Music - Bass: HND
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Course overview
Create the soundtracks of tomorrow — write, arrange, and produce music that moves people.
This two-year, full-time HND Music (Composition) course develops your creative voice as a composer and songwriter, preparing you for work across performance, production, and media industries. You’ll collaborate with performers, work in professional studios, and learn how to shape ideas from first draft to finished track.
You’ll explore a wide range of genres and composition techniques while developing the technical, theoretical, and digital skills needed to succeed in the modern music industry.
This course is ideal for:
- Musicians passionate about writing and producing original material
- School leavers or adult returners looking to develop creative and technical skills
- Composers aiming for a career in music creation, production, or media
- Those planning to progress to university-level study in music composition or sound design
What you will learn
Your studies combine creative experimentation with structured professional practice through modules such as:
- First Study – Composition: Weekly one-to-one tuition developing your ideas, arrangements, and creative process
- Live Performance Collaboration: Work with instrumentalists and vocalists to bring your compositions to life on stage and in the studio
- Digital Audio Workstations: Compose, arrange, and mix your work using Logic Pro and Pro Tools
- Music Theory & Harmony: Strengthen your understanding of rhythm, form, and harmony to refine your writing
- Songwriting Techniques: Explore lyric writing, structure, and melody to enhance your creative output
- Music Business for Musicians: Learn about copyright, publishing, and promoting your work professionally
- Music History & Context: Study influential composers and the evolution of modern styles and technologies
Classes are practical, project-based, and collaborative — mirroring how composers work with performers, producers, and clients in the real world.
Entry requirements
✅ One Higher (including Music or equivalent) or an NQ Music qualification
✅ Demonstrable ability in music composition and arranging
✅ Interview and portfolio review (scores, recordings, or digital projects)
✅ Mature applicants with experience will also be considered
Your audition will be the key factor in selection, focusing on performance skill, musical awareness, and enthusiasm for collaborative work.
ℹ️ Applicants must be 16 years or older at the start of the course.
ℹ️ 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
Graduates go on to work as:
🎼 Composer
🎶 Songwriter
🎧 Music Producer
📀 Recording Artist
🧑🏫 Music Tutor
🎮 Media/Film Composer
Future prospects
Graduates can progress to:
- BA/BMus degree pathways at the University of the West of Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University or UHI Perth
- Careers in performance, songwriting, production, or education
Many graduates also move directly into industry as self-employed musicians, performers, or producers.
