The Provision in “Music Skills” for degree students on Popular Music Programmes across selected North Eastern and National Institutions (2008)

In October 2007, a report was commissioned by the CETL for Music and Inclusivity to investigate the provision in ‘Music Skills’ for students on Popular Music Programmes in Higher Education.  For the purposes of this report, the term ‘Music Skills’ is defined as the collection of technical and theoretical skills that enable a student to engage with music at a fundamental level. Such music skills are designed to develop the student’s musical awareness, musical knowledge and musical theory. They might reasonably include aural training, analytic listening and comprehension, exploration of tonal harmony and common formal structures, and score reading and writing.

The report is divided into two parts. The first gives a snapshot of the quantity of popular music courses (both undergraduate and foundation degree) that are on offer to students who wish to enter Further and Higher Education across the UK. It considers the typical routes through FE and HE institutions, and highlights the structure of typical popular music degree courses. The second part discusses the types of music skills provision that are offered by selected FE and HE institutions across the North East and England. This information has been gained by visiting and talking to various heads of departments, their staff, and their students currently involved on the courses. It is worth stating that no one institution will be singled out in this part. Rather, this section will consider the provision in general, and discuss the commonalities that the author has found in the needs and practice of music skills packages. Throughout the two parts areas of good practice as employed by certain institutions will be highlighted, and suggestions will be made for a consistent and effective programme of music skills that could be offered to students undertaking a popular music degree.