During your studies, you will develop your performance skills in 20 one-to-one instrumental/vocal lesson with the same specialists who teach on our degree programme. The course will equip you with essential skills for a performer such as interpretation, effective practising and handling performance anxiety. You will build your knowledge of music theory, and the study of harmony will be delivered in a fresh, creative way using the guitar. Your creativity will develop through improvisation, taking inspiration from the music you perform.

Our Foundation Year introduces you to music history by examining music in the everyday environment of the home, asking how music is made and consumed, and its function in society. We explore the most personal side of music – how emotions, sexuality, identity and personality are shaped by music.

Whether you are a complete beginner or a highly accomplished pianist, you will develop piano playing skills needed for a career in music.

Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year, you can automatically continue your studies on the BA (Hons) Music degree where you will build upon the knowledge gained in this initial year. The Foundation Year gives you the space to focus on the one subject, music, developing the skills and knowledge you need within a Humanities environment.

Successful completion of this course guarantees you a place on our BA honours Music degree. The Foundation Year and the Music degree are fully integrated, and have been developed together to allow a seamless transition from one to the other.

Music in the Home will furnish you with the intellectual skills you need, fostering critical enquiry and encouraging your curiosity. The dedicated performance strand gets you ready for high-level study in the degree, where your individual lessons will be supported by seminars relating to the act of performance as well as interpretation and performance practice (how repertoire was performed in its time).

The Foundation Year introduces the skills required to manage a freelance, portfolio career and work in arts administration, which are later developed upon in the BA (Hons) Music degree. It will allow you to interact with musicians pursuing various career paths, and will take you out into the wider city, taking advantage of our partnerships with various musical and arts organisations.