Program Overview

Commercial Modern Music

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Commercial Modern Music is a four-year course designed for guitarists, bass players, drummers, vocalists, songwriters, music producers, and those running commercial music projects. The course aims to help students gain a Level 8 qualification in modern music while fulfilling their creative and commercial potential.

Course Details

• TU Code: TU961
• CAO Point Range 2024: 504−1089* (Including Audition/Interview)
• NFQ Level: Level 8
• Award Type: Major
• Award: Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
• ECTS Credits: 240
• Duration: 4 years
• Number of Places: 200
• Location: Francis Street
• Fees: EU Fees, Non-EU Fees

What is Commercial Modern Music?

This course is designed for students who want to gain a Level 8 qualification in modern music while fulfilling their creative and commercial potential. It will encourage students to hone their live performance skills and recording studio technical knowledge while also developing their career goals.

Streams

There are six streams:

• Drums
• Bass
• Guitar
• Vocals
• Songwriting
• Music Production* (new addition for the academic year 2023/24 and subject to validation)

Career Opportunities

As with all courses at BIMM, the BA (Hons) in Commercial Modern Music is designed to help students establish a sustainable career within the music industry. Graduates have gone on to pursue careers in commercial band performance, live session playing, playing on recording sessions, band management, music journalism, live TV and radio broadcasting, tour management, stage management, film, game and multimedia licensing, and music composition.

Graduate Job Titles

• Commercial band performance
• Live session playing
• Playing on recording sessions
• Band management
• Music journalism
• Live TV and radio broadcasting
• Tour management
• Stage management
• Film, game and multimedia licensing
• Music composition

Graduate Employers

• Aiken Promotions
• Ali Coffee Casting
• Atlantic Records
• BBC (The Voice)
• Disney Land USA
• Faction Records
• Festival Republic
• First Music Contact
• IMRO
• ITV (X factor)
• Liebbman Promotions
• Lindsey Holmes Publicity
• MCD Productions
• Music Maker
• Music Network
• Philip McGee (Producer)
• PIAS, Downtown Music Publishing
• Premier Entertainment International (Cruise Ships)
• Sky
• Patrick's Festival
• The Abbey Theatre
• The Button Factory
• Ultra Music Publishing & Records
• Warner Music
• Whelans

Module Listing

Year One

• Semester 1:
  • Artist Development and Entrepreneurship [Mandatory]
  • Music Business and Study Skills [Mandatory]
  • Music Theory and Keyboard Skills [Mandatory]
  • Audio Engineering Skills [Elective]
  • Audio Production Fundamentals [Elective]
  • Live Arrangement Workshop [Elective]
  • Musicianship and Production [Elective]
  • Pre-Production & Live Performance Workshop 1 [Elective]
  • Songwriting Techniques 1 [Elective]
  • Styles 1 [Elective]
  • Styles Analysis [Elective]
  • Techniques 1 [Elective]
• Semester 2:
  • Music Business and Study Skills [Mandatory]
  • Artist Development and Entrepreneurship [Mandatory]
  • Music Theory and Keyboard Skills [Mandatory]
  • Techniques 1 [Elective]
  • Pre-Production & Live Performance Workshop 1 [Elective]
  • Styles 1 [Elective]
  • Songwriting Techniques 1 [Elective]
  • Styles Analysis [Elective]
  • Live Arrangement Workshop [Elective]
  • Audio Engineering Skills [Elective]
  • Audio Production Fundamentals [Elective]
  • Live Sound Engineering [Elective]

Year Two

• Semester 1:
  • Applied Music Business & Study Skills [Mandatory]
  • Applied Music Theory, Transcription & Keyboard Skills [Mandatory]
  • Essential Development Skills [Mandatory]
  • Performativity and Live Music [Elective]
  • Styles 2 [Elective]
  • Techniques 2 [Elective]
  • Songwriting Techniques 2 [Elective]
  • Arrangement Analysis [Elective]
  • Live Performance Workshop (SW) [Elective]
  • Studio Engineering [Elective]
  • Production Approaches and Project Realisation [Elective]
  • Psychoacoustics & Listening Environments [Elective]
• Semester 2:
  • Applied Music Business & Study Skills [Mandatory]
  • Applied Music Theory, Transcription & Keyboard Skills [Mandatory]
  • Essential Development Skills [Mandatory]
  • Performativity and Live Music [Elective]
  • Styles 2 [Elective]
  • Techniques 2 [Elective]
  • Songwriting Techniques 2 [Elective]
  • Arrangement Analysis [Elective]
  • Live Performance Workshop (SW) [Elective]
  • Studio Engineering [Elective]
  • Mixing Techniques [Elective]
  • Foley & Location Sound [Elective]

