Popular Music
UCAS code W340
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Duration
- 3 years
- Start date and application deadlines
-
- Start date
About this course
The University of Liverpool has a particular specialism in popular music, having established the world’s first specialist centre for its study - the Institute of Popular Music - in 1988. Recent investment in our teaching facilities has provided state-of-the-art studios, practice rooms, a games research lab and a large rehearsal space.
Introduction
In addition to practical areas, this programme focuses on developing an in-depth and critical historical understanding of popular music repertoires, cultures, and practices. Practical modules are concerned with musical performance, song-writing, or creative music technology, although none of these are compulsory; while other modules focus on popular music history topics or the music industry. There are also options in areas such as music psychology and audio-visual media (films and videogames). Throughout, you will learn to write about popular music from a historical, critical, sociological, or philosophical viewpoint.
In your first year, core modules will take a detailed look at the nature of the popular music industries, and a critical exploration of 20th century popular music history – not only going through key musical milestones, but also exploring their social contexts and the long-term cultural implications.
In your second and final years you will focus in more depth on fewer selected topics, either concentrating solely on Popular Music modules, or retaining the option to pursue one or two modules in other areas. Specialist topics are studied alongside advanced level performance and music technology modules. In the final year, there is a particular emphasis on specialism and an extended or independent project (such as a research project, a music technology project, or an extended performance recital).
Year in Industry
Undergraduate students in the Department of Music have the opportunity to spend a year in industry, either in their third year, or by adding a ‘follow-on year’ at the end of their academic studies. These are paid placements within an organisation in industry, broadly defined, and you will receive support from the Department and the School of the Arts to source and apply for opportunities. Find out more about the difference between these options, including how to apply.
What you'll learn
- A critical understanding of music from a wide range of aesthetic, cultural and social perspectives
- A detailed understanding of Western Popular (and some other) music repertoires
- Advanced proficiency in performance, and composition
- Academic research skills
- Critical and cultural awareness
- The ability to devise and sustain complex arguments
- Written and oral communication and presentation
- Creativity
- Time management and organisations skills
Welcome to Liverpool
We want you to feel welcome from the moment you apply to study at Liverpool. We offer lots of support for our students who are moving from abroad. We can welcome you at Manchester Airport with our meet and greet service (for September starts) and we have a friendly International Advice and Guidance team who run events to welcome you on to campus and provide in person support and events all year round.
Course content
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Year one
You will take three compulsory modules: MUSI140, MUSI121 and MUSI150; and five optional modules (the majority from popular music modules).
In year one, you:
- Must take at least one from: MUSI180, MUSI181.
- May take a maximum of one from MUSI102, MUSI106, MUSI130 (Classical Music options)
- May not take both Classical Performance (MUSI102) and Popular Performance (MUSI104).
Modules
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR MUSIC HISTORY (MUSI140) | 15 |
| MUSIC AS AN INDUSTRY (MUSI150) | 15 |
| MAKING MUSIC IN CULTURE (MUSI121) | 15 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year two
Your second year is made up entirely of optional modules. There may be some restrictions on which modules can be taken in conjunction with others, which will be explained during module registration.
- Students taking the Year in Industry must take SOTA260.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Final year
You will undertake a major independent project in research, performance, composition or technology. The rest of your modules will be chosen from a range of options.
- You must take at least one of the following: MUSI341, MUSI370.
- There may be some further restrictions on which modules can be taken in conjunction with others, which will be explained during module registration.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Combined degree
Choosing this subject as a combined degree
Options include performance, technology, audio-visual music, world music, and music industry. In years two and three you focus in more detail on the areas that interest you most (such as history, psychology, audio-visual, performance, or popular composition/song-writing).
Teaching and assessment
How you'll learn
We employ a range of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, master classes, 1-2-1 instrumental lessons, ensemble coaching, and online tasks and projects. The emphasis is on student participation and interaction. We fit the most appropriate mode of teaching to the particular subject, conscious that the learning process needs to be enjoyable, enabling you to acquire useful and marketable skills and knowledge.
