Commercial Music

Qualification:  RSL Qualifications Level 3 Music Practitioners Diploma

Course Tutor:  Miss S Doe & Miss J Beckwith

Course entry requirements:  You need to have at least a Grade 4 in GCSE music or Level 2 Pass/Merit in BTEC Music Practice, as well as being able to sing or play your instrument to a very competent standard.

If you do not have a formal music qualification then you can create a small portfolio of music to submit to Miss Doe and Miss Beckwith to determine if the course is appropriate for you. Please speak to Miss Doe or Miss Beckwith for further details.

Course description

The course is accessible to all musicians as there is no requirement to play in a specific style. You will be able to gain music industry-based experience, as the course provides you with the opportunity to explore other practical career pathways. The specific units you will study can be seen in the table below. The Commercial Music course is a single option and will therefore take-up one option block.

Commercial Music

The course is equivalent to 1.5 A-Levels in UCAS Points.

Coursework

There are six units in total and all of them require written evidence, as well as practical tasks; the practical tasks will always be an audio recording or video. The written tasks require students to plan, prepare and evaluate in order to demonstrate thorough understanding of the learning process. The course is music industry-based, so units are intended to be varied to ensure that all possible career options can be considered.

Final Examination

The whole course is portfolio-based, so every unit is formally assessed at the end of each half term. The Rehearsal Skills and Live Music Performance unit (30 credits) is the final major project and is a performance held in Year 13 and externally assessed by RSL Awards. The written portfolio can be continually amended to ensure students achieve highly.

Post-18 Opportunities and Employment

This Level 3 Diploma is ideal for students who want to study popular music performance, commercial music, music technology, song writing or music business at university. The course is designed to prepare students to work in the music industry or to pursue music further at degree-level. The units have been chosen to cater for a range of stable future job roles in the industry, so that performance is not the only option. We have links with Bath Spa University Commercial Music, which has sometimes been the favoured route for previous students.

If you would like more detailed information about the content of this course, please visit the Music curriculum page, where you will find curriculum maps for each year of study.