Year Three

• Semester 1:
  • Cultural Perspectives [Mandatory]
  • Advanced Music Theory & Arrangement [Mandatory]
  • Research Methods [Mandatory]
  • Professional Musicianship [Elective]
  • Performance in Context [Elective]
  • Studio Musicianship [Elective]
  • The Songwriter/Producer [Elective]
  • Studio Recording [Elective]
  • Music Publishing [Elective]
  • Digital Marketing in the Music Business [Elective]
  • Creating Audio Assets [Elective]
  • Creative Mixing Approaches [Elective]
  • Sound Synthesis & Sampling [Elective]
  • Digital Composition [Elective]
• Semester 2:
  • Cultural Perspectives [Mandatory]
  • Advanced Music Theory & Arrangement [Mandatory]
  • Research Methods [Mandatory]
  • Professional Musicianship [Elective]
  • Performance in Context [Elective]
  • Studio Musicianship [Elective]
  • The Songwriter/Producer [Elective]
  • Studio Recording [Elective]
  • Music Publishing [Elective]
  • Digital Marketing in the Music Business [Elective]
  • Studio Vocal Production [Elective]
  • Sound Design and Composition for Media [Elective]
  • Digital Performance [Elective]

Year Four

• Semester 1:
  • Professional Development [Elective]
  • Analytical Perspectives (Minor) [Elective]
  • Commercial Songwriting [Elective]
  • Solo Performance [Elective]
  • Ensemble Performance [Elective]
  • Music Business Studies [Elective]
  • Music Teaching Practice [Elective]
  • Professional Project (Major) [Elective]
  • Analytical Perspectives(Major) [Elective]
  • Professional Project (Minor) [Elective]
  • Composition and Analysis [Elective]
  • Post-Production Techniques for Media [Elective]
  • Game Audio Design [Elective]
  • Composition for Electroacoustic Music [Elective]
• Semester 2:
  • Professional Development [Elective]
  • Analytical Perspectives (Minor) [Elective]
  • Commercial Songwriting [Elective]
  • Solo Performance [Elective]
  • Ensemble Performance [Elective]
  • Music Business Studies [Elective]
  • Music Teaching Practice [Elective]
  • Professional Project (Major) [Elective]
  • Analytical Perspectives(Major) [Elective]
  • Professional Project (Minor) [Elective]
  • Composition and Analysis [Elective]
  • Post-Production Techniques for Media [Elective]
  • Interactive Music Systems [Elective]
  • Composition for Electroacoustic Music [Elective]

Minimum Entry Requirements

• Leaving Certificate Requirements:
  • Minimum Number of Subjects: 6 at F2/O6/H7
  • 2 H5's
  • Other Grade Requirements: Applicants must attend an assessment/audition.
• Additional Requirements:
  • Applicants welcome to make a late application by 1st May at 5.15pm or use CAO change of mind before 1st July at 5.15pm
  • You must attend an assessment/audition to establish your playing standard and eligibility for the course.
  • Video auditions can be arranged for applicants who may be living overseas.
• QQI/FET Requirements:
  • QQI/FET Award Required: Any full Level 5 or 6 award
  • Additional Requirements:
    • Level 5: Distinctions in 5 modules is required AND Audition
    • Level 6: Audition Required
• Mature Applicants:
  • Applications from mature students (23+) are welcome.
  • The primary entry requirement for mature applicants is audition only.
• English Language Requirements:
  • If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website.
  • Applicants for this course should have a minimum IELTS (Academic Version) English Proficiency of 6 overall (or equivalent) with nothing less than 6 in each component.

Audition

• All applicants for these courses are required to attend an audition/interview.
• Precise information on dates and times of when to submit a portfolio or to attend a test/audition/interview will be notified directly to each applicant.
• Due to the large number of applicants and the difficulties in scheduling, applicants should be prepared to attend for assessments at short notice.
• The Institute cannot make special arrangements for those who do not respond to, or are not available to deal with correspondence in respect of portfolios/tests/auditions or interviews.

What our Students Say

I really enjoyed my time at BIMM. Having tutors who are actively working in the music industry was a massive help to both my studies and my own personal career as a musician. During my time at BIMM I organised several release campaigns for my band, had a No 1 single in the iTunes Rock charts, recorded on the BIMM album, and attended many industry panels/showcases organised by the college.

Since graduating, I have been writing for music blogs, gigging/recording with my bands and now I’m organising events with artists such as Idles, Mabel, Gerry Leonard, The Edge and Josh Homme.

Progression

Graduates have pursued Level 9 postgraduate courses such as; MA in Music Therapy University of Limerick, MA in Popular Music Research Goldsmith's University, MA in Music, Mind & Brain at Goldsmith University and Level 9 studies in the areas of Public Relations and Marketing.

Graduates may wish to pursue the MA Popular Music Practice at BIMM Institute Dublin.