Course modules
What you will study on this degree
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Music Professional and Creative Practice 1
15 credits
15 credits
Through this module, you bring together elements of what you have learned this year in practical projects. You develop and plan a range of appropriate professional and experimental projects based on your own music-related objectives. These could include songwriting, production, observed band rehearsals and performances. You also learn about how the music industry operates, including copyright and intellectual property, and music contracts and agreements. Your experiences on this module enable you to develop your planning and problem-solving skills.
Popular Music Studies 1
15 credits
15 credits
In this module, students explore how current popular music is created, mediated and consumed, within music industry and broader socio-cultural contexts. Focusing on specific examples of current popular music, students will become familiar with the relationships between music and its contexts, and the ways in which these relationships are understood, explained and debated. Students will also develop their research and writing skills and knowledge of academic conventions such as referencing.
Optional Modules
Songwriting Techniques 1
30 credits
30 credits
Songwriting Techniques 1 serves as a practical and theoretical introduction to songwriting with a primary focus on the generation, development and presentation of original songs. It will provide learners with an understanding of fundamental concepts in songwriting that will provide a foundation for further studies and creative practice.
Contemporary Pop Performance 1
30 credits
30 credits
Weekly dance classes and vocal a cappella group rehearsals enhance singers' performance skills.
Ensemble Performance Skills 1
30 credits
30 credits
Membership of one or more of the following music-making group activities: Big Band, JBS/Covers House Band, Songwriter House Band, Ensembles, Theatre/Pit Bands, 2ubeXtra House Bands, Samba Band, Guitar Orchestra, String Ensemble, Brass Section, etc.
Instrumental/Vocal Technique 1
30 credits
30 credits
One-to-one weekly instrumental or vocal lessons run for twenty four weeks and are enhanced by weekly workshops in vocal repertory for singers and improvisation for instrumentalists.
Music Creation Techniques 1
30 credits
30 credits
Music Creation Techniques 1 serves as a practical and theoretical introduction to composition and arranging with a focus on the generation, development and presentation of original works. It will provide learners with an understanding of fundamental concepts in composition and arranging and develop understanding in music theory, harmony, rhythmic and aural skills that will provide a foundation for further studies and creative practice.
Music Production Techniques 1
30 credits
30 credits
Music Production Techniques 1 introduces broad desktop recording concepts with the aim of providing a solid base for further creative practice at LIPA. Key skills are introduced to develop existing and new abilities.
Music Skills 1
30 credits
30 credits
AuralSkills seminars will develop students' recognition of musical intervals, chords, scales, melodies and rhythmic patterns.
Rhythmic Awareness seminars will introduce the fundamental elements of Latin-American and West-African percussion as well as developing overall rhythmic awareness and literacy within popular, contemporary and commercial music.
Improvisation workshops will practically apply these aural and rhythmic awareness skills developed by students in a creative setting, working within the genres of Jazz and Popular Music.
Repertory workshops will develop students' interpretive skills within a performance context with opportunities to apply these skills in practical performance settings.
Studio and Recording Techniques 1
30 credits
30 credits
Studio and Recording Techniques 1 covers a range of industry-standard studio-specific recording equipment, techniques and theory, complementing the Music Production Techniques 1 module.
Core modules
Music Professional and Creative Practice 2
15 credits
15 credits
Through this module, you have further opportunity to apply your musical skills to practical projects. These could include collaborations with other subject areas here, playing in a pit band, session playing or developing your own individual project. You identify and plan different musical projects which link to your career ambitions, with your work allowing you to demonstrate your progression as an artist. Through all of this activity, you refine skills which will support you as you embark on life as a professional musician, including business and career planning.
Popular Music Studies 2
15 credits
15 credits
In this module, students analyse the visual aspects of musicians promotional materials and practices, focusing on examples of images, fashion and style, performance and music video. They will become familiar with a range of analytical approaches, and be able to use lenses such as genre, identity and authenticity to analyse and contextualise examples of popular music visuals. They will develop their academic skills, becoming more familiar with independent research and academic writing conventions.
Optional Modules
Songwriting Techniques 2
30 credits
30 credits
Songwriting Techniques 2 builds upon first year study to expand knowledge and practice in the creative application of music and lyric writing techniques and to further develop learners understanding of industry standard creative and working practices.
Contemporary Pop Performance 2
30 credits
30 credits
Weekly dance classes and vocal a cappella group rehearsals enhance singers performance skills.
Ensemble Performance Skills 2
30 credits
30 credits
Membership of one or more of the following music-making group activities: Big Band, JBS/Covers House Band, Songwriter House Band, Ensembles, Theatre/Pit Bands, 2ubeXtra House Bands, Samba Band, Guitar Orchestra, String Ensemble, Brass Section, etc.
