Course summary

This dynamic one-year course allows you to develop strong technical bass skills, musical literacy and performance creativity in a short space of time, with the view to becoming a well-rounded professional portfolio musician. A highly tailored programme, you’ll focus intensely on the bass, while collaborating with peers who are studying guitar, drums, keyboards and vocals. In a rapidly evolving and increasingly digital global music scene, there are more opportunities than ever before for performers and audiences to come together in innovative new ways. In addition to technical and creative abilities, this highly current performance CertHE allows you to build entrepreneurial business skills and digital proficiency that will set you up as a flexible and competent bass player and musician. At the core of your CertHE is a focus on your principal instrument – bass – yet you’ll expand your musical literacy by studying with and playing alongside fellow CertHE guitar, keyboard, drum and vocal musicians. You’ll have regular opportunities to collaborate with these CertHE peers, as well as students across all other ICMP programmes. Exploring a range of popular music repertoire, styles and genres, you’ll gain a firm understanding of theory, technique and technology for live, recorded and livestreamed performance scenarios. You’ll also cover topics including live performance skills, stylistic techniques, music theory, music technology and music business. In addition to seminars and lectures, you’ll participate in regular skill sessions – both one-to-one with your ICMP bass tutor, and during collaborative workshops and ensemble practice with peers. A key focus at ICMP is collaboration and ‘A&R-style’ peer feedback, so you’ll frequently give and receive performance critiques to help you develop your unique identity as a bassist. Across your year of learning, you’ll be taught in ICMP’s high-tech industry-standard facilities and guided by our expert tutors, who are all highly experienced music industry professionals, providing you with a deep understanding of the modern music industry. They’ll also arrange for you to attend regular industry events, networking opportunities, performances at London venues, and masterclasses hosted by special guest artists. Upon completing the CertHE, you’ll have gained exceptional bass technical skills, combined with strong live, recorded and online performance know-how, allowing you to work successfully across multiple areas of today’s music business. If you’d prefer to continue with your studies, the programme offers a direct pathway to the second year of the BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance and BA (Hons) Creative Musicianship degrees, where you can further establish your career as a professional bass player and portfolio musician.