Music courses
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Whether you dream of taking centre-stage at Glastonbury or composing music for film, signing up artists to a record label or sound engineering at gigs, a Derby College music course could help you hit all the high notes.
Music industry
The UK's music scene is acclaimed across the globe: music is one of our most popular exports and is breathtaking in its diversity.
The business relies on a steady input of fresh talent to perform, create, produce, record, promote, sell and teach music.
The explosion of new technologies, digital platforms and formats means it is constantly changing and innovating. If you have energy and tenacity to go along with your creativity, it's the ideal sector for you to make your name.
Latest statistics show there are almost 8,000 music businesses in the UK, employing around 125,000 people. They range from major corporations to sole traders – some 50,000 of professionals in the industry operate on a freelance basis.
Music careers
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Employers in the music industry can afford to be choosy – they receive countless applications for every single job. So it pays to have some qualifications to go with your talent and your passion for the subject. In fact, statistics show that the music sector workforce is highly-qualified when compared with the UK working population in general.
Many people in the music scene have to take on a wide variety of roles – a broad-based education will help prepare you for that challenge.
Music courses
Derby College's courses in music and music technology provide intense training which will set you up to achieve your ultimate ambition, whether it's to be a performing artist, composer, recording engineer, sound engineer or to work on the management side of the business.
You will improve your own musical skills and gain an overview of the sound and music industry in general, including issues such as concert staging, marketing and promotion. A closer look at the music freelance world will stand you in good stead if you would like to start your own business too.
The high quality of the College's teaching provides a foundation for success. In 2010, 30 per cent of students on the BTEC Extended Diploma in Music and in Music Technology gained triple distinctions – the equivalent of three A grades at A-level.
If you want to take your music knowledge to the next level, these qualifications can put you on the path to specialist degree courses at university.
Music at Derby College
You'll perfect your skills in our state-of-the-art music studios built by leading industry specialists.
Located in the Joseph Wright Centre in Derby city centre, the high-specification facilities include four studio control rooms and three live/practice rooms.
All the rooms link together to create a unique and inspirational learning space. They are packed with up-to-the minute equipment, resources and software.
Our industry-experienced teaching staff will help you make the most of your talents through lectures, demonstrations and practical projects featuring real-world scenarios. The range of enrichment activities is superb: from seminars led by guest speakers to workshops with musicians from around the world.
There is every opportunity to showcase what you have learned in regular performances within and outside the College, on stage or in vital behind-the-scenes technical roles.
Derby College plays a key part in the musical life of the city and region, with events such as Battle of the Bands.
I have had an amazing time at College and it has really helped me to make up my mind about what I want to do in the future. Studying for A-levels was just too gruelling with suffering from ME but a vocational course has given me the space and flexibility to be able to cope with my condition and still achieve high grades.
