Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Music Production for Media

“Ahmet forged the careers of major artists and bands like us. He had an immense passion for new music and always championed new talent. Ravensbourne is continuing his legacy by supporting young and emerging artists when they need it most – at the start of their music careers.” -
Robert Plant lead singer Led Zeppelin

The BA (Hons) Music Production for Media was set up with the support of the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund. This Fund was established by the late Ahmet Ertegun, co-founder of Atlantic Records who signed major bands such as Led Zeppelin. Ravensbourne is proud to be a beneficiary of this Fund and hopes this course will prove a fitting testament to the legacy of Ahmet Ertegun. The Ertegun Education Fund will be providing three scholarships annually, these will be worth £8000 across three years and are open to all new students.

The course is intended for a new breed of musician who recognises and embraces the radical changes that are occurring in the music industry. It is aimed at the music performers, producers and composers who wish to take their musical learning and adapt it to a number of uses in order to forge a career that will combine both creativity and business acumen.

Students will build on their core skills as musicians and learn how to use them to compose and produce music that can be used in a variety of media and can be exploited on a variety of platforms. These include work in the following areas:

• Television drama and documentary soundtrack
• Film score composition
• Videogame music design
• Theatre and live musical composition
• Advertising and short form music composition

The aim of the course is that students will write music and produce for television, film or games while maintaining their creative practice, i.e. performing live or playing in a band. They’ll know how these various industries function, what is expected of them and what language people use in that industry, while maintaining the rights on their work and are able to exploit it online or through other media.

There is also a very strong emphasis on collaboration, on working with students from the BA (Hons) Sound Design course, from other courses across the college and with outside professional organisations. You’ll be working on real projects, with film makers, games designers, directors and producers and learning to overcome real problems and seeing your work used in real-world situations. Students will be given every opportunity to prepare them for work in industry either as a freelance producer and composer or running their own company.

You will need to be flexible, pragmatic, able to think on your feet, communicate well and recognise how best to make the most of every opportunity. Your sense of versatility must also carry through to your attitude towards music. You must be willing to adapt and change styles in order to fit a brief and be comfortable with both traditional and contemporary compositional methods. The course will be launching in Autumn 2010 with application being accepted in the academic year 2009-10.

“Ahmet Ertegun attributed much of his success to his excellent education and ability to recognise innovative artists. This important new course at Ravensbourne will nurture highly talented students and provide them with the skills and commercial acumen to succeed in the age of digital music production and distribution. The music industry has been revolutionised and the need for a new breed of entrepreneurs has never been greater.”-
Harvey Goldsmith music entrepreneur and trustee of the Ahmet Ertegun Foundation

Level 1

Aims to develop your compositional ability. You will master the essentials of composing for screen, alongside business and contextual studies. Topics include: laptop musicianship; recording studio techniques; sound and music for television; music theory and composition for popular genres.

Level 2

Applies your compositional abilities to interactive media and live performance.

This Level also introduces orchestral scoring techniques.

You will further develop your entrepreneurial acumen and critical analysis skills. Topics include: sound and music for live performance; sound and music for film and composition for orchestral and the hollywood sound.

Level 3

Gives you the opportunity to study a specific area of interest in considerable depth.

You also have the flexibility to apply compositional skills in a professional context through portfolio, project and collaborative work. You will graduate prepared to emerge into a highly competitive marketplace. Topics include: sound and music for interactive media; composition; individual project and portfolio.

In addition, each Level contains units in Contextual Studies, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and Personal and Professional Development to give you a rounded education that prepares you for professional life.

Assessment

You will be assessed through the completion of practical and written work including essays and a range of individual or group artefacts, presentations and project reports that focus on practical and business skills.

There will also be critical self and peer-evaluation to allow you to reflect on your development, and support to give you feedback and help you succeed.

Learning and Support

The course’s learning and support methods aim to develop you both technically and professionally. You will learn through tutorials, masterclasses focusing on specific creative and technical skills, workshops, work experience and a mix of group and individual projects.

Learning is facilitated by a well qualified permanent teaching staff, sessional staff and visiting guest speakers who bring an important industry perspective to the course.

Career Opportunities

This course prepares you for employment creating music as both a self-contained commercial product and in combination with other art forms across a range of recorded and live media. You will be equipped with the technology skills necessary to produce, promote and sell sophisticated musical productions on laptops and within studio environments. You will graduate with the entrepreneurial, business and management skills to market yourself and your work effectively.

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