Course summary

The ICMP BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance degree is for students who aspire to reach the highest levels of musicianship, while building a successful, sustainable career as a portfolio musician in today ’s modern and diverse music industry. A dynamic, challenging and relevant programme, this course will provide you with the playing, performing, business, technical and theoretical skills necessary to prepare you for the real world of the career musician. The study of established genres, styles and repertoire sits at the core of the BMus degree, and you’ll develop a wide and comprehensive understanding of genre conventions through study of your principal instrument, aimed at enabling you to succeed in a wide range of performance and music-making contexts. The course covers a variety of learning activities in subject areas such as; music theory, music technology, music production, aural perception, technique and sight reading. While you’ll be challenged to achieve outstanding technical skills on your primary instrument, you’ll also be encouraged to explore a secondary instrument, which may include backing vocals, keyboards or vocal arrangement, all with the aim of guiding you towards becoming a well-rounded, technically accomplished musician. Over the three years of the degree, you’ll receive tuition from our world-class teaching faculty, made up of highly esteemed musicians, all of whom have active careers in the music industry and higher education sector. Learning will be achieved in small groups, where collaboration is encouraged to enable a melting pot of ideas, experiences and influences to be explored. Via live performance workshops, you’ll develop a strong camaraderie with your fellow BMus classmates, and will also be inspired to network and create projects with students from other ICMP programmes. You will receive feedback individually, in small groups and as part of larger ensembles. Your tutors will also provide you with a working knowledge of the way the music industry operates, thanks to regular masterclasses, industry events, visits by special guest musicians, and ICMP’s connection with the wider London music industry. By the time you graduate with ICMP, you’ll be fluent in the language of popular music, capable of working in creative and collaborative music business environments, ready to explore exciting industry pathways to begin your professional career, and will have an impressive and professional portfolio of work to present to the industry. You can progress directly from this course to a career in the music industry in areas such as session recording, international touring, musical theatre, function bands, library music and music education, or you can progress your studies with an ICMP Master's degree.