In case you were wondering…
Here’s some of the most exciting, innovative, and unique aspects of ACM that you should experience in 2018.
1. Industry Link
We’ll help you take your first steps into the music industry. Through regular networking events, work placements, performance showcases and audition opportunities, students are able to showcase their knowledge and talent to music industry executives (including representatives from labels, publishers and management companies), gaining first-hand feedback from those at the top of their specialist area.
Run by Ace, of Skunk Anansie fame, the department connects students to a network of top-tier industry partners in the music and wider creative industries, and also offers regular tutorial opportunities with visiting guests.
2. Gigs
Plenty of opportunities to perform. Our Industry Link team also put on over 200 gigs each year, in real venues across Guildford, London, and Birmingham, as well as in the incredible Electric Theatre on campus at ACM Guildford. Check out some of the photos from our recent gigs on Facebook.
3. Masterclasses
Learn from the biggest names in the music industry. What’s better than learning from your heroes? We invite a wide variety of musicians, music professionals and industry heavyweights to come in and talk to our students every term, so that our students benefit from a wealth of experience and advice from the very best the industry has to offer. Recent guests include George Clinton, Chad Smith, Frank Turner, legendary producer Andrew Scheps, Divinity Roxx (Beyonce), Jason Cooper (The Cure), Beanie (Rudimental), Rob Harris (Jamiroquai), Skindred, Carleen Anderson, and many more.
4. Artist Development & Creative Output
Develop into the artist or entrepreneur you want to be. Headed up by Kieron Pepper (The Prodigy ’97-’07, Radiophonic Workshop), our Artist Development and Creative Output team work closely with artists and musicians at ACM in order to help them evolve and navigate their creative and professional development. Their aim is to discover what makes up your musical DNA, your story so far, and to align your academic experience with your career aspirations.
For our Music Business and entrepreneurial students, Dave Cronen uses his extensive network to provide business-related internship and work opportunities as part of our Business Link, ensuring that whichever part of the industry you want to go into, we will help you get there.
5. Unparalleled Facilities
Learn in our industry-standard studios and performance spaces. At ACM we keep our facilities open late on weekdays, and on weekends, ready for whenever creativity strikes. Everything can be booked through our state-of-the-art mobile app, myACM. All of our campuses are fitted with the highest quality equipment; from our Tama drum kits to our PA systems, microphones to amps, recording studios to our Mac suites. All of our Macs are loaded with Ableton, Pro Tools and Logic, to suit everyone’s preferences.
At ACM Guildford, we have almost 65,000 square feet of facilities, including The Billings (where you’ll find Industry Link and various MIT suites and classrooms), the Artist Development Centre, our Riverside SU Cafe, the Rodboro Building, and The Electric Theatre.
We’re not done yet and we’re always working to improve things even further, so keep an eye out for more upgrades on the way!
6. World-class Tutors
Connect with the best. Our world-renowned music industry professionals are also expert educators who inform and inspire. Each and every day, our staff bring the most up-to-date knowledge and rarest of opportunities from the outside world back into our classrooms. Check out the news feed for all the latest on what our tutors are getting up to in the music industry.
7. 2-year Degree Courses
Affordable music degree programmes. At ACM Guildford and ACM Birmingham, our innovative degree courses run in an accelerated fashion – 3 years of a traditional programme have been condensed into two years – which means that you get into the industry a year earlier than the rest, and you can save approximately £9,000 on your tuition fees.
For those of you who would prefer a 3-year Degree course, have a look at our ACM London courses, or the foundation-year programmes at ACM Guildford.
8. Support while you’re at ACM, and after you graduate!
Get the support you need, when you need it. Here at ACM, we are small enough to care, and big enough to make a difference. We operate a holistic approach to creative education; our nurturing, supportive environment goes beyond delivering academic excellence, and as such we have full-time teams dedicated to student support, education guidance, and wellbeing & mindfulness.
To read more about the support we offer, head here.
Support from ACM doesn’t end when you graduate – long after that, you’ll always be welcome here. Plus, only ACM students gain access to Nexus, our 13,000 strong alumni network of music industry professionals who are there to support their fellow ACM graduates.
9. Metropolis
Immerse yourself in the music industry. Our sister-company Metropolis Studios is responsible for creatively treating, on average, more than 50% of the UK Chart in any one year.
Join us at ACM and join the scores of world-renowned recording artists, performers, producers and industry executives that have graced the hallowed halls of Metropolis’ Grade II-listed Powerhouse over the last quarter of a century. Only ACM students learn from Metropolis’ Grammy Award-winning residents and are invited to exclusive events and masterclasses within the Metropolis recording complex.
10. Optional Modules
Tailor your education. At ACM Guildford, our unique Music Industry Practice programmes offer you a one-of-a-kind music industry education, with elective modules from the very first year and additional modules available throughout your studies. We understand that everyone’s career aspirations and interests are different, so we’ve designed our courses to allow you to adapt your studies to suit your preferences.
Interested in learning Ableton alongside your Music Business course? You got it. Want to work on your Movement and Dance as a performer? You can here. How about Video Production, a Second Instrument, or Marketing and Social Media Skills? Go for it. Our aim is to empower you, so you graduate with all the skills you need to make your mark in the music industry.
Head over to our course pages for a full breakdown of all the modules available to you.
