COURSE OVERVIEW

TAUGHT BY THE INDUSTRY, SHAPED BY LONDON

The Higher Diploma in Music Performance is an internationally recognised qualification, created to prepare you for a career in the music industry. But spending a year in London with us will give you much more than that.

We’ve designed your Higher Diploma music course to be an experience as much as it is a training. With London’s famous musical heritage, list of incredible venues, and our many industry connections, this could be one of the most important and enjoyable years of your career.

Inspiration is an important part of learning at ICMP London. That’s why your course incorporates several backstage tours around London’s best and oldest venues, plus a visit to The Cavern Club in Liverpool, where The Beatles rose to fame. Visiting the legend that is Abbey Road Studios is always a highlight for our students but being given time to record there is an experience money just can’t buy.

Our students also benefit from free tickets and entry to some of the best venues on London’s festival and club scene – names to be announced at the time of enrolment. These experiences run alongside the opportunity to gig yourself at selected venues, offering you an immersive experience that balances inspiration with performance.

We have a wide range of Music Hack Days for you to choose from, all of which are instrument and genre-specific. These events, hosted by expert figures in the music business, allow you to explore the sounds of jazz, blues, pop, rap and everything in between.

Whether you’re a vocalist, guitarist, bassist or drummer, you’ll enjoy masterclasses with some of the industry’s most interesting musicians. And with instrumental technique, performance and creative thinking covered by the artists, our expert education team that will provide practical training in your chosen specialisation as well as learning about financial and business practise within the industry.

We deliberately limit the number of places available on this course, because we know the value of keeping these experiences – like our Songwriting and Music Production weekend – within small groups. It means you’ll have excellent access to the world-class equipment we’ve collected, as well as the special connections we’ve made.

In just one year, you’ll find yourself in a very different place than you are today. At ICMP London you’ll have the option to take an undergraduate music degree or further music qualification. You’ll have new skills and greater confidence. And, you’ll share something very special with the musical giants who used the streets of London to get to the world stage.

The Higher Diploma is Awarded by Pearson Edexcel.

Full Fees Information | Full Programme Specification 

Course starts: 30th April 2018

Key facts

  • Course starts 30th April 2018
  • The personalised learning experience equips you with the knowledge, understanding and skills for successful employment in the music industry
  • The London location provides opportunities to perform in gigs at top London venues and immerse yourself in the current music scene
  • High-quality teaching by industry practitioners
  • Extensive music industry links and access enable you to build that all-important network
  • A high level of contact teaching hours is delivered in small groups in world-class facilities
  • A creative and inspiring learning environment
  • Further progression to an undergraduate degree or further professional qualification in music on successful completion of the course

COURSE DETAILS

Music Performance Skills

Music Performance Studies

Band Rehearsal and Performance

Aural Perception and Music Notation

Creative Arts Research Skills and Music in Context

Playing and performing music is central to the ICMP Higher Diploma, and this core unit will enable you to develop your skills and experience to a professional standard in regular live performance workshops. You will engage with the preparation and presentation of varied repertoire in both group and solo live performance scenarios; exploring and discovering a varied repertoire is an important element of acquiring good musicianship and overall professional performance skills. Additionally, you will develop the key techniques of memory, communication, improvisation and critical listening, building on your growing instrumental or vocal ability.
To ensure you grow and develop as a professional musician, the practice of technique and the accurate playing of music across a range of styles are absolutely essential skills. This unit enables you to develop these skills through the study of varied repertoire, alongside reading and sight-reading techniques and structured practice and preparation. Central to this unit is effective rehearsing, specialist direction and performance techniques for both solo and ensemble work.
All live performances have at their core an awareness and understanding of the skills required for the process and production of musical events. On this unit you will engage with a study of planning procedures, preproduction/rehearsal scheduling and performance relevant to a live performance production. Underpinned by essential research into current practices and legislation governing performance events, this unit enables you to develop your communication skills and provides opportunities to network with professional companies. You will also study financial planning, logistics and marketing, all of which are fundamental to the successful completion of a professional performance.
This unit encourages you to begin developing the essential skill of transcribing music using conventional staff notation alongside other systems of notation. You will also understand and use industry standard musical vocabulary and be able to identify and communicate the key characteristics of different styles of music. You will focus on different musical forms and be able to analyse musical styles using structure, instrumentation, texture and dynamics. To put this in practice, you will compose music using a wide variety of notation including traditional staff notation, graphic scores and tablature.
The cultural significance of the music you play, perform and listen to is an extremely important element of the music industry. This unit encourages you to discuss the importance of aspects such as globalisation, cultural environment and the use of technology. You will analyse different genres of music, looking at the characteristics of each style and exploring the social and cultural context of those styles. You will be taught how to research and then write-up, debate and discuss your findings, useful and invaluable techniques should you wish to progress to further study and gain a higher understanding of the music you value and listen to.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants will typically have A levels, BTEC Diploma or Extended Diploma, or International Baccalaureate equivalent to 32 UCAS points .

In addition, you should hold GCSE Grade C or above in English and Maths, or suitable equivalent, such as Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Adult Literacy/Numeracy.

We also welcome applications from mature applicants who may have no formal qualifications but who can nevertheless demonstrate their suitability for study through appropriate skills and experience.

International: English language requirement - Min Level B2 of the CEFR for further information please see our International students section of the website

All applicants will be invited to audition. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please register your interest via  the "APPLY NOW" link  below.

Our Admissions team are here to help. If you need help or further advice you can contact them on the number and email below.



By phone:
020 7328 0222

By email:
enquiries@icmp.ac.uk

or

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