• Course duration: 1 year
• Course location: Delivered on campus in Brighton and online
• Suitable for: Music degree graduates and industry professionals
• Course tuition fees: £10,750
• Tuition fee loan available: yes
• Maintenance loan available: no
• Scholarships available: The Damian Keyes Scholarship Award. Click here for details. 
• Bursaries available: All students can apply for innovation cash bursaries 
• Course entry requirements: An undergraduate degree or via accreditation of prior learning

Ready to apply? Click here

The MA Music Performance, Production & Business* course is a 1-year course. The course is delivered on-site in Brighton. You can also study with a blend of on-site and online activity if you prefer.

The course is constructed to focus on three fundamental elements:

• Your Music
  Create and craft your music to record and mix in professional studios.
• Your Business
  Understand your brand, product and market, to sharpen your commercial edge.
• Your Career
  Gain the confidence and knowhow to become a professional in the creative sector.

Who's it for?

This course is for musicians, artists and producers who want to take their musical output to the next level and boost the commercial and entrepreneurial side of their music activity. You’ll work on the creation of high-quality music and upskill in other areas like digital marketing, social media, branding and A&R. Gaining an MA can also give you more professional choices, more potential income streams and those all-important letters after your name.

The course will take you on a journey of high-level skills development, critical reflection and the development of professional practice, culminating in the completion of a major commercial project. Areas of focus include music creation and audio production, music marketing and branding, A&R, the development of personal skills and the realisation of ideas through submission of a major project.

You will develop autonomy whilst learning to apply critical thinking and research skills to your work. You'll gain academic proficiency and professional credibility. You'll also develop your entrepreneurialism to maximise areas of potential revenue and enterprise.

How you will learn

You’ll spend around 4 hours each week on site in timetabled teaching and learning activities. In addition to this, you’ll be spending time in professional studios in order to record and mix your music. You'll also get access to all your module content prior to your class lectures via WaterBear's dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and be able to participate in tutorials, discussions and meetings using video conferencing.

Online and on-site teaching and learning activities can include:

• Lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops
• Recording studio sessions
• One-to-one mentoring
• Assignments, assessments and feedback sessions
• Masterclasses
• Conferences and events
• Live performances and gigs
• Peer collaboration and networking

Career pathways

This course is designed to further develop careers in music and the wider creative industries. These typically include:

• Music performance and production (e.g. touring, studio, digital, etc.)
• Music business and management
• Publishing and record label services
• Music education
• Music research and development
• Music journalism and PR
• Digital marketing
• Digital content creation
• Event management

Further study

Further academic study routes available include Postgraduate Practice & Research (e.g. PhD, Professional Doctorate) and PGCert HE (teaching programme).

* Subject to approval Spring 2022

Module title: Demo to Master

This is where you’ll learn all about what it takes to create a truly high-quality record. You’ll develop a deeper understanding and awareness of your musical references and sonic signature.

Module title: Brand and Marketing

This is where we look at how you can create a strong and authentic connection with your audience. How do you currently present yourself to the world, and what can you improve?

Module title: Raising the Bar

This module is a progression from MCP1 and focuses on how you can take the experiences of what you have learned from the first module in study block one and use them, via pre-production and A&R processes, to drive the quality of your musical output even higher. Time to raise the bar!

Module title: Creating Income

This module focusses on the commercial realities of making and releasing music. You’ll develop a greater understanding and awareness of how to develop and control various income streams relating to your music.

Module title: Major Commercial Project

This is the final double module that concludes the MA. Here we bring all the strands of work, reflection, research and analysis together to deliver a major professional project. This module is the bridge into your future and is designed to position you for a sustainable career in the music industry.

Course structure and modules may change as part of our regular review processes. Any changes affecting students’ expected programme delivery are communicated in advance.

Module titles and assessment details to be approved Spring ’22. Assessment methods typically include written, audio and video based submissions, presentations, evidence portfolios and business plans.

Initial applications for the MA Music Performance, Production & Business course can be made via the 'Apply Now' button below.

'Apply Now'

We consider all applications on their own merit and potential. We’ll invite you to a 1-1 session, either in person or by video conference. This is where you’ll have the opportunity to find out all about WaterBear and talk about your music, achievements and career goals. For more information about the 1-1 session, click here.

The MA Music Performance, Production & Business course is not available for students located outside of the UK.

Language requirements

If English isn’t your first language, you’ll need to achieve equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.5 overall score, with at least 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of equivalent approved tests too. Visit the English Language Requirements page of the Falmouth University website for more information.

In order to get the most out of the MA Music Performance, Production & Business course, it's essential to have regular access to the resources below. Having your own equipment will provide maximum flexibility for both your college and professional work.

Essential:

• Your instrument (instrumentalists)
• Expendables (strings, sticks, picks, leads, etc.)
• Note-taking materials (pens, notepad, manuscript paper, etc.) (Purchase cost around £20)
• Computer (laptop / desktop) capable of running DAW, audio interface, plug-ins and A/V processing software (recommended 8-16GB RAM, 7,200 RPM Hard Drive, 8MB buffer, 1TB hard drive) (Purchase cost around £600-£800)
• Reliable, high speed Internet connection
• Professional DAW software (ProTools, Logic, Cubase, Ableton, etc.) (Purchase cost around £200-£450)
• External hard drive (Purchase cost around £25-£50)
• Dynamic microphone(s) (e.g. Shure SM57 / SM58) (Purchase cost around £80-£100)
• Audio interface (e.g. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2) (Purchase cost around £100-£200)
• Headphones (e.g. Sennheiser HD 200, Beyerdynamic DT770) (Purchase cost around £75-£150)