Extended Diploma in Music Performance and Production (UAL Level 3)
What is the Course About?
Faculty: Creative and Leisure Industries
Department: Art, Design, Media and Music
This course is designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary to access and progress to degree level study or employment in the performing arts sector.
It provides you an opportunity to explore, develop and test your creativity in music, on a course that is stimulating and demanding and provides a supportive transition from general to more specialised study.
University of the Arts London (UAL) qualifications are only available in colleges where courses are taught by a team of specialist staff who can help you to develop a broad range of skills and identify specialist focus. You will develop an awareness of approaches within music performance and production, develop creative solutions, adapt and safely use appropriate and practical methods for performing and producing.
What will I study?
This course is made up of 10 mandatory and 3 formally graded units.
This course includes performance, improvisation, song-writing, composing, history or popular music, music technology and recording techniques. Sequencing, marketing and promotion, concert production and staging, sound and music for film, working and developing as a musical ensemble, the sound and music industry, music society, music theory, music in the community, listening and aural perception skills.
You will be fully supported by tutors when preparing applications to university or employment, with guidance for both interviews and auditions. Working with subject specialist briefs throughout the year you will produce a final major project which will be performed at the end of year event.
Will I need a DBS check for this course?
No
How can I find out more about the course?
If you apply for this course, you will be invited to an Information Sharing Appointment (ISA) when you will be given more detailed information about the course and when you’ll be able to ask any questions you may have.
When will I get a timetable?
Please see below an example of a previous years timetable. All students will be given their timetables on the first day of the new academic year.
Example | 9.10-10.40 (break 10.40-11) 11-12 | 1-2.30 (break 2.30-3) 3-4 |
Monday | Studio and Live sound | Directed Study |
Tuesday | Music Theory | Collaborative Music |
Wednesday | Music History and Context | Chris Tutorial 1-3 |
Thursday | Digital Music Composition | Directed Study |
Friday | Digital Music Production | Directed Study |
Specialist uniform and/or kit required
Casual Clothing
A notebook
A pen
A flash drive / external hard drive
Own instrument where appropriate (i.e. guitar, bass, ukulele, trumpet etc)
Breakables (i.e., guitar strings, drumsticks, cymbals, jack cables etc)
Ear protection (ear plugs, ear defenders etc)
What Happens Next
1. Once you apply online, we will send you an email so you know we have received your application.
2. If you are new to UCM, you will be asked to attend an Information Sharing Appointment (ISA) when you find out more about UCM and the course you've applied for, and we find out more about you.
What do I need to know about Information Sharing Appointments (ISAs)?
Do I have to attend an ISA?
If you are invited to an ISA, you must attend!
What happens if I can’t attend the ISA I’m invited to?
Please let us know and we will make sure you are invited to an ISA on a different date.
What happens is I don’t attend an ISA?
If you fail to attend two ISAs without letting us know why, we will assume you don’t want us to continue with your application.
How long will the ISA take?
The ISA will start at 4:30 p.m…
(If parents/carers bring you to the ISA, they can wait in the College’s refectory; there are vending machines available.)
Which Campus
University College Isle of Man, Homefield Road
What can I expect at the ISA?
Portfolio information
You should have 2 compositions to present at your ISA as part of your application. You may present compositions as recorded work or as written sheet music and you should choose music that best demonstrates your current music ability. These compositions should be in MP3 format, physical copies of sheet music or Sibelius file. You will also be expected to bring your instrument or voice with you to complete the audition part of the application.
Audition information
As part of the audition process, you will be asked to perform a prepared piece of music of your choosing at your ISA that will help us evaluate your level of musical skill. You are welcome to perform your audition to a backing track or with some instrumental accompaniment from either yourself or someone else that you bring. Please ensure that the backing track you choose to perform to will allow you to showcase your abilities in the best possible way. Also, as part of your audition, you will also be asked to perform a few short exercises that will allow us to assess your level of musicality so that we can best know how to teach you moving forward.
What to wear
N/A
What to bring
N/A
Who do I contact if I have mobility or additional educational needs that I would like to discuss before the ISA?
Please email applications@ucm.ac.im
What happens once I’ve attended an ISA?
We will contact you within 5 working days of the ISA to either:
● make you an unconditional offer (i.e. a definite place on the course);
● make you a conditional offer (i.e. a place on the course IF you get the results required in the summer exams);
● suggest you apply for another course because the one you have applied for is not suitable for you (if this is the case it is likely we will have discussed this with you during the ISA).
What happens if I get an unconditional offer?
You will be invited in to enrol, which is when you are given your student card. This may happen in the summer, if not you will be enrolled at the start of your course.
What happens if I get a conditional offer?
If you have applied for an FE course, you will need to upload your results to your UCM Learner Portal, once you get them (e.g. GCSE, BTEC). We will then check to see you have got what is needed for the course and, if you have, we will convert your offer to unconditional, which means you definitely have a place on the course. You will be enrolled at the start of your course (that’s when you get your student card).
If you are unlucky and don’t get what you need for the course you applied for, you will be invited in to find out what else is available to you at UCM.
Useful links
What are my progression and career options?
We prepare students for progression to higher education at a wide range of universities. We also work collaboratively with colleagues at the Island’s main music and arts venues to provide outstanding work experience and to ensure that our courses prepare students well for their future careers in the industry.
This course is included in the UCAS tariff and attracts tariff points for each final grade: Pass 72, Merit 120 and Distinction 168. You should be advised that some university degree courses require students to have gained GCSEs at C or above in Maths and English, and you may be advised to complete these qualifications to ensure that you have the best possible chance to progress to higher education.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed through a series of projects that are designed to broaden your skills, experience and expertise. The projects are multi-disciplinary and require you to work collaboratively and proactively with fellow students as well as external clients. The vast majority of assessment is coursework based, either through recording, performances, essay writing or similar written assignments. Performances take place throughout the year in a range of venues.
Throughout the course you will also produce a portfolio of work for progression onto a higher education course/university or employment.
All units will be internally assessed and internally verified through your portfolio of evidence and are subject to UAL external quality assurance. The final unit will externally moderated against the assessment and grading criteria for that unit is graded pass, merit or distinction and determines the overall final grade for the qualification.
Entry requirements
● A minimum of four GCSEs at grade C or above (or grades 9-4), or an equivalent Level 2 qualification in a relevant subject with a Level 2 profile at merit and distinction grades.
● You will need to attend an audition and interview so staff can determine your skill level and suitability for the course.