Music Performance [with Foundation Year]

Master your own style, experiment with new sounds, and launch a career in music with our Music Performance Degree.

Learn to analyse and deconstruct different styles of performance, songwriting and composition while developing your own musical and performance identity.

Whether your dream is to write and release original music, perform live, compose for films or video games, collaborate in bands or orchestras, or become a music therapist, you’ll develop the skills and industry knowledge to make it happen.

Why ARU?

• Learn from expert academics and industry-active practitioners.

• Collaborate with others to develop all-important skills for your professional life.

• Get full training in our industry-standard music facilities, including five recording studios, a spacious recital hall, and practice rooms.

• Take an optional work placement, or internships with our industry partners and practitioners.

• Make the most of Cambridge’s music scene with our links to local networks, venues and arts groups.

Careers

Our Music Performance degree will give you the latest skills and knowledge to launch your music career.

At the same time, you'll be supported to grow into a confident, creative professional who values lifelong learning and ongoing personal and career development.

By the time you graduate, you’ll have had the opportunity to build a professional portfolio of music performance projects – ranging from video showreels and commercial releases to a fully developed online presence – designed to showcase your abilities to future employers and collaborators.

Whether you want to perform and release your own music, create soundtracks for films and games, or play in a band or orchestra, the diverse portfolio of work you create will prepare you for the modern collaborative creative industries.

Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our MA Music Therapy. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Teaching

From Year 1, you’ll work alongside other music students to develop your collaboration and project skills.

You’ll also have the option to collaborate with film and game students to produce soundtracks, sound effects, and immersive experiences.

In Year 2, you’ll develop your understanding of the modern music industry and learn how to build your brand. You’ll choose from a range of optional modules to suit your interests and ambitions.

Finally, you’ll put everything you’ve learned into practice and prepare for your future career with independent and collaborative projects, and the opportunity to build up a portfolio.

Course Modules

Year 1

• Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education

Year 2

• Music in Context

• Dots, Lines and Waves - Songwriting 1

• Studio Techniques

• Music Performance 1

Year 3

• Ruskin Module (15 credits)

• Chords, Contours and Grooves - Songwriting Practice

• Audio for Film *

• Audio for Games *

• Composition and Orchestration *

• Principles of Music Therapy *

• Music Business *

• Music Performance 2 *

• Music Industry *

Year 4

• Final Project

• Collaborative Project

• Portfolio

*optional

Our open assessment tasks will challenge you to come up with your own creative responses, giving you space for active and creative rehearsals, collaborative experimentation and the development of your own independent work. You’ll also be assessed using different methods and strategies that reflect the wide variety of activities involved in music-making. As well as creative projects, these might include presentations/performance; essays; analytical work; portfolio development; and written and practical exams.