BA (Hons) Popular Music in Derby United Kingdom | University of Derby

This unique program stands among a select few nationwide, crafted to prepare you for engaging and innovating within a dynamic field while cultivating expertise in popular music and related sectors. Popular music represents a vibrant, well-established creative domain within the industry, requiring refined craftsmanship, technical proficiency, analytical thinking, and academic understanding.
Through performance, composition, technology, media production, and musicology, you'll master diverse disciplines. Additionally, you'll gain profound insight into popular music's growing economic and professional relevance.

The curriculum covers popular music performance, composition, production, and music technology. We'll foster your creative and entrepreneurial abilities to adapt to industry innovations.
Instrumental skills will advance through collaborative learning, while composition and songwriting proficiency will grow alongside studies of commercial music's social and business dimensions.
Frequent public performance opportunities will be available, with encouragement to participate in local music scenes.
Instruction comes from seasoned educators, many maintaining active research profiles and professional careers.
State-of-the-art recording studios and rehearsal spaces will inspire you to create professional-grade performance recordings.
Industry connections provide benefits including participation in our annual Music Production Show, featuring guest speakers from leading companies like Sound on Sound, Avid, Yamaha, Ableton, and Focusrite.
Graduates enter diverse roles across the commercial music sector as performers, composers, producers, educators, promoters, publishers, academics, studio engineers, and entrepreneurial musicians, with opportunities in media organizations.
Many pursue advanced degrees (MA, MSc, PhD) or teaching qualifications (PGCE, QTS), preparing for educational careers in primary, secondary, or further education, including college lecturing and private instrumental instruction.