Recommended popular music degrees
Can anyone recommend the best universities and conservatoires for popular music, focusing on performance but perhaps with a music business or production element too? I've been to an open day at Bimm in London and I've got open days booked at Sheffield and Leeds universities and ICMP. I'm also planning to attend open days at Trinity Laban, LCM and Point Blank in London, Leeds Conservatoire and possibly RNCM, and others too. It sounds like a lot but I'm trying to minimise the chance of making a costly mistake, both financially and from the point of view of a future career in the industry. There's so much information out there and so many contrasting opinions it's hard to know what to do. Any help much appreciated especially if you're doing a popular music course at one of these institutions or have attended one in the past. Thanks!
My son is currently studying Popular Music and he also has several friends studying at some of the places you have mentioned. Based on our research/visits and the opinions of current and recent students I would recommend the following:
LIPA
Leeds Conservatoire
RNCM
Waterbear Sheffield or Brighton (well above the standard and opportunities of the likes of BIMM etc)
Salford (but keep an eye on them as they seem to have cut some courses recently)
Huddersfield
We also liked LCCM more than ACM and BIMM but not as much as the above.
LIPA
Leeds Conservatoire
RNCM
Waterbear Sheffield or Brighton (well above the standard and opportunities of the likes of BIMM etc)
Salford (but keep an eye on them as they seem to have cut some courses recently)
Huddersfield
We also liked LCCM more than ACM and BIMM but not as much as the above.
Original post by Norboy
Can anyone recommend the best universities and conservatoires for popular music, focusing on performance but perhaps with a music business or production element too? I've been to an open day at Bimm in London and I've got open days booked at Sheffield and Leeds universities and ICMP. I'm also planning to attend open days at Trinity Laban, LCM and Point Blank in London, Leeds Conservatoire and possibly RNCM, and others too. It sounds like a lot but I'm trying to minimise the chance of making a costly mistake, both financially and from the point of view of a future career in the industry. There's so much information out there and so many contrasting opinions it's hard to know what to do. Any help much appreciated especially if you're doing a popular music course at one of these institutions or have attended one in the past. Thanks!
Hey, I'm wondering if you ended up making a decision on any of those or not? I'm having a similar difficulty, I want to study music production as an International student next year. Any help is appreciated!
Original post by welcometotherock
My son is currently studying Popular Music and he also has several friends studying at some of the places you have mentioned. Based on our research/visits and the opinions of current and recent students I would recommend the following:
LIPA
Leeds Conservatoire
RNCM
Waterbear Sheffield or Brighton (well above the standard and opportunities of the likes of BIMM etc)
Salford (but keep an eye on them as they seem to have cut some courses recently)
Huddersfield
We also liked LCCM more than ACM and BIMM but not as much as the above.
LIPA
Leeds Conservatoire
RNCM
Waterbear Sheffield or Brighton (well above the standard and opportunities of the likes of BIMM etc)
Salford (but keep an eye on them as they seem to have cut some courses recently)
Huddersfield
We also liked LCCM more than ACM and BIMM but not as much as the above.
Sorry to hijack an older thread - wondering if you’ve got any specific feedback on pros and cons of LIPA vs RNCM for popular music based on the experiences of your son and his friends a year or so on?
Original post by Anhf
Sorry to hijack an older thread - wondering if you’ve got any specific feedback on pros and cons of LIPA vs RNCM for popular music based on the experiences of your son and his friends a year or so on?
A lot comes down to personal preference and how you feel about spending 3 years of your life somewhere. Both of those are excellent places to study and it's rally hard to get in.
My son didn't like the vibe at LIPA, he just didn't feel it was right for him. But lots love it. Popular music is at the heart of the course, they can be a bit name droppy and quite strict in the requirements. I did note that a written dissertation is compulsory (check if that is still the case.)
