General OverviewMusic is one of the UK’s largest industries by export alone and the BA (Hons) Commercial Music programme at the University of the West of Scotland aims to enable those with talent, drive and ability to forge a varied, lifelong career incorporating instrumental performance, business, composition, production and cultural studies elements, in areas such as songwriting, music promotion, live performance, tour management, sound engineering and production.
Developed in response to industry requirements, the focus is on a rapidly developing modern music business and the exciting opportunities brought about by new media. Lecturers are practising music industry professionals and guest speakers have included Shirley Manson and Ricky Ross.
Designed for anyone with a passion for the music industries, the Commercial Music programme allows students to create bespoke learning experiences developing expertise from amongst three strands of study: songwriting and performance, technology and music business / creative industries studies.
The songwriting and performance strand is intended for students who have an interest in developing a career within the creative sectors of the music industries: not just songwriters, musicians and singers, but also community music practitioners in fields including but not limited to: music education, music therapy, and community arts, culture and heritage and theatre.
The technology strand is intended for students with an interest in the intersections of music, audio and performance. Working in our state-of-the-art studios, students will have the opportunity to develop expertise in the recording of live and studio performances, production, editing, post-production and mastering and the creation and production of music and audio for media. Opportunities for employment may include working for broadcast services, live events and sound companies, recording studios, media outlets and corporate events companies.
The business and industries strand is for students who seek to understand the music industries as part of the wider creative and cultural industries. Examining both the theories and practices underpinning the music and creative industries, students will have hands-on opportunities to be involved in real-world music enterprises. To date, students have participated in a series of music industry events, staged within the university environment as well as in the UK, Europe and North America. Employment opportunities include promotion and management companies, digital music firms, media outlets, artist management, as well as various entrepreneurial activities.
According to their interests, students may select modules develop their own individualised learning experience towards their own career aspirations, not limited to just one of these strands, but drawing on modules across all three. In addition, the Commercial Music programme offers students the chance to enhance their research, communication and scholarly abilities, setting up further opportunities for employment or postgraduate study.
Additionally, students have the opportunity for interdisciplinary study and collaboration with other programmes within the School of Business and Creative Industries and the university. Recently, Commercial Music students have been involved projects involving the Digital Art, Performance, Broadcast Journalism and Film programmes. Moreover, Commercial Music students interested in music and health have been able to work on projects developed in conjunction with the School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery relating to the role of music in the lives of people with health issues.
Forthcoming changes to the structure of the academic year afford Commercial Music the opportunity to extend the breadth and depth of current module delivery. Students also have the opportunity to study and work internationally through a series of initiatives which support student learning and experience.
Learning, Teaching and Assessment
BA (Hons) Commercial Music is designed for student success by promoting creativity, autonomy and employability both in terms of module content and course structure. We offer inspirational and transformative learning within a flexible and personalised curriculum, based on a model of inquiry-based learning, with a mix of practical, project-based work and critical analysis of contemporary popular music culture and the global music industries.
Integrating Teaching and Research
A central focus of the Commercial Music programme delivery lies in the integration of the core functions of the university, i.e. teaching, research, enterprise and community engagement, to provide students with an authentic and transformative learning experience that promotes the development of discipline, knowledge and understanding while developing key transferable skills and competencies that both prepare students for further study and enhance employability. This focus can be evidenced through the fact that the UWS Music subject area is managed and delivered by a team who enjoy significant profiles both within academia and industry, fostering an environment of research-based teaching as demonstrated through modules such as Commercial Music Strategies, Advanced Music Production and Music : Professional Identity.
Developing an internationalised curriculum
There are related opportunities for educational and intercultural exchange throughout the programme, including the long-established International music exchange (EuroGig) and Toronto work placements and through the development of TNE partnerships, specifically with Roma Contemporary Music College and MAST Bari. These points align strongly with Key Performance Indicators around Global Reach in the UWS Corporate Strategy. The programme provides a contemporary learning experience by drawing on the expertise of a range of academic and creative practitioners. This expertise is regularly supported by the input of industry speakers who demonstrate that sustained employment within the music industries requires a broad range of skills and adaptability.
The programme structure will build optionality (performance, production, business) across a strong central framework allowing for a relevant mix of core skills / specialism and points of access for RUK students (level 8) and TNE partners. Core modules will embody the major competencies required in the field while allowing for a nuanced delivery and assessment mode while options will offer specificity for individual students and potential institutional partners.
The programme is underpinned in current academic discourse around creative practice, professional practice and popular music / cultural studies, demonstrated by the prescribed literature, specificity of the learning outcomes and in the research-teaching linkages of the delivery team. The programme offers a clear opportunity for the provision of student-centred learner pathways (UWS Corporate Strategy) towards the suite of Business and Creative Industries Masters programmes wherein creative practice-as-research is embedded as a core methodology.
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