FD Music Performance & Production Y1

Start Date

Level: 5

Course Course: P00203

Area: Performing Arts and Music

Campus: Hillsborough Campus

About this Course

Launch your creative career with hands-on training in performance and production at The Sheffield College. Study in professional studios and rehearsal spaces, learn from working musicians and producers, perform across Sheffield, and collaborate on live industry briefs. You’ll build a strong portfolio and gain real-world experience, including opportunities with our student-led commercial record label. With a strong focus on freelance work, entrepreneurship and professionalism, the course prepares you for careers in performance, production, education, events and community arts. You’ll graduate as a skilled, reflective and versatile musician, ready to shape and champion a diverse music industry.

What you can study

Turn your passion into a profession - Study FdA Music Performance & Production at UC Sheffield. Launch a career in the creative industries with a foundation degree that blends artistry, industry experience and entrepreneurial thinking. The FdA Music Performance and Production gives you hands-on training in both performance and production, helping you develop the specialist craft and real-world confidence demanded by today’s music sector.

Study in purpose-built rehearsal spaces and professional studios, and gain direct insight from working musicians, producers and creative employers connected to the course. You won’t just learn music - you’ll do music: perform in venues across Sheffield, collaborate on live briefs, and build a portfolio that showcases you as a professional. With so many musicians now working freelance, the programme intentionally integrates self-employment and entrepreneurship, preparing you to create your own opportunities after graduation. You’ll gain not only technical skill, but also the transferable, reflective and collaborative abilities that make you employable across performance, production, education, community arts, events and more.

A unique highlight of the programme is the launch of the college’s student-led commercial record label - giving you the chance to contribute to real releases, gain industry credit, and learn how music is made, marketed and managed in practice. Whether you want to perform, produce, run projects or carve your own path in the music world, this course equips you with the knowledge, the network and the momentum to make it happen.

Level 4

Semester 1

Music in Context
Practical Musicianship
Music Theory
Composition

Semester 2

Live Sound and Recording
Elements of Performance
Analysis and Composition

Level 5

Semester 1

Improvisation and Collaborative Composition
Music Studio Production
Advanced Compositional Techniques

Semester 2

Creating a Composition Product
Music Entrepreneurship
Music Technology in Performance

Course handbook

Click here to download a copy of the course handbook.

Entry Requirements

64 points from A Levels, BTEC or other Level 3 in courses related to music performance/production (or equivalents with supporting performance or theory grades, grade 6 and above)
English GCSE at Grade 4/C or above, or an equivalent qualification (e.g. Functional Skills at Level 2)

Students need not have a theory qualification to enter the programme.

In addition to the above, all students are auditioned before acceptance to ensure basic competence in performance / production ability.

Assessment

Throughout the programme, assessment is through live briefs and real-work situations, wherever possible.

Students will generally produce evidence of practical application of theory, such as portfolio of composition or portfolio work, along with accompanying written work to assess knowledge and understanding.

Written work may include context, research, justification, reflection and/or evaluation. Each module learning outcome will be assessed once, although there will be scope for students to try ideas and obtain self, peer and/or tutor formative feedback.

Where does this Lead

Many students choose to progress to The Sheffield College's BA(Hons) Music Performance and Production Top-up.

Alternatively, there are also a wide range of honors degree programmes and courses available across the country, at universities and other higher education institutions.

Future Opportunities

The majority of the music industry is self employed and the FdA Music Performance and Production course builds skills conidence in this area to start in business as a:

performing musician
composer
session musician
music producer
sound engineer
audio technician
promoter

Other students progress to employment in:

music education
music journalism
event management
music venues

Tell Me More

How to apply

Please note that applications for this course should be made through UCAS.

UCAS application code: W3W3

College institution code: S22

Additional information

Additional information about higher education at The Sheffield College can be found here.

The Sheffield College is a registered provider with the Office for Students.

Validating partner

This programme is validated through the University of Hull. To find out more about the partnership, click here.

Terms and Conditions

You can find details of our higher education policies, procedures and T&Cs here.

Extra Costs

Students will need to supply their own consumables (e.g. sticks, strings etc.).

Students in financial hardship may be eligible for support via the HE Student Support Fund.

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