Popular Music BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  Our Popular Music BA (Hons) degree equips you with the skills your need to perform popular music, read and write music, compose songs and make tracks, use music technology equipment including recording and producing music in our professional grade studios. As well as starting you off as a self-reliant musician working in an ever-evolving music industry.

  You will graduate with a 360° view of the music industry, your place within it and how you can move forward from here. The course follows several strands:

  • Performing, solo, technical work and live on stage.
  • Composing, songs and for media.
  • Music technology, including Logic Pro X, Musescore, Ableton and Pro Tools.
  • Recording, mixing and producing.
  • Researching, thinking and academic writing.
  • Develop music industry insights and skills.

  When you graduate, you’ll have the skills to understand why music is important culturally and economically as well as know how the popular music industry operates in relation to your own artist persona.

  Our popular music graduates have the skillset to take advantage of the incredible opportunities the future holds. And to succeed after graduation. This stems from the support and guidance of academics, some of whom have worked with global icons and international artists within the music industry.

  Open Mic Nights

  List of Modules

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

  • Stage 1
    • Professional Music Studies (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS1125

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the field of Professional Music Studies. The module focuses on production, consumption, and understanding of popular music and students will engage with a variety of approaches that help us to understand popular music?s cultural, social and economic value.
    • Performance 1 (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS1127

      Status: Compulsory
      This module develops general musicianship in a variety of contexts such as popular music, genre and performance. It includes ensemble playing, improvisation and performance work and practice based composition/arrangement. The emphasis of this course is in the development of practical skills in music making.
    • Cultural Theory 1 (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS1129

      Status: Compulsory
      This module introduces students to theoretical approaches afforded by cultural studies. Students will experience a range of complementary and competing theoretical positions related throughout the module to popular music and culture more broadly. The skills learnt here will act as a foundational scholarly base for analysis in later modules.
    • Digital Audio Workstation: Implementation (10 Credits)
      Module code: MUS1143

      Status: Compulsory
      This module introduces students to the fundamentals of digital audio workstation use through the application of Logic Pro and/or Ableton 10 software. The module teaches students the skills required to use a DAW effectively and professionally. It introduces MIDI, audio, and navigation of the DAW.
    • Digital Audio Workstation: Creation (10 Credits)
      Module code: MUS1144

      Status: Compulsory
      This module allows the students to creatively apply the fundamentals of digital audio workstation use through the creative application of Logic Pro X and/or Ableton 10 software. The module teaches students creative and musical applications within the DAW.
    • The Recording Studio: Driving Test (10 Credits)
      Module code: MUS1145

      Status: Compulsory
      This module introduces students to the recording studio. Its focus is on safe and accurate use of the analogue mixing console, and on the effective use of microphones and communication between musician and engineer in a professional recording studio.
    • The Recording Studio: Basic Recording (10 Credits)
      Module code: MUS1146

      Status: Compulsory
      This module continues in the recording studio. Now the students have completed the Driving Test, the focus is on completion of a recording session in small groups. The groups must demonstrate good microphone placement, routing, gain structure, dynamics processing, and basic approaches to mixing a session. This module will equip all students with the ability to use the recording studio flexibly and effectively to capture, process and mix sound.
    • Composition and Theory: Basic Music Theory (10 Credits)
      Module code: MUS1147

      Status: Compulsory
      The module introduces students to the foundations of music theory and composition. Given the inherent diversity within student cohorts abilities, this module will be subject to APL for students with Grade 3 already. Students that are exempted are still required to attend these Mac Suite sessions. All students are supported in this module by weekly instrumental lessons.
    • Composition and Theory 1: Application of Theory (10 Credits)
      Module code: MUS1148

      Status: Compulsory
      The module continues to develop the students foundations within music theory and composition. It builds upon students' knowledge of music theory, developing it to the equivalent Grade 5 standard. Students continue to be supported in this module by weekly instrumental lessons.
  • Stage 2
    • Performance 2 (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS2127

      Status: Designate
      This module allows the students to deepen their performance skills, composing and/or arranging of music in a practical context. This module seeks to strengthen the performance skill of students within contemporary context across sub-cultural traditions and develop their instrumental skills, techniques and approaches related to the performance of contemporary music.
    • Cultural Theory 2 (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS2129

      Status: Designate
      This module seeks to develop skills in interpretation, criticism and evaluation of musical practice. The module examines theoretical and musicological analytical models and provides students with a context for developing their understanding of musical debate.
    • Composition and Theory 2 (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS2130

      Status: Designate
      The Composition module will develop students understanding of techniques and processes in music composition. Our focus is on developments in composition from the 20th Century onwards and how these innovations relate to music in the present day.
    • Performance With Technology (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS2132

      Status: Designate
      This module introduces the student to approaches to performance with technology including the application of music software such as Ableton?s Live combined with mapped MIDI controllers. The module also considers approaches to music making beyond the DAW including working with analogue synthesis, drum machines and hardware effects.
    • How Music Works (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS2140

      Status: Designate
      Understanding how music ? sound ? behaves both acoustically and psychoacoustically is a necessary requisite for a successful career in music performance, music production and sound engineering. Many areas of work within the music industry require knowledge of sound processing and acoustic principles including studio recording, live sound engineering, the design of musical instruments, music production studios and synthesis. This module is therefore one that will underpin everything you do during this course. The module will enable the musician to understand the science behind their craft so as to better navigate their musical careers.
    • The Creative Practitioner (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS2141

      Status: Designate
      This module develops professional skills relevant to working both in the music industry and further afield. With a focus on enterprise, entrepreneurialism and professional development, students will explore a variety of ways by which they might manage their professional careers. Students undertake an industry placement.
    • Digital Audio Workstation 2: Synthesis (10 Credits)
      Module code: MUS2150

      Status: Designate
      Students are introduced a crucial production method found in popular music production and sound design: synthesis. The advanced use of a digital audio workstation is integral to the completion of the production tasks, where students will develop their knowledge and understanding of synthesis and sound design.
    • Digital Audio Workstation 2: Sampling (10 Credits)
      Module code: MUS2151

      Status: Designate
      Students are introduced to a key production method found in popular music production: sampling. The advanced use of a digital audio workstation is integral to the completion of the production tasks, where students will develop their knowledge and understanding of digital audio and sampling.
  • Stage 3
    • Pop and the State (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS3125

      Status: Designate
      This module examines the relationship between popular music and the political sphere. In the first instance the focus will be on the role of the state in providing legislative frameworks that inform musical practice. Secondly it will examine how popular music has engaged with protest music, political activism and censorship.
    • Music and Sound Design for Media (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS3127

      Status: Designate
      This module is designed to develop skills in audio production and sound design. Through lectures, seminars and workshops, students will gain an understanding of the context of sound design in media applications including location based media, film and computer games.
    • Performance 3 (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS3128

      Status: Designate
      This module gives the student the opportunity to apply their musical knowledge in areas such as performance, song writing, composition and/or arrangement. The focus is towards collaborative work with accompanying musicological analytic write ups.
    • Music Education (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS3130

      Status: Designate
      The Music Education module has been designed to bridge between undergraduate study and post-compulsory teaching qualifications. Much of the content is drawn from PGCE level accompanied by a placement. This module prepares students for teaching by providing information about a wide range of teaching and learning methodologies, theories and practice.
    • The Philosophy of Music (20 Credits)
      Module code: MUS3135

      Status: Designate
      Continuing from the work done in Cultural Theory, this module broadens the study beyond the postmodern culture and into the realms of the analytical and the metaphysical. This module explores the lasting legacy of Enlightenment philosophy on contemporary popular music. In particular students will examine how analytical and metaphysical philosophical traditions and approaches have shaped contemporary popular musical practice across a broad range of styles and genres. Critical thinking is the process of active engagement with texts, theories, ideas and information, and it is the basis for any success in the battle of ideas.
    • Advanced Recording and Production: Client Demos (10 Credits)
      Module code: MUS3143

      Status: Designate
      The module will enable students to develop their recording and production skills to an advanced level in order to produce recordings which are ready for commercial release on our NN1_Records label. Projects will be achieved by working at the University studio and through working with external partners.
    • Advanced Recording and Production: Final Product (10 Credits)
      Module code: MUS3144

      Status: Designate
      The module will enable students to ensure their recording and production skills are to an advanced level by producing recordings which are ready for commercial release on our NN1_Records label. Projects will be achieved by working at the University studio and through working with external partners.
    • Professional Project 40 (40 Credits)
      Module code: MUS4121

      Status: Designate
      This module is for students intending to work in practice-based areas of contemporary music and for students interested in developing a project in a related field of popular music that may be either more entrepreneurial or theoretical.
    • Popular Music Dissertation (40 Credits)
      Module code: MUS4125

      Status: Designate
      This module provides an opportunity for students to develop, at length, a particular disciplinary interest. This may derive either from study in the first two years of the degree, or from reading and/or practice activities on their own initiative. In either case, they will bring to bear on their subject matter the analytical techniques learnt during their degree.

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join this full time degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home. In addition to this, first year Popular Music BA (Hons) students get free one-to-one instrumental lessons.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

  *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

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• Integrated Foundation Year (IFY)

  The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

  If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

  Our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

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• FAQs

  How will I be taught on Popular Music BA (Hons)?

  You will be taught through, small group lectures, seminars, tutorials, online tutorials, workshops, independent and group study, one-to-one supervisions.

  How will I be assessed?

  Assessment includes practical project work, seminar presentations, essays, and examinations. All performance assessments take place in a public venue in Northampton in front of a live audience.

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