Program Overview

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Music and Sound Design

Overview

The Music and Sound Design programme is designed for musicians interested in composing music and designing sound for a wide range of contexts but with particular emphasis on film and theatre. Students will gain practical knowledge and experience of composing in the studio, composing for instrumental forces, song-writing and scoring for picture. Working alongside leading audio professionals students will also learn innovative methods of capturing, synthesising and manipulating sound, enabling the design of sonic environments to accompany picture, stage productions, radio and gaming.

Music and Sound Design highlights

• World Class Facilities: The School is one of the largest and best equipped institutions in the UK working in the field of music and sound. Students have access to state-of-the-art audio resources including two dedicated computer suites, ten sound studios an equipment loan store and the world’s first Sonic Laboratory – a unique performance space capable of three- dimensional sound projection, all housed in the Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC).
• Industry Links: The School benefits from strong industry partnerships including BBC NI, Ulster Orchestra, Opera NI, Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble, Cathedral Arts Festival, Moving on Music, Diatribe Records, DTS and Dolby.
• Internationally Renowned Experts: Many of our staff are leading international experts in their fields of research. Additionally, the School employs a number Industry Fellows – internationally renowned professionals in their fields of composition, performance, song-writing, sound engineering and music production.
• Professional Accreditations: The School is an Avid Learning Partner with certified instructors in both Media Composer video editing software and Pro Tools audio editing software.
• Student Experience: Students on the BA Music and Sound Design programme have excellent opportunities to gain real-world production experience through

collaborative work with students studying BA Film Studies and Production and BA Broadcast Production. - **Global Opportunities**: Students may opt to spend a semester or a year studying abroad. The School has links with a number of international institutions including Sibelius Academy (University of the Arts Helsinki), University of Groningen, Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo do Porto (Instituto Politecnico do Porto), Université Français Rabelais Tours, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Technological Educational Institute of Crete.

Course Structure

• Level 1: Students develop their musical practice in the areas of composition, critical listening and improvisation in addition to gaining a thorough grounding in sound recording principles and practical experience of audio mixing and sound synthesis. Students also explore the range of musical practices ranging from mass market music to the ‘classical’ tradition and its contemporary proliferation.
• Level 2: Students explore the broader field of sonic art and develop skills in sound design for screen including dialogue editing, atmos tracklay, SFX editing, ADR recording and mixing to broadcast specifications. Optional modules are available in areas such as audio production, radio production, instrument and installation design, song writing or improvisation.
• Level 3: Students continue to develop skills relevant to sound design and the creation of sonic art. Students can also opt to take modules in immersive media, composing for film and television, audio production, or undertake a work placement. The music programme concludes with the completion of a project focusing on an aspect of professional practice in sound design or composition.

People teaching you

• Academic Subject Lead: Mr Chris Corrigan
• Dr David Robb
• Dr Franziska Schroeder
• Dr Kurt James Werner
• Dr Miguel Ortiz
• Dr Pedro Rebelo
• Dr Sarah McCleave
• Dr Simon Mawhinney
• Dr Trevor Agus
• Dr Zeynep Bulut
• Professor Ian Woodfield
• Professor Paul Stapleton
• Professor Yo Tomita

Contact Teaching Hours

• Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial: 2 hours maximum
• Large Group Teaching: 6 hours maximum
• Medium Group Teaching: 6 hours maximum
• Personal Study: 24 hours maximum

Learning and Teaching

• E-Learning technologies: Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment.
• Lectures: Introduce basic information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading.
• Personal Tutor: Undergraduates are allocated a Personal Tutor during Years 1 and 2 who meets with them regularly during the year to support their academic development.
• Practicals: Provide opportunities for the development of technical skills and the application of theoretical principles to real-life or practical contexts.
• Self-directed study: This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, performance practice, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback and assignment research and preparation is carried out.
• Supervised projects: In final year, all students take a ‘Professional Practice’ module which provides the opportunity to develop a body of artistic work in a professional context. Each individual or group will be assigned a member of staff to act as a mentor. Mentors and students will meet fortnightly to review work in progress and to discuss practical concerns.

Assessment

• Coursework: 100%
• Examination: 0%
• Practical: 0%

Feedback

• Formal written comments and marks: Relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted.
• Face to face comment: This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.
• Placement employer comments or references: If applicable.
• Online or emailed comment: If applicable.
• General comments or question and answer opportunities: At the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
• Pre-submission advice: Regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.
• Feedback and outcomes from practical classes: If applicable.
• Comment and guidance: Provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Facilities

• The School is one of the largest and best-equipped institutions in the UK working in the field of music and sound: Students on the BA Music and Sound Design have access to state-of-the-art audio resources including: The Sonic Lab, Studios, Ensembles, Concert venues, and the Music Building.

