Search
Close MenuBTEC Music Production (Triple)
COURSE oVERVIEW
Want to turn your passion for music production into a career?
If you’re serious about becoming a music producer, recording engineer, live sound engineer or music technology professional, the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Music (Production) gives you the time, experience and industry focused skills to take your production to the next level.
Over two years, you’ll develop advanced skills in recording, mixing, music production, DAW-based composition, studio technology and live sound, while building the creative and professional skills needed to work in the music industry.
But this course goes much further than the Foundation Diploma.
As well as developing your technical production skills, you’ll create your own personal music projects, develop your individual production identity, build a professional portfolio, create material for self-promotion and networking, and gain experience working as part of large-scale collaborative music projects.
You’ll also take on professional-style technical roles, working with other musicians, producers and employers to plan, develop and deliver a major collaborative project that brings together everything you have learned.
This is where you stop just learning about music production and start developing your identity as a music professional.
The Extended Diploma is designed for students who want to progress to higher education, apprenticeships or employment within the music and audio industries, as well as those who want to develop the skills, experience and portfolio to begin building a career in music production.
Typical careers linked to this course can include:
- Music Producer
- Recording Engineer
- Mixing Engineer
- Studio Technician
- Live Sound Engineer
- Sound Technician
- Music Programmer
- DAW Producer
- Composer
- Sound Designer
- Session Recording Technician
- Music Technology Technician
EXAMINATION BOARD: Pearson BTEC
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Standard college entry requirements plus GCSE Maths at grade 4
UCAS Points for BTEC Extended Diploma Grades
The Extended Diploma is equivalent in size to three A Levels and can attract up to 168 UCAS points.
DDD* – 168 points
DDD – 144 points
MMM – 96 points
PPP – 48 points
Why study BTEC Music Production at Blackpool Sixth?
Develop the skills to create, record, produce, mix and engineer music, while gaining the experience and professional skills needed to progress into the music industry.
You’ll work with recording equipment, microphones, mixing consoles, audio interfaces and Digital Audio Workstations, developing the technical knowledge needed to turn musical ideas into finished productions.
You’ll work on studio recordings, music production projects and live events, giving you opportunities to work with artists and musicians in realistic production environments.
As you progress through the Extended Diploma, you’ll take greater ownership of your work. You’ll develop your own production identity, create personal projects, build a professional portfolio and learn how to promote yourself and develop industry contacts.
You’ll also work collaboratively on a major music project, taking on professional-style roles and applying the technical, creative and organisational skills you have developed throughout the course.
The result is a course that combines technical skills, creative freedom, professional experience and your own musical identity.
How will I be taught?You will learn through a combination of:
- Practical studio sessions
- Recording projects
- DAW production workshops
- Live sound projects
- Music technology workshops
- Individual production projects
- Collaborative music projects
- Industry-focused projects
- Independent research
- Working with musicians
- Tutorials and feedback
- Reflective and evaluative activities
The course is highly practical. Rather than simply learning about production, you’ll learn by making, recording, mixing, producing and engineering music.
As you progress through the two years, you’ll move from developing core technical skills towards increasingly independent, creative and professional production work.
Teacher expertise
All course tutors are vastly experienced musicians and teachers. They are working actively within the music industry and have developed many links to enable students to gain the best possible industry and employability experience, whilst gaining a high-level qualification. Specialisms include performance, music production and recording, composing, arranging, directing ensembles, music theory, analysis, and marketing/ promotion in the music industry. Students are also supported by a specialist team of technicians.
What skills will I develop?
You’ll develop a wide range of technical, creative and professional skills, including:
Studio recording
- Microphone selection and placement
- Recording equipment
- Audio interfaces
- Mixing consoles
- Signal flow
- Multi-track recording
- Recording instruments and vocals
- Overdubbing and layering
- Monitoring and foldback
- Studio troubleshooting
Mixing and production
- Balancing and mixing
- EQ
- Compression and dynamics processing
- Effects
- Panning and stereo imaging
- Automation
- Editing
- Exporting and preparing finished mixes
DAW production
- Recording into a DAW
- MIDI and software instruments
- Audio editing
- Sequencing
- Arrangement
- Sound creation
- Mixing
- Producing finished audio
Live sound and music technology
- PA systems
- Microphones
- Mixing consoles
- Monitors
- Amplifiers and speakers
- EQ and effects
- Stage plans
- Soundchecks
- Live mixing
- Troubleshooting
These core skills form the foundation of the course.
How will I be assessed?
100
%- 100% Coursework
You’ll be assessed through practical projects, recordings, productions, portfolios and collaborative music projects. Your work will demonstrate the technical, creative and professional skills you develop throughout the course.
What will you study and other information about BTEC Music Production (Triple)
- First Year
Across the two years, you’ll develop your skills through 10 assessment units, moving from technical production skills towards independent projects, professional development and a major collaborative project.
Year 1 – Build your production skills
B4 – Studio Recording
Learn how to set up and operate studio recording equipment, capture multi-track recordings and mix finished productions.B5 – Creating Musical Material Through Production
Use DAWs, sequencing and creative production techniques to create musical material in response to a brief.B6 – Music Technology and Live Events
Develop your live sound skills, including planning, equipment setup, soundchecks, mixing and responding to problems during live events.C7 – Planning a Career in the Industry
Explore the music industry, career opportunities and the skills needed to plan your own progression. - Second Year
Year 2 – Find your sound. Build your profile. Go professional.
This is where the Extended Diploma moves beyond the Foundation Diploma.
D8 – Using Development Plans to Refine Skills
Identify your strengths and areas for development, set targets and use planning and reflection to improve your technical and creative skills.
D9 – Producing a Personal Project
Take ownership of your own production project and develop a substantial piece of work that reflects your interests, skills and creative identity.
D10 – Using Material for Self-Promotion and Networking
Learn how to present yourself as a music professional. Develop promotional material and explore how to build your profile, communicate your skills and make industry connections.
E11 – Undertaking a Defined Technical Project Role
Take on a professional-style role within a collaborative music project. This could include roles such as sound engineer, monitor engineer, drum technician, guitar technician, lighting technician or AV technician.
E12 – Using Creative Collaboration to Develop a Project
Work with other musicians and creatives to plan, develop and shape a collaborative music project, developing your communication, teamwork, creative and organisational skills.
E13 – Producing a Collaborative Project
Put everything you’ve learned into practice by producing a major collaborative music project. This is the final synoptic project for the Extended Diploma, bringing together your technical, creative, collaborative and professional skills.
- Equipment
You’ll have access to the college’s music production and recording facilities.
You should have access to suitable headphones for production and editing work.
- Field trips, projects and employability opportunities
You’ll have opportunities to develop your skills through practical projects, collaborative work and industry-focused activities.
The course can also provide opportunities to work with musicians, perform production roles at live events and develop the professional behaviours required within the industry.
Where does it lead?
The Extended Diploma is designed to prepare you for progression into higher education, apprenticeships or employment within the music industry.
Potential progression areas include:
- Music Production
- Music Technology
- Audio Production
- Recording and Mixing
- Live Sound
- Studio Technology
- Sound Design
- Events and Production
- Media Production
- Freelance Music Production
The Pearson qualification specifically develops transferable skills including independent learning, research, presentation, teamwork, project work, analytical skills and creative development.
Back
