Craft Practices - Musical Instruments

Official Course Title: Foundation Degree Arts – Musical Instruments

Study at a specialist college with the assurance of a university qualification. Develop your passions and reach your potential in a small, welcoming environment within a community of like-minded people.

Why choose West Dean?
An international reputation for excellence in conservation and arts education.
94% of students studying at the College* felt the programme had enhanced their skills and abilities (*2019 student survey)
A rich arts environment and a focus on craft skills with vocational application.
Be inspired by the unique historic character and beautiful South Downs setting.
Located close to Chichester and the South Coast, with easy access to London.

The Course

If your goal is to set up an instrument-making workshop or to work in the trade, this programme is internationally respected for the high level craftsmanship students attain. It encompasses the whole field of stringed musical instrument making. This enables students to then transfer their skills to making any stringed musical instrument, including guitar and violin. Through learning and assessing the historical approach to constructing the viola da gamba, students are equipped with a broad knowledge and ability to assess construction for a wide range of stringed musical instruments.

You can expect

To learn basic tool skills and advance to decorative and head carving, purfling design and motif
To study instrument design, history and playing
To complete up to three instrument making projects a year (you will be able to keep the first instrument you make and keep additional instruments for a nominal fee to cover the cost of materials).
To develop skills in machine setting, woodturning, varnishing, care of timber/tone-wood
Visiting tutors in Bow-making, pigment laking, soundboard construction etc.
Playing lessons by early music professionals
To attend events such as the Greenwich International Early Music Exhibition
To have the opportunity to sell instruments through the College with the income split 50:50

Learning environment

Low student : tutor ratio
Your own bench in the workshop with access 8.30am-9pm, 7 days a week
A professional environment that encourages a business-like approach
Lectures, tutorials and demonstrations
Study tours and visits to specialist collections

Exceptional facilities

You will work in the purpose-built musical instrument making workshop. Collaboration with other disciplines (e.g. metals and clocks) makes for a uniquely enriched learning environment. Facilities include:

A separate machine shop
Varnishing room
Analytical laboratory
Photography space
IT suite with specialist databases
On-site Art and Conservation Library with thousands of specialist books and journals

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, external trips and visits and workshop practicals. In addition, you have personal tutorials with your subject tutor.

At level 4 you typically have around 18-19 contact hours per week. At level 5 you typically have around 16-17 contact hours per week.

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars and workshop or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library and preparing coursework assignments and presentations.

Overall workload

Level 4: 53% of your time is spent in scheduled teaching and learning activity
Scheduled teaching and learning: 633 hours
Independent learning: 567 hours

Level 5: 50% of your time is spent in scheduled teaching and learning activity
Scheduled teaching and learning: 600 hours
Independent learning: 600 hours

HC-M1 Materials Technology: delivered in pathway workshop and cross-curricular, HC-D1 Drawing and Aesthetics, HC-R1 Study/Research Skills, HC-M2 Materials Technology (Metal/Wood): delivered in pathway workshop and cross-curricular, HC-H2 History of Craft, HC-C2M1/C/F/ME Craft Skills, HC-P3 Professional Skills incl. work placement, HC-R1 Study/Research Skills, HC-C1M1/C/ME Craft Skills, HC-P4 Professional Portfolio: student led. Modules may be subject to change.