Undergraduate BA(hons) or BSc (Hons) Creative Industries Futures (Music) Guitar

Modules 

MIF – 401 Music Industry Futures 

This module gives students an overview of the music industry, past, present, and future. Students learn about the mechanisms, structures, and practices that drive the music industry and where their specialism sits within it, whilst gaining an understanding of key fundamentals of music business, structure, market, and areas of specialism. 

MIF-407 Music Industry Futures

Studying alongside students from every music pathway, you’ll explore the people, organisations and processes that shape today’s music business, from recording and publishing to live events and emerging technologies. You’ll gain an understanding of how songwriters collaborate with industry professionals, whilst developing a broad awareness of the opportunities, challenges and career paths that define the modern music industry.

MIF-411 Specialist Creative Practice 1

Build the practical skills that form the foundation of your future career as a musician and performer. This module is taught through hands-on Skills Labs where you will explore the technical aspects of guitar development, looking at a range of techniques, styles and approaches as well as the fundamentals of contemporary popular music theory, ear training and critical listening.

MIF-412 Specialist Creative Practice 2

As you build on the foundations established in Specialist Creative Practice 1, you’ll refine your technical approach to your guitar playing, strengthen your creative decision-making and develop your Digital Audio Workstation Composition and Arrangement skills, using DAWs such as Logic and Ableton. You will also explore the fundamentals of ensemble performance, studying a range of genres and focusing on chart reading and arranging skills. Through your practical Skills Labs, you’ll develop more advanced techniques that support your ongoing growth as a musician and performer.

MIF-413 Music Culture & Communities

Music shapes cultures, communities and influences the world around us. In this module, you’ll study alongside other pathways across music and explore how the music industry connects with society, identity and creative communities. Through discussion, research and shared perspectives, you’ll gain a broader understanding of the cultural impact of music whilst developing valuable research skills that will inform your own practice as a songwriter and help you create work that connects with music industry professionals and audiences.

CIF – 405 Preparing for Collaborative Projects

During this module you’ll develop the skills needed to prepare you for working with peers across the music degree to apply your musician and performance skills to an interdisciplinary creative project.

CIF – 406 – Engaging in Collaborative Projects

Following on from CIF-405, you’ll work collaboratively on a shared project brief with students from other disciplines. You’ll build upon your skills to support larger projects with the creative industry and contribute your musician and performance skills to fulfilling a creative brief.

Modules 

CIF – 501 – Specialist Collaborative Work

This module allows you to apply your songwriting skills within ambitious, cross-disciplinary creative projects. Working alongside students from across the music degree, you’ll respond to industry-inspired briefs, taking on the role of a songwriter to shape songs and compositions to collaborative outcomes. Along the way, you’ll be strengthening your project management, communication and creative problem-solving skills.

CIF – 502 – Professional Collaborative Work

You’ll take your collaborative experience into a professional context by delivering a major project that reflects the realities of the music industry. Working with students across the course, you’ll apply your performance and musician expertise to help realise ambitious creative work, managing technical and creative challenges and developing the confidence, adaptability and professional mindset needed to succeed as a musician in today’s collaborative creative industries.

CIF – 503 – Specialist Route Skills 

Refine the skills needed to perform as a musician across various sectors of the music industry. Your skills labs will take you through technical development of your guitar practice, learning a second instrument as well as different musical styles that are essential for musicians and ensemble players. Combining advanced technical practice with critical reflection, you’ll build the confidence, creativity and professional understanding required to deliver industry-ready performances.

CIF – 504 – Professional Route Skills 

Building on your Specialist Route Skills, you’ll expand your guitar expertise by applying your skills to a range of professional projects. Through advanced skills labs, you’ll further develop your skills in music improvisation and advanced music literacy and arrangement.Through building a portfolio of professional work, you’ll demonstrate the technical ability, adaptability and critical thinking needed to succeed across the modern music industry.

Modules

CIF-601 Critical Review Preparation

Prepare for your dissertation by developing the research, analysis and critical thinking skills needed to investigate contemporary issues in performance and musician based practices. You’ll explore current debates, technologies and professional practice whilst learning how to evaluate sources, develop research questions and construct evidence-based arguments. This module will provide the foundation for independent research, helping you identify a topic that reflects your interests and future career ambitions.

CIF – 601 – Critical Review 

Undertake an independent research project exploring an area of performance or musician-based practices that matters to you. Whether investigating emerging songwriting trends and technologies, creative practice, writing workflows, or the wider social and cultural impact of music, you’ll critically evaluate contemporary issues using academic research and professional evidence. You’ll produce a substantial piece of work that demonstrates your ability to think critically, conduct independent research and contribute to conversations shaping the future of music performance.

CIF – 603 – Leadership and CPD

Prepare for life beyond your studies by developing the advanced technical skills and professional mindset expected of guitarists. Through specialist Skills Labs, you’ll explore advanced technical development in your guitar practice and explore advanced ensemble and musical direction skills. As you refine your technical expertise, you’ll reflect on your strengths and develop your leadership skills.

CIF – 602 – Leading a Professional Collaborative Project

Bring together everything you’ve learned throughout your degree in your final major collaborative project that showcases your skills as a guitarist. Taking a leading role within an interdisciplinary team, you’ll manage the creative and technical demands of delivering a professional standard body of work. Supported by specialised Skills Labs in the freelance musician and studio musician practices, you’ll deliver a final project to support your professional portfolio.

CIF – 604 – Professional Portfolio 

You’ll prepare to launch your career by creating a professional portfolio that showcases your skills, creativity and technical expertise as a performer and musician. In this module, you’ll curate your best work to develop a strong digital presence that reflects your creative identity.

CIF – 701 – Professional Practice Frameworks

Develop the professional expertise expected of senior practitioners in the music industry. You’ll critically evaluate your own creative practice, reflect on your professional experiences and benchmark your skills against recognised industry standards. This module helps you strengthen your credentials and prepare for leadership roles within the evolving music industry.

CIF – 702 – Applied research 

Undertake an in-depth research project centred on an area of musicianship and performance that aligns with your professional ambitions. Whether developing an advanced creative portfolio, investigating emerging songwriting technologies or exploring innovative musician practice, you’ll combine rigorous academic research with specialist practice to produce a substantial body of work that reflects your expertise and individual interests.

CIF – 703 – Ideas into action 

Transform ambitious ideas into professionally realised projects. From initial concept through to delivery, you’ll refine your practice whilst building the organisational and entrepreneurial skills required to deliver projects in professional environments.

CIF – 704 – Making connections 

Success in the music industry is built on relationships as much as talent. This module helps you expand your professional network by connecting with industry practitioners, creative organisations, community partners and potential collaborators. You’ll develop the confidence to build meaningful professional relationships, identify new opportunities and position yourself within the wider music industry.

Advanced Creative Practice Skills Labs

Alongside your postgraduate studies, you’ll have access to advanced Skills Labs each term, giving you the opportunity to further develop your specialist technical expertise. These practical sessions allow you to explore emerging creative practice techniques and encourage you to experiment with new technologies, ensuring your skills remain aligned with the latest developments in the music industry.