Music, Technology and Innovation BA (Hons)

About the course

Music, Technology and Innovation is a distinctive course that focuses on composition and production and explores the extraordinary musical possibilities offered by new technologies. It is ideal for forward thinking and imaginative individuals whose passion is to create exceptional music and forge a unique voice within the arts and creative industries.

There is a very strong music and arts focus, providing opportunities for developing engineering, computing and various cross discipline and vocational skills through a distinctive range of module choices. We also have an extremely lively musical community with frequent concerts, events, music profession visitors and student exchanges.

Reasons to study Music, Technology and Innovation at DMU:

• Our professional, broad-minded and flexible graduates are well equipped for employment in the thriving and rapidly changing contemporary media industries and have a very strong track record at gaining employment in the thriving contemporary digital media and music industries

• Our highly qualified and experienced staff are internationally known and active as musicians, researchers and experts in electronic and electroacoustic music, electronica and sonic arts

• Our superb facilities allow you to explore areas such as spatialisation, musical computing, sound recording and video.

You will explore an extensive range of approaches to creating and performing, such as multi-track recording and production, sound synthesis theory and practice, music and sound for moving image, site-specific and installation work, computer coding for the creative artist, and advanced surround sound and diffusion.

You will study digital and post-digital history and aesthetics to inspire your creative vision and link your music meaningfully to the world. Based on your goals, you will choose specific compositional, technical and theoretical topics to research more deeply, particularly as you enter our highly flexible third year of study.

Visit www.mti.dmu.ac.uk/jukebox| to experience the high-quality work that our students are producing. You can also visit www.mti.dmu.ac.uk| to find out more on staff music and creative work, concerts and events and international collaborations, exchanges and visitors.

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Key facts

UCAS course code: J932

Duration: Three years full-time, six years part-time

Institution code: D26

Entry and admission criteria

Entry requirements for 2014

• Normally 260 UCAS Points from at least two A Levels or equivalent
• Five GCSEs at grade C or above, including Maths and English
• BTEC requirements: Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) at National Diploma Level.
• Additional qualifications can contribute towards the points score such as a third A Level or AS Levels
• International Baccalaureate: 28+ points.

If you are unsure about the amount of UCAS points your qualifications may attract you can use our UCAS Tariff Chart|.

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English language tuition| is available at DMU both before and during the course if required.

Teaching and assessment

Our internationally recognised staff provide you with wide-ranging musical and technological expertise. Teaching is carried out through lectures, seminars, practical workshops and rehearsals and you will have extensive individual contact. Assessment is primarily through musical, practical and written coursework. Self-motivation is a key ingredient and outside set teaching times you are expected to research and develop your own projects as well as to attend concerts and performances with an engaged and critical ear.

Course modules

Year one modules

• Foundations of Music (core)
• Introduction to Audio Production (core)
• Digital Cultures (core)
• Creating with Technology (core)

Year two modules

• Ideas in Music and Sonic Art (core)
• Composing with Technology (core)
• Audio Production
• Creative Coding for Music (optional)
• Electronic Musical Instrument Building (optional)
• Sound in Space (optional)
• Sound and Image (optional)

Year three modules

• Dissertation or Final Performance Project (core)
• Advanced Creative Projects (optional)
• Installation Art (optional)
• Music, Media and Community Arts (optional)
• Composing with Dance (optional)
• Music Industry Management (optional)
• Media Industry Management (optional)
• Studio Engineering (optional)
• Performance, Interaction and Digital Technologies (optional)

Academic expertise

Students experience high-quality teaching from expert and highly committed staff. All are practising musicians working with technology, who regularly publish and present their work in concerts nationally and internationally.

We have links with renowned institutions worldwide through our internationally acclaimed research centre. Teaching and research strengths include digital music composition; real-time computer applications in performance; creative work mixing audio and video; algorithmic composition; internet music; improvisation with technology; cross-arts creative work; studio engineering, and musical analysis and criticism.

Work experience and placements

Learning is supported by a wide range of guest speakers, distinguished composers, producers and other practitioners from the UK and abroad, who share their insight from professional experience in many aspects of the music industry. Recent visitors include; Merzbow, Mira Calix, Tim Exile, DJ Sniff, Scanner, Pauline Oliveros, Brian Duffy, GRM, Leafcutter John, Chris Carter (Throbbing Gristle), Keith Rowe and Evan Parker.

You will develop your own work professionally through regular opportunities to perform both within the university and in the city, and can participate in De Montfort Students' Union radio station, Demon FM.

Graduate careers

The creative industries are a huge economic growth area and digital music and audio are central to contemporary media. Recent graduates are now Composers, Sound Designers, Performing and Recording Artists and Session Musicians, Recording Engineers, Producers, and Audio Technicians.

They also work in music management, theatre, radio content and production, television, music retail, music and internet publishing, software development, and music education at all levels. Graduates have found employment with large companies such as the BBC (radio and television), ITV, Sony Music, Sony Computer Entertainment, Warner Music Group, Ableton and Babel Media (Toronto).

Smaller genre based labels have included Ninja Tune and K7, as well as wide range of content and postproduction companies. Graduates have also worked for prestigious recording studios, including Abbey Road, Great Linford Manor, Townhouse Studios and Metropolis Studios.

They also have a very strong record in entrepreneurship, with success stories in both freelance and new company start ups, in music creation and production, recording, sound design, music for media, music technology equipment supply and technical support, acoustics consultancy and studio design, along with online forms of distribution and sales. Some of our students make waves in the music industry even while they are still on the course.

Fees and funding

UK/EU Full-time £9,000 Placement year £650 Part-time (Where available) 4 year course £5,925 per year 6 year course £3,950 per year Per module £988 per 15 credits International
Full-time £11,250 Placement year £750

For more information please take a look at our Fees and Funding| section.

Scholarships

Scholarships and bursaries are available to home undergraduate students studying on a full time basis. To see if you are eligible, take a look at the Fees and Funding| section of the website.

Facilities

You will have access to state-of - the-art, fully digitally equipped performance and teaching spaces, including a multi-million poundPerformance Arts Centre for Excellence| building. DMU has superb recording studios within our Creative Technology Studios and excellent laboratories and rehearsal spaces, all of which are available outside class times through our online booking system. There is also an extensive equipment loans facility for off-campus work.