BA (Hons) Popular Music Performance (Top-up) (Full Time)

This course combines practical and vocational learning with the academic study of the broader histories and contexts of popular music.

You are encouraged to learn, perform and analyse music in a wide range of styles. Performance is assessed in both solo and band contexts, often at local venues in front of public audiences. The course emphasises the study of the core rock and pop instruments: guitar, bass, drums, vocals and keyboards. All students have weekly instrumental or vocal lessons. Tuition methods are suitable for all musicians, although students are expected to be familiar with conventional staff notation and symbols.

Performance is underpinned by academic work in the interdisciplinary field of music studies and by vocational experience offered throughout the course. Teaching and practice take place in the University’s well-equipped rehearsal rooms and recording studios. Tutorials are arranged with individual tutors selected as specialists in your field of study.

Industrial focus

Many of our tutors have high profiles in the contemporary music industry. Their wide range of professional experience and knowledge will help develop your musical skills and your entrepreneurial flair to prepare you for a creative and commercial musical career.

Course content

Three core units and one option unit:

• Music Performance 3
• Instrumental Studies 3
• Histories of Popular Music
• Major Project (Creative) OR Major Project (Research Report)

Options:

• Composing Music
• Pop – The Invisible Mainstream
• Noise Annoys.

Why choose Solent?

Join the thriving Popular Music Performance programme, build a network of new contacts and take up fresh performance opportunities.

• Investment of more than £1 million over the past three years in studio facilities.

Assessment

Your skills and knowledge will be tested through public performances, studio sessions, instrumental assessments, graphic analyses, project work, essays and seminar presentations.

Projects/work experience

Musicians are encouraged to collaborate on extracurricular projects with students on the other Popular Music programme courses – for example, in setting up education projects, putting on gigs, playing at club nights and performing at festivals (including Glastonbury and Blissfields).

Key career skills

IT, presentation, teamwork, creative thinking, project management.

Graduate quote

Mark Hanson

“The course itself offers a variety of topics to discuss and study. I have made many fascinating and interesting discoveries about some of the most well-known songs and influential artists of all time. The lecturers are fun and informative, and also very helpful when it comes to assignments, offering tutorials to any struggling students, and they are always up for a laugh.

“My first band was a rock band back at school, where I showcased both my singing and bass-playing abilities, and performing with the band also opened me up to a whole new world of popular music, a platform for my studies here at Solent.

“Thanks to this uni experience, I have formed a new band and, with the great facilities the University has to offer, have recorded demos and played gigs across Southampton. Seeing as ‘the dream’ for me is to become famous in the music industry, the facilities that Solent offers are helping me slowly but surely to achieve this!”

Jo Burchell

“I looked into universities that offered degrees in music. Solent really stood out, offering a unique and very practical course. I was impressed with the staff and in particular the vocal teacher who had a massive amount of experience, so I thought they would make a great mentor.

“The course is ideal as it combines music performance with everything you need to learn to work in the industry. We also had fantastic guest speakers such as Craig David, Justin Hawkins and industry moguls to help and advise us.

“Since graduation, among session and live music work, I have secured employment within a prestigious music company which aims to discover unsigned music talent.”
Jo has also continued performing in a wide range of music genres including R&B, Soul, Jazz and Pop Fusion, and has recently released her first EP.

Industry quote

Justin Hawkins, The Darkness

“The practice rooms at Solent University are great – the most important thing for young people interested in music is for them to have some place to play.”