Instrumental/Vocal Technique 2
30 credits
30 credits
Twenty four hours of weekly one-to-one vocal or instrumental tuition lead to assessments of both pieces and technical exercises. These are supported by 1.5 hour weekly improvisation workshops for instrumentalists and vocal repertory workshops for vocalists.
Music Creation Techniques 2
30 credits
30 credits
Music Creation 2 builds upon first year study to expand knowledge and practice in the creative application of composition and arranging techniques and to further develop learners' understanding of industry standard creative and working practices.
Music Production Techniques 2
30 credits
30 credits
Music Production Techniques 2 builds upon first year study to develop understanding of the role of a Producer within the wider music industry. Frameworks and strategies for evaluation and planning are supported with further investigation of practical music production skills.
Music Skills 2
30 credits
30 credits
Varied weekly classes and activities covering aural transcription, desktop scoring, recording, arranging and group singing.
Studio and Recording Techniques 2
30 credits
30 credits
Studio and Recording Techniques 2 further develops understanding of industry-standard studio-specific recording equipment, techniques and theory, providing industry context and complementing the Music Production Techniques 2 module.
Tuition fees and funding
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications:
Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.
Qualification requirements
A levels
We are committed to accepting students on to this course who have the potential to succeed as practitioners and who will gain sustained work in the performing arts and entertainment industries. With this in mind we wish to identify through applications and interview or audition key attributes and achievements. The key attributes that we seek to identify are: • Knowledge, ability and experience of music • Commitment to the performing arts • Ability to work effectively with others • Broad interest and engagement • Self-awareness • Spirit of enterprise.
The minimum educational standard that we are looking for is: GCSEs. We normally require a minimum of five GCSEs grade C. These should include Maths and English. UCAS TARIFF POINTS Plus a minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points. Subjects studied at this level should include Music. We accept all types of equivalent qualifications, the following are the most common UK qualifications that people tend to apply to us with: A/AS Level. This should be from three A Levels (i.e. grades C, C, C), excluding General Studies. Points from AS and Key Skills are not counted.
BTECs
Extended Diploma (i.e. Merit, Merit, Merit profile).
BTEC Diploma (i.e. Distinction, Distinction): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications such as an A Level, in which case total needs to be 72 (2017 UCAS tariff points) or 240 (2016 UCAS tariff points) across both qualifications.
90 Credit Diploma (Distinction, Distinction): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications such as an A Level, in which case total needs to be 72 (2017 UCAS tariff points) or 240 (2016 UCAS tariff points).
International Baccalaureate
Acceptable on its own and with other qualifications. Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own, but is ideally combined with other qualifications as it is equivalent to one A Level.
Alternative qualifications considered
Music theory candidates should be able to demonstrate a good working understanding of music theory. UK applicants should aim to attain Grade 5 London College of Music (LCM) Popular Music Theory or equivalent qualification such as a Distinction in Unit 27: Music Theory & Harmony BTEC National Diploma by the time they enrol with us. Candidates are tested on their music theory ability at auditions so if they achieve above a certain level at the audition the need to achieve a further grade 5 level qualification may be waived. Overseas students are considered on an individual basis and are also tested on their music theory ability at the audition stage. Audition or Interview Candidates are invited to audition/interview on the basis of completing the LIPA and/or UCAS application form. We look for evidence of the key attributes and an ability to achieve the qualifications standard. In exceptional cases people may be invited to audition/interview who have not met or are not on course to meet the qualifications standard. In these cases there must be substantial potential demonstrated against the other attributes. The audition or interview allows us to evaluate you as a practitioner in your area of interest. Offers of a place will follow where you demonstrate high ability and the potential to succeed. At the audition we provide an overview of LIPA and candidates are asked to present prepared pieces, to take part in a song writing workshop and to undertake a music theory test.
Equal Opportunity
LIPA is an equal opportunities organisation and aims to successfully recruit students from a wide range of different socio-economic and personal backgrounds. To ensure we provide effective equality of opportunity within the application process we carefully consider each application individually and acknowledge differences that can exist between applicants’ experiences from diverse backgrounds. We regularly update our approaches to take into account changing understanding of communities and cultures and we monitor applicant/student characteristics such as age, gender and ethnicity.
Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning [RP(E)L] and Credit Transfers
If applicants can demonstrate they have already achieved learning equivalent to a module or modules, or a level of study, in the programme they may be eligible to be awarded credit for this learning or to have credit transferred from another UK institution. They will be required to complete an application to have their qualifications or experience approved by the Head of Discipline and the university. This requires the presentation of appropriate evidence and we will map the evidence against the programme outcomes to be certain of equivalence. If approved credit will be awarded and they will proceed on to the appropriate level of the course to complete the remaining credit for the award.
International requirements
Other international requirements
We welcome applications from students with qualifications from outside of the UK. Each application is considered on an individual basis and mapped to the appropriate entry level. We value the diversity of experience that students from different backgrounds bring to the course. IELTS score of 6 is required.
How to apply
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