Why choose the Access to Music course?

Access to Music is an exciting new course-provider that aims to provide flexible, vocational courses in popular music that will focus on building relevant skills needed when working in the music industry. This course focuses on practical music making where students get the opportunity to create, perform and produce their own music using computer-based software and hardware. Students will also get the opportunity to select units that suit them whether it is performing on guitar/drums/keyboard or vocals or even marketing a music product.

Course Outline

You select one out of three pathways from the following:

1. Creative Music Producer
2. Vocal Artist
3. Performing Musician

You can also decide to follow an award (2 units), certificate (4 units) or diploma (8 units). Some of the units that you could be expected to follow are:

1. Composing (Style)
2. Drum/Guitar/Keyboard or Vocal Skills
3. Music sequencing and production
4. Sound recording and production
5. Making money from Music
6. Contextualising music
7. DJ skills
8. Music Style Development
9. Arranging Music
10. Music marketing (product)

The course is offered at Level 3 which is the equivalent of A Levels.

Resources and facilities

We have state of the art music technology that includes 12 new music computers all with the music sequencing programme Cubase and a keyboard. We have a number of professional condensor and dynamic microphones for recording drums, vocals and a huge range of other Instruments in a variety of settings. We also have ‘pro tools’, which is a professional software package to record audio that is connected to an 8-channel mixer.

Careers and progression

This qualification will prepare you for work within the music industry as a music producer. You may also progress onto other foundation degrees and degrees. The most suitable are courses in music technology and commercial music such as those offered by institutions such as Barnsley College, Bath Spa University, Bournemouth University, Coventry University, Kingston University, University of Leeds, Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, Thames Valley University and Westminster University.

Entry requirements

A GCSE grade C in Music or an Access to Music qualification at level 2 is advisable although students who possess enthusiasm and experience in music making will also be considered.

Course Results

All students who took this course last year gained Merit Grades (equivalent to a C Grade at AS Level).

Enquiries

Please contact Mr Lester at Castle Manor Business and Enterprise College or email r.lester@castlemanor.lpplus.net
Visit www.accesstomusic.co.uk for more information about the course.