Professional Music (Production) with Integrated Foundation Year

The Integrated Foundation Year at WaterBear is designed as an introductory year prior to transitioning into your specialist BA (Hons) Professional Music course.

The Integrated Foundation Year course supports access to higher education. It will help you build the core and specialist skills you’ll need for degree-level study. It focusses on the development of relevant and sustainable skills required by musicians and entrepreneurs of the 21st century.

If you are taking on a subject that you are yet to study in depth, have been out of education for while or just need some support in preparing to study at a higher level, then the Integrated Foundation Year course could be for you. You will have the chance to explore your creativity, expand professional skills, improve study skills, and develop a deeper knowledge of the area you want to study.
If you’re a producer looking for a course that gives you the skills for a successful career in music, then the BA (Hons) Professional Music (Production) degree course is for you.

It’s been designed to provide you with the tools and motivation you’ll need to fulfil your music goals, realise your professional ambition and create consistently high-quality musical output. And like all degree courses at WaterBear, it gives you the perfect blend of artistic freedom alongside practical strategies to forge a solid career in music.

As an audio producer, it’s all about developing the technical skills required to unlock creative potential. It’s also about working collaboratively and developing the confidence and ability to communicate what’s in your head. You’ll be able to access a wide range of content, resources and tuition to suit your individual needs. All online content from our full range of courses is accessible to everyone, so you can tailor your own learning journey.

At WaterBear, we believe in smaller class sizes and the value of personal 1-1 mentoring. We also believe you should have the freedom to explore what’s possible and continually push creative boundaries. All students on our 3-yr degree courses learn in small groups on pro-standard gear in environments designed to fuel creative output.

Students at WaterBear also get free, bookable access to professional rehearsal and recording studios, so you won’t need to worry about where to practice, record, mix or master your music.

This course is taught at WaterBear in Sheffield, and awarded by Falmouth University.

The Integrated Foundation Year is designed to support your access to Higher Education and specifically entry onto one of the BA (Hons) Professional Music courses at WaterBear. It focusses on the development your music and music projects. Every week, you’ll hone specialist skills related to your chosen area of interest and learn about what it means to be a professional in today’s music industry.

This course has been specifically designed for anyone with a passion for music who wants to go on to study a BA (Hons) Professional Music course at WaterBear, but who may need some extra support prior to studying at degree level. You will:

Study core modules that focus on music and industry practice.
Improve your technical abilities and develop your specialism.
Be working individually and collaboratively to create and present your ideas.
Explore style and genre and develop a wider knowledge of music as a source of income with a focus on what it means to have a DIY approach, including the use of technology.

The Professional Music (Production) degree is built on three fundamental elements – your music, your career and your projects. It deals with what really matters in music and the industry. It will expand your options and push you to create high-quality music. Every week, you’ll hone audio production skills, sound engineering techniques, compositional skills, and expand your creativity. You’ll be able to showcase your music live on stage in a real music venue, or in the studio. And you’ll learn all you need to know about the realities of being a professional producer in today’s music industry.

This course has been specifically designed for:
· Audio producers
· Studio engineers
· Multi-instrumentalists

Every producer at WaterBear has their own story to tell and their own path to follow. We provide a supportive, safe environment for you to experiment and create. You'll also develop a tailored career plan to support your personal goals and ambitions.

Integrated Foundation Year:

Production Know-How
What Makes Music Great
Music Performance
Creative Production Workshop
Music Promotion
Showcase

Level 4 Modules:

Your Music Production
Navigating the Music Industry
Creative Music Production
Your Strategy

Level 5 Modules:

Your Sound
Your Events
Innovation in Music Production
Innovation in the Music Industry

Level 6 Modules:

Your Professional Development
Specialist Report
Professional Project Portfolio

Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. Any changes affecting students’ expected programme delivery are communicated in advance. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Programme Manager.

For the Integrated Foundation Year, module assessment methods will vary depending on the subject matter and will include a blend of practical and written assessment, and portfolio submission.