Popular Music Performance

This course breaks down barriers between performance, production, and composition, empowering versatile musicians to thrive. It focuses on developing technical skills, professional delivery, and creative artistry to succeed in an ever-evolving musical landscape.

You will have the opportunity to specialise in vocals, keyboard, guitar, bass, drums or songwriting, developing the skills and confidence needed to create original music and achieve professional success. Through individual tuition, band workshops, and sessions with industry professionals, your technical ability, creativity, and professional delivery will be refined, while building a portfolio of songs, recordings, and visuals. Small group sizes encourage collaboration and foster valuable creative networks.

Purpose-built facilities mirror real-world industry environments, including a Dante-networked performance venue, a songwriting and synthesiser room, a dedicated mixing room, a cutting-edge SSL recording studio, and three soundproofed live ensemble spaces, all linked via our Dante network. You will have access to four individual production rooms, a drum recording room, and two specialist Mac labs.

A vibrant community fosters collaboration and innovation: you’ll work alongside producers, filmmakers and designers, creating unique portfolios featuring music videos, promotional photography and live performance in professional, world-renowned venues across the Leeds region.

This course nurtures ‘360-degree musicians’—skilled performers, producers, songwriters, and arrangers in modern and popular music. By integrating performance, production, and interdisciplinary collaboration, students gain the skills, confidence, and networks to thrive in today’s dynamic music industry. Workshops and guest speakers have included Skin OBE, Jason Bowld (Bullet for My Valentine), Imogen Heap, West End performers, producers, composers, agents, publishers, and industry experts across labels, management, and promotion.

Year one – You will develop performance, production, and composition skills through one-to-one tuition, ensemble workshops, and solo, stage, and studio performances. Students explore songwriting, arranging, stagecraft, and music production while building their artistic identity and entrepreneurial skills, alongside a broader understanding of popular music culture.

Year two – You’ll continue one-to-one tuition while developing a professional portfolio of songwriting, performance, recordings and visuals through cross-course collaboration, situating your music within a professional context. The focus also shifts to employability, covering artist development, contracts, rights, finance, strategic planning, networking and AI skills. You’ll explore music’s societal impact, consumption trends and monetisation strategies, preparing you for industry.

Year three – You’ll complete a music-focused project showcasing your specialism while building a professional EP and promotional assets. You’ll organise a DIY live event, explore bespoke study areas, and refine your professional identity. By graduation you’ll have the tools, skills, and confidence to monetise your music and launch your career.