Music - Composition: HND
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Course overview
This two-year full-time course will prepare you for a career in today’s music industry. You will perform, record, and write music in a professional environment, playing gigs in venues across the city.
We provide lessons in your chosen discipline (Voice, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drum Kit, Keyboards, and Composition). You will also learn how to effectively use digital recording software.
The course is ideal for school leavers, adult returners, the self-employed, and those already in employment.
What you will learn
The HND course may include the following subjects (subject to change):
- First Study (weekly instrument/composition lessons)
- Live Performance
- Music Theory
- Music Business for Musicians
- Song writing
- Music History
- Digital Audio Workstations
- Stagecraft for Musicians
- Music and Image: Graphics
- Keyboard Skills for Music Production
- Graded Unit project
Entry requirements
Entry is by audition: you will be invited in to the college for an audition, demonstrating proficiency in your chosen discipline. The audition will be the main factor in a successful application, and must include two contrasting pieces of your choice, played to an appropriate standard.
Examples of relevant qualifications could include:
- Relevant National Certificate or National Qualification in Music
- One SQA Higher (preferably English)
You must be 16 years or over at the start of the course.
For this course, if English is not your first language
- you need to have SQA ESOL Higher (or equivalent, click here to see equivalent qualifications)
- If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment here at the College.
Career Opportunities
Career within the music industry in areas such as:-
- Performing musician
- songwriter
- Producer
- Instrumental/vocal tutor
- Media composer
Future prospects
Successful completion of the course can lead to the degree courses at University of the West of Scotland, University of the Highlands and Islands (Perth), and Edinburgh Napier University among others.
Although many graduates progress to second or third year of university, there are also those who choose to go direct into working in the industry as self-employed musicians.