Entrance requirements

• A level requirements: ABB
• Irish leaving certificate requirements: H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3
• Access Course: Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 70%
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: 33 points overall including 6,5,5 at Higher Level
• BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma: QCF BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits at Level 3) with overall grades D*DD
• Graduate: A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree
• All applicants: There are no specific subject requirements to study Music and Sound Design.
• Note: All applicants must have GCSE English Language grade C/4 or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

How we choose our students

• Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service: Rather than by individual University Schools.
• Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form: Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.
• Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

International Students

• Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region.
• Applying through UCAS: Most students make their applications through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Queen's.
• Applying direct: The Direct Entry Application form is to be used by international applicants who wish to apply directly, and only, to Queen's or who have been asked to provide information in advance of submitting a formal UCAS application.
• Applying through agents and partners: The University’s in-country representatives can assist you to submit a UCAS application or a direct application.

English Language Requirements

• An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification: Details of which are available at: [insert link]

International Scholarships

• Information on scholarships for international students: Is available at: [insert link]

Tuition Fees

• Northern Ireland (NI): £4,855
• Republic of Ireland (ROI): £4,855
• England, Scotland or Wales (GB): £9,535
• EU Other: £22,400
• International: £22,400

Additional course costs

• The School is an Avid Learning Partner and optional courses providing Avid certification in the use of ProTools are available as part of the programme: The cost of these courses ranges from £20 to £90 per course.

How do I fund my study?

• There are different tuition fee and student financial support arrangements for students from Northern Ireland, those from England, Scotland and Wales (Great Britain), and those from the rest of the European Union.
• Information on funding options and financial assistance for undergraduate students: Is available at: [insert link]
• Scholarships: Each year, we offer a range of scholarships and prizes for new students. Information on scholarships available.

Career Prospects

• The programme prepares students for a wide range of possible career paths including sound design for screen, sound design for theatre, broadcasting, audio post production, foley, composition, scoring, interactive system design, education and other areas of the music and audio industries.
• Companies and institutions currently employing our graduates include the BBC, UTV, YellowMoon Post Production, NI Screen, SNK Studios, The Soundhouse and Queen’s University Belfast.

Employment after the Course

• Graduates of related programmes at Queen’s have found employment in areas such as software and hardware engineering, studio and venue audio engineering, broadcasting, audiology, acoustic consultancy, artist management, concert- venue management, audio system support, education and other areas of the music and audio industries.
• Graduates from music-related areas at Queen’s have found success in a wide range of professional performing and composing opportunities.

Employment Links

• Companies currently employing our graduates include Google, BBC, UTV, Apple, BT, Rapid 7, Sensum, Mogees Ltd, Storyful, Cased Dimensions, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Steven’s Institute of Technology, Trinity College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast.

Alumni Success

• Graduates of related programmes at Queen’s have been very successful in the area of Sound Design and include: Donal Phillips, Digital Executive, NI Screen; Claire Marquess, Sound Engineer, The Soundhouse; Andrew Simon McAllister, Film Composer; Mark Ferguson, Wildlife Sound Recordist, The Soundhouse; Caoileann Hegarty, Production Coordinator, BBC NI; Phil Agnew, Broadcast Operations Manager, PI Communications

Professional Opportunities

• Sound design is a key element of the film, gaming and immersive (VR) industries: The Level 3 Work Placement module is an excellent opportunity for students to gain real-world industry experience.
• Some of the organisations our students have completed placements with include: DTS, The Sound Studio, Lamb Films, Pi Communications, Q Radio, Maverick Renegade Productions, The Soundhouse, The Big Telly Theatre Company.

Degree Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

• In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills: For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more.
• So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall: We call this Degree Plus/Future Ready Award.
• It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Modules

