Music Higher National Diploma - HND

The main ingredient for success on this course is a deep love of music and a willingness to work hard. You will develop academic, technological, creative and performance skills.

This career-focused course will prepare you for working in the industry by developing professional skills, many of which are transferable to different careers. As well as the technical, performance and production elements you’ll be busy refining your skills across management, marketing, networking, theory and many more.Leading it all is a team of tutors with exceptional experience both as performers and in technical fields including studio construction, production in analogue, virtual and visual environments.

The HNC and HND Music programmes offer three specialist pathways: Sound Engineering, Music Production and Music Performance. Each pathway combines practical creative work with the technical, professional and academic skills required to progress within today’s music industry.

At Level 4, you will complete the Process and Practice module, which includes Concept and Development and a Creative Project. You will explore the history and development of your chosen area, develop creative ideas, strengthen your technical skills and learn about professional practices within the music industry. You will then apply your learning to an industry-focused creative project.

At Level 5, you will complete the Professional Creative Practice module, including Personal Professional Development and a Professional Project. You will refine your specialist practice, respond to professional briefs and develop a portfolio that reflects your career ambitions.

Depending on your chosen pathway, your practical work will focus on:\
• Sound Engineering – developing technical and creative sound-engineering skills for recorded, live and multimedia settings.\
• Music Production – creating and producing recorded music and audio products while developing your understanding of production technologies and professional workflows.\
• Music Performance – developing your performance technique, creativity and stagecraft through rehearsals, live and recorded performances, improvisation and audience engagement.

Across all pathways, you will explore current industry practice, collaboration, communication, copyright and ethics, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, sustainability, promotion and audience development.

You will use the College’s high-quality studios, theatre and computer facilities to complete practical projects and collaborate with other creative students. Projects will help you develop the confidence, technical ability and professional behaviours needed for employment, freelance work or progression to further degree-level study.