Music - Bass: NQ (Level 6)
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Course overview
Bring melody and harmony together as you develop your playing style.
The National Qualification in Music (Piano/Keyboard) is ideal for those keen to develop performance skills in pop, rock, and indie genres. It’s suited to school leavers, adult returners, and working musicians looking to strengthen their technical ability and confidence.
During this one-year, full-time course, you’ll perform and record regularly, work with other students, and learn to use digital recording software creatively. You will also collaborate with Music Business and Music Performance students to develop and showcase original work.
You’ll build your understanding of chords, harmony, and performance technique across piano and keyboard.
It’s the perfect introduction for anyone planning to advance to HND Music or begin performing live.
This course is ideal for:
- Passionate musicians keen to develop performance and songwriting skills.
- Learners aiming to perform live and record music professionally.
- Those seeking structured training and studio experience with industry-standard tools.
- Students planning to progress to HNC/HND Music Performance, Music Business, or Sound Production
What you will learn
You’ll develop expressive, versatile performance skills and a solid understanding of harmony and composition.
- Strengthen technique, accuracy, and expression through one-to-one lessons.
- Explore chords, progressions, and music theory through practical keyboard work.
- Use MIDI sequencing and recording tools to create and edit music digitally.
- Gain experience performing both solo and in ensembles.
- Collaborate with classmates across genres to produce and perform original compositions.
You’ll become confident performing in both live and studio settings, with the creative skill set to adapt to multiple musical roles.
Entry requirements
✅ Entry is by audition. You’ll be invited to perform two contrasting pieces in your chosen discipline (bass, drums, guitar, piano/keyboard, or vocals).
✅ No formal qualifications required, though National 5 English is desirable.
✅ Applicants without qualifications but with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.
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 from this course can progress to entry-level roles such as:
🎹 Session Pianist/Keyboardist – live and studio work
💡 Composer/Arranger – creating music for artists, film, or theatre
⚡ Performer/Recording Artist – producing or releasing your own material
💼 Music Educator – piano or theory tuition
Future prospects
Successful completion of the course can lead to:
- HNC/HND Music Performance
- HNC/HND Music Business
- HNC/HND Sound Production or TV Production
This NQ provides a strong foundation for anyone serious about building a career in performance or progressing into higher-level creative study.
