Program Overview

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Music: Popular Music and Recording With Foundation Year

Overview

The foundation year of this four-year programme aims to provide students with an understanding of the subject to allow them to progress on to the BA (Hons) Music: Popular Music and Recording course.

Course Details

Attendance

• Full-time

Course

• Four years

Next Enrolment

• September 2025

Introduction

The course delivers a broad music curriculum during the first year with excellent opportunities for specialisation throughout years two and three. Our masterclass series is designed to enhance career planning, involving internationally renowned guest speakers and visiting artists from the creative industries.

Foundation Year

Foundation Musicianship Skills

This module explores keyboard skills and ear training skills. Weekly classes in both areas will help students unlock a deeper understanding of music.

Introduction to Music Theory

This module aims to provide the theoretical foundations for all further areas of study. Students will learn to recognise and confidently use fundamental theoretical terms in their work.

Case Studies

This module will equip students with the necessary analytical skills, IT skills, and research techniques to complete written academic assignments.

Foundation Performance Studies

This module consolidates and expands instrumental and vocal skills developed in trimester one.

Music Theory and Compositional Techniques

Building upon the theoretical knowledge, this module introduces more advanced concepts and techniques.

Introduction to Music Technology

This module introduces software-based solutions for recording and composition.

Year One

Musicianship Skills

Students will engage with a range of different activities and taught sessions, designed to develop a broad range of performance skills.

Fundamentals of Composition, Arranging and Technology

The core aim of this module is to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary for composing and arranging music in a variety of styles.

Popular Music Style and Genre

This module provides an overview of the history of English-language popular music and interrogates and problematises the concept of genre in popular music.

Performance Studies (PP&R)

This module builds the work undertaken in Musicianship skills during Trimester 1.

Applied Composition and Technology

This module will provide students with a strong understanding of advanced diatonic harmony, melodic writing, and technical skills concerned with rhythm as applied to the broad field of composition.

Interpreting Popular Music

This module explores the social, political, and economic contexts impacting upon the production of popular music.

Year Two

Professional Development in the Creative Industries

Focusing on current economic structures and potential development, this module provides an in-depth examination of the UK creative economy.

Advanced Musicianship Skills (PP&R)

This module consolidates and expands performance development within the three assessed areas of Individual Performance, Ensemble Musicianship, and Session Musicianship.

Compositional Practice

During this module, students will examine theoretical issues and practical skills concerned with the manipulation and control of modal harmony and melody within composition.

Studio Composition

Studio Composition allows students to compose directly with studio-based technology, moving away from the need to represent compositional material through a traditional score.

Audio for Media

This module will encourage students to use their unique skillset as a musician to create soundtracks for film and audio drama productions.

Studio Recording and Production

This module is designed to give students a solid foundation in studio engineering and production practice.

Popular Music and Identity (PP&R)

This module introduces a range of methods currently employed in the analysis of popular music.

Creative Compositions and Arranging

This module encourages more specialised forms of composition and arrangement through the introduction of theoretical and analytical issues concerned with the articulation of form and structure.

Advanced Studio Composition

This module is designed to build upon the techniques explored in the level 5 module Studio Composition.

Advanced Studio and Location Recording

This module is designed to develop existing skills in the studio environment.

Music Journalism

This module provides an overview of journalistic methodologies as applied to the fields of music and the music industry.

Sound, Music and Society

This module will equip students with the practical and conceptual tools to design and implement a small research project.

Advanced Performance Studies (PP&R)

This module prepares students for elective Performance study at third year level.

Year Three

Project Scope

This module enables students to undertake a comprehensive project encompassing two areas of specialist study.

Professional Practice

By broadening work experience in areas requiring a leadership and/or team role, this module gives students the opportunity to further develop their own professional practices.

Negotiated Major Project

This module will enable students to develop their chosen areas of study in two final projects.

Facilities

Recording Studios

We have six main recording studios, all of which are large enough to accommodate both bands and chamber classical / brass ensembles.

Voice Acting Studio

This facility is designed predominantly as a recording environment for radio drama or video game production.

Computer Suite

Our computer suite contains twenty-six workstations equipped with licences for all of the software we teach.

7.1 Mix

A teaching space designed for mixing in 7.1 and 5.1 surround.

Studio 9 – Composition Lab

This studio facility is equipped with an impressive range of hardware.

Rehearsal Facilities

The New Adelphi Building houses twenty-six rehearsal spaces designed to facilitate popular and classical ensemble rehearsals.

Performance Spaces

Peel Hall

A three-hundred seat concert hall with an excellent acoustic.

New Adelphi Theatre

The 350 seat theatre features flexible seating configurations to suit a range of events and performances.

Atmosphere

Our Student Union bar and venue hosts a number of both staff and student led performances throughout the year.

Employment and Stats

What About After Uni?

Salford’s music courses are renowned for producing graduates who excel in their chosen professions.

A Taste of What You Could Become

• A musician
• A composer
• A producer
• A sound engineer
• An arranger

Career Links

We have direct links with professional institutions such as:

• ‘Sounds from the Other City’ festival
• Low Four (lowfour.tv)
• The Greater Manchester Music Hub Ensembles (Brass, Big Band and Wind Band)
• 80 HERTZ Studios
• BBC Philharmonic
• National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain

Requirements

What You Need to Know

This course isn’t suitable for international students.

Applicant Profile

As part of your application, you must submit a personal statement (up to 4,000 characters) and meet our entry requirements.

Standard Entry Requirements

• GCSE English Language at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent) is required.
• Maths at grade C/level 4 or above is preferred but not essential.

Alternative Entry Requirements

• Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)

How Much?

Tuition Fees

• Full-time home: £9,535 for Foundation Year and £9,535 for subsequent years.

Additional Costs

You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding, and general subsistence on trips and visits.