• Year 1 training in essential practical musical skills with particular emphasis on
  • Audio Mixing I: This module introduces students to audio mixing in the software domain.
  • Introduction to Music: The goal of this module is to provide an introduction to music from an 'educated' perspective.
  • Introduction to Composition: The goal of this module is to provide
  musical composition.
  • Sound Recording and Production 1: This module will provide an introduction to the nature of sound, its properties and propagation and the tools used to professionally record sound and edit the resulting audio signals.
  • Fundamentals of Sound: This course will provide the base of technical skills and concepts required to work with sound successfully and efficiently in a technological environment.
• Year 2 power, force, significance and form of a series of new media texts, artefacts
  • Sonic Arts: This module is aimed at students who want to develop core skills in sound manipulation and composition practice.
  • Interactive Media and Future Broadcasting: This module explores aspects of this techno-cultural transformation, through both a practical exploration of the form and by considering critical debates exploring the
  and systems. psychology.
  • Songwriting: This module will develop technical and editorial skills in songwriting.
  • Experimental Popular Musics: This module will discuss varied topics including experimental pop music cultures, disco culture, as well as techno and electronic dance music cultures.
  • Radio and Podcast Production: This module will develop technical and editorial skills in radio and podcast production.
  • Instrument and Installation Design: This module will focus on the development of practical skills in the areas of software and hardware design and prototyping for artistic applications.
  • Music Psychology: This module introduces key themes in music
  • Sound Design for Screen: This module introduces sound design in the context of audio-visual production.
  • Sound Recording and Production 2: This module explores the theory and practice of multi-track sound recording, editing, mixing and mastering.
  • Improvisation: This module explores, through practice, collaborative improvisation practice, with recourse, where appropriate, to exploration of more individual modes of improvised conduct which contribute to collaborative music making.
  • Principles of Business in Arts, Cultural and Creative Industries: This course is designed for Stage 2 students in all Creative Arts disciplines to introduce and explore key elements in the ‘business’ of creative work.
  • Ensemble Performance 2: This module is suited to advanced musicians with experience of performing in ensembles working in and across traditional, pop, jazz, folk, classical, rock, electronic, improvisational and experimental performance.
  • Solo Performance 2: Instruction in 1st study solo performance (instrument or voice).
  • Film and Sound: History and Theory: This module will explore the relationships between film and sound, examining how the aesthetic, historical and cultural significance of film sound practices have been understood in the context of evolving technologies.
  • Fame: Lectures will offer case studies that illustrate how the fame of a person or a creative work can be manifested and measured in different cultural and temporal contexts.
  • Classical Analysis: The study of the Classical idiom through analysis of selected chamber and piano music by Haydn, Mozart and Schubert.
  • Composition II: The module focuses on the consolidation of technical skills in composition and on the development of an individual approach to composition.
  • Interactive Sensing Systems: This module involves basic electronics theory, programming and communication.
  • Notation and Transcription: The course teaches the wide range of skills needed to make editions of music from original manuscripts and printed sources of the 15th and 16th centuries.
• Year 3 they wish to further develop in a professional context.
  • Sonic Arts 2: This module will cover the analysis and practice of electroacoustic composition.
  • Audio Post Production: This module provides students with advanced sound design and audio post production skills for working with film, television, and new media content.
  • Film and Music: Theory and Criticism: This module considers how music and image interact in film, and the social and cultural aspects of these associations.
  • Professional Practice: This module is targeted at individuals and groups of students who have developed a significant body of artistic work that
  • Work-based Learning: This module provides an opportunity for student to utilise disciplinary skills in a work-based environment within the context of reflective practice.
  • Politics in Popular Song from the French Revolution to Punk: This module will look at how music and song have functioned as vehicles for promoting political ideas or as reflectors of cultural philosophies or developments.
  • Music in Culture: Bringing the entire cohort into a single class setting for the first time since Level 1, the module uses interdisciplinary methods to explore a range of significant sociocultural themes and their instantiation in varied musical practices.
  • Composing for Screen: This module explores the craft of scoring for screen and new media.
  • Music, Power and Conflict: From national anthems to Hip-Hop, and from K-Pop to the Proms, music is a means of performing and contesting power.
  • Music and Medicine: This module will discuss the role of music in cultural narratives of healing since the antiquity and the applications of music and music technology in medicine and health sciences.
  • Auditory Perception: This module focuses on the methods required to answer novel questions about the perception of sound, using specialised experiment design and literature-based scholarship.
  • Bach and Mozart: This module offers the chance to engage in depth with two major eighteenth-century works: Bach's Well-tempered Clavier and Mozart's late comic opera Così fan tutte.
  • Dissertation: A dissertation, of up to 10,000 words, on a subject approved by the pathway committee.
  • Double Performance 3: This module is suited to students performing in all genres.
  • Special Project: A dissertation, of up to 5,000 words, on a subject approved by the pathway committee.
  • Single Performance 3: This module is suited to students performing in all genres.
  • Traditional Irish Music: Form, Style and Development: This course is about the formal and stylistic characteristics of Irish traditional music and song.
  • The Politics of Performance: From Negotiation to Display: This module brings together the ecological, sensorial and political relations of performance in comparative analyses of intercultural practices from around the globe.
  • Sound Recording and Production 3: This module explores the practice of recording 'classical' or acoustic music performances using stereo microphone technique and mixing multitrack music recordings for surround sound production.
  • Composition 3a: In this module the student who has developed awareness of compositional technique through the preceding modules has the chance to work on original compositions under the supervision of the tutor.