart; guitarist Sam Cave; avant-garde bass clarinettist, Sarah Watts; composer and multi-instrumentalist Frank Moon; jazz keyboardist and music production composer, Andy Quinn. Masterclass visitors are subject to availability and may change each year. <br/><br/>There are regular opportunities to showcase your performing and songwriting talent in a public context throughout your studies. Performance spaces on-site include a large room with two grand pianos, suitable for small recitals, and The Hub’s Square One, a large performance space kitted out with PA, amps, drums and a grand piano. You will have the opportunity to perform in at least one of the citys live music venues. Past examples include: Studio 54, The Herbert Art Gallery, Kasbah, The Phoenix, The Cross, Drapers, The Cottage, The Tin, The Litten Tree, Ego Arts and Nexus. <br/><br/>You will have access to our extensive specialist facilities: a music seminar room with grand piano, PA, amps, drum kit, 5.1 surround sound and directly linked to a control room for recording; music practice rooms with pianos, drums and PA; three band rooms; a 5.1 studio and live room; instrument storage; an iMac music tech suite plus further state-of-the-art recording studios running Pro Tools, Logic, Live, Max and Sibelius on Apple macs*. <br/><br/>*For further information please check the course page on the Coventry University website

Studying at Coventry's city centre campus will give you everything you need. There is a range of affordable accommodation options in their university-owned hall of residence, which are situated less than a 10-minute walk away!<br/><br/>Coventry also offer their students a unique programme, Phoenix+. This scheme gives you opportunities to enhance your skills and experiences so you can confidently step out into the world as a graduate. You'll be equipped with employability skills and career development advice from day one to graduation and beyond.<br/><br/>Coventry's Talent Team can also help you prepare for your career with everything from CV writing to securing an internship. You'll also have access to a Success Coach who will work with you to build a personal success plan and ensure you make the most out of your university experience.<br/><br/>Register Interest today to find out more about the campus and where you'll study!