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Music Production & Performance UAL Level 3 Extended

Level 3 Extended Diploma

smiley male student playing a drum kit

Availability & Details

Music Performance - ALMP UAL Level 3 Diploma AF1-MUSC3D/C02

Venue
Alton Campus

Type of study
Vocational

Dates
(2 years)

Examination board
University of the Arts London

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How to apply

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Overview

The UK music industry is huge, contributing over £5billion to the economy with the live performance sector alone contributing over £1billion.

This course has been designed to provide you with the necessary skills to enable you to work professionally as a performer in the music industry. There are a vast number of different roles and this course will equip you with the knowledge and understanding necessary to access many of these, as well as supporting progression to Higher Education courses including degree-level study.

Students are encouraged to study and perform a wide range of musical styles and collaborate on original compositions and project work. During the course, you will form bands with your fellow students. There will be a number of gig opportunities both in college and outside at professional venues. There are also opportunities for solo artists to perform.


As well as developing your performance skills, you will also gain an understanding of the commercial considerations of live music. You will use this knowledge to put on and promote your own gigs at a venue outside of college.

Even if you only have an interest in performing and are not interested in a music career, many of the skills you learn are extremely useful  and are applicable to other industries.

Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language and Mathematics, as well as an audition that requires youto demonstrate that you are advanced enough on your instrument/voice to start rehearsing with a band.

This two-year course is equivalent to three A Levels and runs over two years. It is made up of a total of 13 Units. During the first year, you will study Units 1 to 8 which gives you the Level 3 Diploma in Music Performance and Production. During the second year, Units 9 to 13 are studied and these extra units, when added to the Diploma, make up the Extended Diploma in Music Performance and Production.

Year 1 Diploma
– Unit 1 – Principles of music performance and production
– Unit 2 – Critical listening and music composition
– Unit 3 – Music industry and professional practice
– Unit 4 – Critical and contextual awareness for music performance and production
– Unit 5 – Music production in context
– Unit 6 – Music performance in context
– Unit 7 – Preparation for specialist study in music performance and production
– Unit 8 – Collaborative music performance project

Year 2 Extended Diploma (Students must complete Units 1–8 of the Diploma in Music Performance & Production, in
addition to Units 9–13)
– Unit 9 – Developing music performance and production skills
– Unit 10 – Exploration of specialist study in music performance and production
– Unit 11 – Preparing for progression in music performance and production
– Unit 12 – Project proposal for the extended project in music performance and production
– Unit 13 – Extended project in music performance and production

The Extended Diploma is a full time immersive course that offers a variety of learning and teaching approaches to nurture the talents of the creative student.


This includes lectures, guest lectures, rehearsals, tutorials, studios recording sessions, live performance workshops, presentations and group discussions. The facilities on our campus feature the latest music industry-standard equipment. They include:

– Two Apple Mac production suites consisting of more than 20 individual workstations with audio keyboard and Logic X
– Main recording studio consists of Apple Mac Pro, and Logic Pro X
– Live music venue with a variety of live audio equipment: industry-standard microphones and DI boxes, PA and monitor speakers and outboard equipment

Our rehearsal rooms are equipped with all the kit required to rehearse and perform your favourite music:
– PA Systems
– Mics
– Amps
– Keyboards
– Drums
– Grand Piano
– Double Bass
You will bring your own instrument and make music in a range of ensembles, from solo acts to full bands.

This course is assessed through 100% coursework and continual assessment.
There are no examinations.

For the first year Diploma, you will be continually assessed on a Pass or Fail basis on Units 1-7. The final Unit 8 will be graded on a Pass, Merit or Distinction.

On completion of this course, you could go on to university, conservatoire, become a performer, technician, promoter, venue manager, live sound engineer, songwriter, composer, music producer, studio engineer, musicologist, music therapist,peripatetic teacher or classroom teacher.


"I am delighted with my results and am really looking forward to studying Law at Oxford University. I really enjoyed my time at HSDC Alton and I really appreciate all the help and support from my fantastic teachers, without whom I wouldn't have got my place at Oxford."

Catherine Goldie, HSDC Alton A Level Student

My courses were all especially interesting, I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. All of my lecturers were extremely knowledgeable and I have learnt a lot from them.

Lottie Warren, A Level student

I would say it’s a college that really balances academia with fun, there is lots of extra-curricular stuff that you can get involved in. It has a really good work/life balance.

Laura Hagedorn, A Level student