Course summary
This is a four-year degree including a one-year foundation programme. The foundation year allows you to develop key musical skills and experience to equip you for university life and to continue with our BMus Music. Why choose the BMus Music with Foundation Year
- This programme gives you the chance to gain key practical and theoretical skills and experience across music theory, performance, technology, composition and musico-cultural theory.
- You'll receive guidance in study skills topics such as critical thinking, researching and writing and inducts you into various musical and institutional facilities and services, from music studios to Wellbeing and Careers teams.
- The Foundation year (Year 0) programme gives you an opportunity to make music with students from across different degree programmes in a lively and vibrant departmental community. This community features everything from orchestral, jazz and pop ensembles to gamelan, mbira and improvising groups.
- Upon successful completion of the Foundation year, you gain automatic entry into our BMus Music degree and/or an internal audition for our BMus Popular Music programme.
- In Year 1 you’ll explore different musical styles and approaches to study - through a range of compulsory practical and critical modules
- Later, you'll be able to choose from our wide range of jazz, sonic art, popular and fringe music modules as well as our practical, skills-based workshop and teaching modules
- You'll also have the opportunity to perform at open mics, student-run showcase and PureGold, our annual music festival that celebrates music created and performed at Goldsmiths.
- You'll be within easy reach of South East London's many venues during your time with us, as well as those across the capital, which provide a connection to music, art, dance, and theatre with an international focus, but also to local promoters, labels and the London-based music industry.
- Goldsmiths has strong links with the music industry, employing professional musicians, producers, and artists as guest speakers and as lecturers.
- We also present frequent, high-profile speakers from the music industry at our talks and events. Recently, these have included Dave Okumu, Nigel Godrich, Darkstar, Mica Levi, Matana Roberts, and Arts Council Music Relationship Managers.
- We attract instrumental and vocal teachers of the highest quality, with many of our staff also teaching at the major music conservatoires. Our performance modules are supplemented with ensemble classes and masterclasses given by top professional musicians. First-year BMus Music students are currently entitled to 12 hours of one-to-one tuition per year
Modules
Year 0 (Foundation Year) You'll study four core music modules going across music performance, music theory, composition (including music technology) and basic musicology. You'll also study two broad-based modules embedded in our music studios, the library and London cultural life in general. Practical and subject-related skills are developed through class-based tasks, either individually or in groups, (including analytic, listening-based, or discursive exercises), or by setting up and reviewing follow-up tasks undertaken outside of class through workshops where you are given the opportunity to offer peer feedback. You will also have an assigned one-to-one instrumental or vocal tutor, and a personal tutor who will guide your study. This mix of practical and academic support is designed to help you make the leap into higher education with confidence. You will study the following compulsory modules. Introduction to Musicology Foundation for Composition Foundation for Performance Foundation for Music Studies Building Your Research World Reading and Writing Your World Option modules will become available to you should you proceed onto either the BMus Music or BMus Popular Music on successful completion of your foundation year. Year 1 (credit level 4) All BMus Music students take the following modules: Discovering Music Performance: Techniques and Repertoire Composition Materials, Signs and Symbols Critical Approaches to Contemporary Music Year 2 (credit level 5) In your second year, you'll take at least one and up to three of the following compulsory modules: Sounding the 19th Century Aesthetics, Meaning and Culture Music and Identity You'll then use your remaining credits (up to 105 credits or 7 modules, depending on your compulsory modules choices) to select from the below list of optional modules: Performance: Styles and Contexts Techniques of Contemporary Composition Composition: Creative Strategies Electroacoustic Composition Making Experimental Sound Techniques in Jazz and Popular Music Arranging and Composing for the Jazz Ensemble Contemporary Jazz Performance the UK Scene Media Composition Music/Modernities Soviet Music and Politics Music Practice and the Black Atlantic: Britain’s Celebrity Culture Music in Film What is Jazz? Sound as Art Musics of East Asia: Politics, Industry, Creativity Music of Africa and Asia Pitching Creative Businesses: Models, Markets and Meaning Goldsmiths’ Social Change Module The Goldsmiths Elective Year 3 (credit level 6) In your final year, you'll take at least one, and up to two of the following compulsory modules: Performance: Creative Practice Composition portfolio Research Project You'll then use your remaining credits (up to 90 credits or 6 modules, depending on your compulsory modules selection) to choose from the following optional modules: Contemporary Jazz Performance the UK Scene Acoustic Ecology and Field Recording Performing South-East Asian Music Improvisation Creative Orchestration and Arrangement Introduction to Audiovisual Composition Music/Modernities Soviet Music and Politics Music Practice and the Black Atlantic: Britain’s Celebrity Culture Music and Screen Media Advanced Popular Music Studies Fringe and Underground Musics Music in Educational, Community and Therapeutic Contexts Music Workshop Skills Music Teaching Skills DIY Practice and Alternative Sites for Music Live Electronics Work placement You as Your Future: Developing Creative Careers Psychological Approaches to Music Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
How to apply
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- W310
- Institution code:
- G56
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Foundation
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
We would normally expect applicants to have some level 3 study equivalent to grade C at A Level or PP in a BTEC Diploma, however we will also consider experience of playing a musical instrument or other music related experience. Offers will be made specific to your educational background and experience. Admission is by interview and/or by submission of a portfolio. The portfolio should include videos of two or three musical performance pieces, and a written outline of current music theory knowledge, and where possible, a recording or written short piece of original music. We welcome students with a range of educational experiences. If you believe you may not meet the standard qualification requirements we would still encourage you to apply because we consider all aspects of your application when making a decision.
English language requirements
Test | Grade | Additional details |
---|---|---|
IELTS (Academic) | 6 | With a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 |
Student Outcomes
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW