Popular Music, Songwriting and Performance

From songwriting to the stage, producing tracks in the studio, to branding and marketing, this comprehensive course covers everything you’ll need to excel as a versatile artist in the modern music industry.

Our brand new Popular Music, Songwriting and Performance course brings together theory and practice, allowing you to explore music creation and production, songwriting and stagecraft, while gaining a solid understanding of how the music business works. You’ll learn the fundamentals of music theory and analysis, exploring various genres, styles and approaches in popular composition and songwriting. You’ll gain hands-on experience with our industry-standard facilities and equipment in our venue and studios, learning current trends and techniques in live performance and music production. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of the music industry, helping you develop strategies to promote yourself and your music.

Whether you’re an artist looking to develop your own style, a producer wanting to record songs to a professional standard, or a songwriter looking to work with other artists, this course will equip you with the practical skills, knowledge and creativity to break into the industry.

About Spirit Studios

Spanning over four decades of iconic music history in Manchester, our early days as a commercial recording studio and rehearsal space saw the likes of local legends The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Simply Red and many more passing through our doors. Spirit Studios then became the first music production and sound engineering school in the UK (formerly known as School of Sound Recording), and since then we’ve continued to nurture the next generation of producers, engineers, artists and business owners.

Our purpose-built facilities, expert insight, professionally active tutors and creative partnerships enable us to offer the most up to date and relevant training and provide you with real career opportunities.

Assessment method

We pride ourselves on providing a variety of assessment methods; these are balanced between industry standards and an academic range that is aimed at varied student profiles and abilities. Some modules may include an overall portfolio, others may have several varied assessments that encompass practical and written elements. Students may work on a solo project or also have the opportunity to work collaboratively in class or within external partnerships. All portfolios and written material are submitted electronically via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), practical exams are undertaken within studio or venue settings on a live basis. Feedback is delivered electronically directly to the student in a written and matrix format. There is an opportunity to discuss your feedback in a one-to-one tutorial. We use a variety of the following assessment methods:

● Portfolios
● Practical coursework
● Practical Exams
● Presentations
● Written Tests
● Written Reports
● Written Essays
● Professional Discussions
● Viva Voce