Music

Unlock your musical potential. This course is a perfect stepping stone, tailored for the open-minded creative who wants to work in the music industry. You’ll discover diverse styles and techniques to develop your music and music technology skills. Surround yourself with our industry-standard kit and facilities, live performance opportunities, and strong industry connections. Whether you’re aiming for a career or higher education, this course equips you with the tools you need to thrive in the music industry.

What you’ll learn  

You’ll discover a huge range of music creation techniques and processes, and a range of practical skills. With optional topics you can learn about careers in the music industry and opt for modules that support your own professional development. Topics could include:

• Exploring music
• Professional development
• Creating music
• Sound engineering
• Music project

You’ll learn how to put on and run music projects from a performance and/or technical perspective, as well as discovering how and why music works. There will be plenty of time to experiment with different techniques and styles as you develop your own skills with a range of professional standard kit and facilities – including practice and recording studios! Whether or not you have a specific career in mind, you’ll learn how to sell yourself and build on the self-promotion skills you need to succeed. Along the way, you’ll build a portfolio of work that will showcase your progress when you move onto your next steps. 

Highlights  

This year, music and music production students:

• Went to the Alt-Careers conference in Newport
• Organised, promoted and performed at Henry Dene Hall, Gloucester Guildhall, The Old Bell, The Cavern and The Tall Ship in Gloucester, The Frog & Fiddle in Cheltenham and The Moon in Cardiff
• Enjoyed beatboxing and DJ workshops
• Had work placements at The Music Works
• Launched open mic. sessions at The Cavern and Llanthony Secunda Priory

We do things for real.

Assessment  

The Level 2 Extended Certificate is project-based. Assessment takes place at the end of each project/unit and places you in a range of situations that allow your abilities to be assessed from pass to distinction level through grading criteria that are laid down by your awarding body (Pearson/Edexcel).

Anything else?  

There is an events fee charged at the outset of the course. This covers the end of year show, two mandatory trips and the cost of visiting guest lecturers and workshops. You’ll normally spend 4 days a week in college, and benefit from a weekly pastoral session with a student mentor for any additional support.

At Gloucestershire College we want students to develop their English and Maths skills so that they achieve their learning goals and future career aims. For this reason, all full-time students (16-18) who have not achieved grade 4 or above English language or maths GCSE will study these subjects as part of their course.

You’ll also complete 100 CPD hours throughout the year and develop additional employability and work-based skills through our Which Three Skills programme.