Only yesterday my son was chatting with some RNCM friends as he happened to be in Manchester. A couple of classical and one pop. They are getting fantastic training. My son's friend, however found it a bit snobby. He felt that pop music was an add on and not given the same facilities/kudos as the classical students. In the first couple of years they are VERY strict on attendance but in the third/fourth years they encourage students to go out and get paid work which can be used towards their degree.
Original post by setarehm
Hey, I'm wondering if you ended up making a decision on any of those or not? I'm having a similar difficulty, I want to study music production as an International student next year. Any help is appreciated!
Hi,Are you a student who enrolled in the fall of the 25th year? What schools did you applied to?
Hello there!
It's fantastic that you're exploring various institutions to find the best fit for your studies in popular music, especially with a focus on performance complemented by elements of music business or production. Given your thorough approach, I'd like to recommend considering Coventry University as part of your options.
Coventry University offers a BA (Hons) in Popular Music Performance and Songwriting, a practice-based course designed to prepare versatile and adaptable musicians for the 21st-century music industry. The program emphasizes creative music skills in performance and songwriting, providing access to professional practices, new research, and outstanding graduate support.
https://www.coventry.ac.uk/course-structure/ug/fah/popular-music-performance-and-songwriting-ba-hons/
Additionally, the university offers a BSc (Hons) in Music and Audio Production, which focuses on music production, sound engineering, and related fields such as radio and television sound. This course promotes music business careers and employability, offering opportunities to become a music producer, sound engineer, composer, or audio post-production and game audio technician.
https://www.coventry.ac.uk/course-structure/ug/fah/music-and-audio-production-bsc/
https://www.coventry.ac.uk/study-at-coventry/undergraduate-study/undergraduate-subjects/music-and-performance/
Coventry University is known for its state-of-the-art facilities, including recording studios equipped with industry-standard technology, music seminar rooms, and practice spaces. The university emphasizes practical learning through placements, real-world projects, and strong industry connections, ensuring students are well-prepared for their careers after graduation.
Given your interest in minimizing the chance of making a costly mistake, both financially and for your future career, it's wise to explore all available options thoroughly. Attending open days, speaking with current students and faculty, and reviewing course content will provide valuable insights into which institution aligns best with your aspirations.
Best of luck with your decision-making process!
I hope this helps!
Kind regards,
Reka - Coventry University Student Ambassador
It's fantastic that you're exploring various institutions to find the best fit for your studies in popular music, especially with a focus on performance complemented by elements of music business or production. Given your thorough approach, I'd like to recommend considering Coventry University as part of your options.
Coventry University offers a BA (Hons) in Popular Music Performance and Songwriting, a practice-based course designed to prepare versatile and adaptable musicians for the 21st-century music industry. The program emphasizes creative music skills in performance and songwriting, providing access to professional practices, new research, and outstanding graduate support.
https://www.coventry.ac.uk/course-structure/ug/fah/popular-music-performance-and-songwriting-ba-hons/
Additionally, the university offers a BSc (Hons) in Music and Audio Production, which focuses on music production, sound engineering, and related fields such as radio and television sound. This course promotes music business careers and employability, offering opportunities to become a music producer, sound engineer, composer, or audio post-production and game audio technician.
https://www.coventry.ac.uk/course-structure/ug/fah/music-and-audio-production-bsc/
https://www.coventry.ac.uk/study-at-coventry/undergraduate-study/undergraduate-subjects/music-and-performance/
Coventry University is known for its state-of-the-art facilities, including recording studios equipped with industry-standard technology, music seminar rooms, and practice spaces. The university emphasizes practical learning through placements, real-world projects, and strong industry connections, ensuring students are well-prepared for their careers after graduation.
Given your interest in minimizing the chance of making a costly mistake, both financially and for your future career, it's wise to explore all available options thoroughly. Attending open days, speaking with current students and faculty, and reviewing course content will provide valuable insights into which institution aligns best with your aspirations.
Best of luck with your decision-making process!
I hope this helps!
Kind regards,
Reka - Coventry University Student Ambassador
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