Songwriting, Performance and Music Production
Songwriting, performance and music production is a programme that addresses the craft of making music across three interlinked practices. Songwriting is the art of composing and constructing original songs, developing melody, harmonic structure, lyric and arrangement in a way that communicates something to a listener. Performance is the live realisation of that work, whether as solo artist or in collaborative settings.
Music production is the craft of capturing, shaping and presenting music in recorded form, using the technologies and aesthetics of the recording studio to create finished tracks that can reach audiences beyond the live setting. Bringing all three together gives you a rounded and practical musical education.
The University of Huddersfield has a strong reputation in music technology and popular music, and this four-year full-time programme reflects that specialism. Huddersfield's facilities and faculty bring together songwriting craft, live performance and studio production in a curriculum designed to develop musicians who can work fluently across all three modes. The typical entry tariff for this programme is around 120 UCAS points.
You will develop your abilities in song construction, including harmony, melody and lyric writing across a range of genres, alongside performance skills in your chosen instrument or voice. The music production component will develop your fluency with digital audio workstations, recording techniques, mixing, mastering and sound design. The programme encourages you to develop your own artistic identity and to build a portfolio of original recorded work across the four years.
Graduates of songwriting, performance and music production programmes typically pursue careers as performing artists, session musicians, songwriters, music producers, sound engineers, composers for film and television, music supervisors and music educators. The portfolio-based nature of the discipline means that many graduates build freelance and portfolio careers, combining income from live performance, session work, production and teaching. The Huddersfield environment, with its proximity to the creative industries of Yorkshire and strong links to the music sector, supports this kind of career development.
Postgraduate study in music production, composition or music business is an option for those who wish to develop a specific strand of their practice.