How you're assessed
Each module has an individually determined system of assessment (by coursework, written paper, test, recital, composition or technology portfolio, presentation or podcast, examination, and combinations of these), and we select the method that best suits the nature of the module.
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
The Liverpool Curriculum framework sets out our distinctive approach to education. Our teaching staff support our students to develop academic knowledge, skills, and understanding alongside our graduate attributes:
- Digital fluency
- Confidence
- Global citizenship
Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:
- Research-connected teaching
- Active learning
- Authentic assessment
All this is underpinned by our core value of inclusivity and commitment to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.
Course options
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
Global opportunities
University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide. Choose to spend a year at XJTLU in China or a year or semester at an institution of your choice.
Year in China
Immerse yourself in Chinese culture on an optional additional year at Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in stunning Suzhou.
- Learn Chinese
- Study in a bustling world heritage city
- Improve employment prospects
- Study Chinese culture
- 30 minutes from Shanghai
- Learn new skills
Year abroad
Broaden your world by spending an additional year of study at a partner university abroad following your second year of study.
- Choose from up-to 26 countries
- Experience another way of life
- Inspire your future career or studies
- Improved prospects of earning a 2:1 or First
- More likely to earn higher salary
- More likely to be employed after graduating
Where can I spend a year abroad on this course?
- Australia
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- USA
Semester abroad
Take a semester of your second year of study at one of our worldwide partner institutions.
- Inspire your future career or studies
- Improved prospects of earning a 2:1 or First
- More likely to earn higher salary
- More likely to be employed after graduating
Summer abroad
Spend a summer abroad on a study placement or research project at one of our worldwide partner institutions.
- Spend a summer abroad in addition to your degree programme
- Study abroad without adding an extra year
- Choose any summer between your first and final year of study
- Get the chance to study subjects outside your discipline
Where can I spend a summer abroad on this course?
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- South Korea
Year in industry
Year in industry placements give you an in-depth workplace experience where you can develop your skills and apply your learning.
- Develop key employability skills that graduate employers are looking for
- Experience and understand workplace culture and discipline
- Understand the relationship between academic theory and real world application
- Begin your professional network
- Gain industry insight and insight into potential career options.
You don't need to decide now - you can choose to add a year in industry after you've begun your degree.
Learn more about year in industry
To spend a year in industry, you'll need to secure a placement with an organisation. If you're unable to find a placement, you'll continue with the standard version of the course without a year in industry.
Language study
Every student at The University of Liverpool can study a language as part of, or alongside their degree. You can choose:
- A dedicated languages degree
- A language as a joint or major/minor degree
- Language modules (selected degrees)
- Language classes alongside your studies
Combine this subject
With a combined degree, you can study two subjects as part of the same degree programme.
- Choose from 30 subjects and over 300 combinations
- Choose joint or major minor subjects
- Adjust the weight of your subjects at the end of your first year
- Same number of credits as single honours students
- Same classes as single honours students
- Appeal to a wide range of employers
Your experience
Much of your teaching will take place in the Department of Music. Our recently renovated facilities include studios, teaching spaces and industry standard equipment, and we recently opened the Tung Auditorium: a 400-seat state of the art performance venue, which has been developed to support our requirements and to function as a public-facing space for concerts outside of teaching time.
Explore where you'll study
Studying Music at Liverpool
Virtual tour
Supporting your learning
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
- Careers and employability support, including help with career planning, understanding the job market and strengthening your networking skills
- A dedicated student services team can help you get assistance with your studies, help with health and wellbeing, and access to financial advice
- Confidential counselling and support to help students with personal problems affecting their studies and general wellbeing
- Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
Why study Music at Liverpool?
- We pride ourselves on being an innovative department that embraces the full spectrum of music, from the great works of the past to emerging trends such as sound for computer games
- Our staff and students come from a variety of performance and non-performance backgrounds and share interests that span classical, popular, world and film music
- Long established as a classical music department, in 1988 we created the Institute of Popular Music – the world’s first specialist centre for the study of Popular Music
- Music placed in the top quartile for impact classified as outstanding (4*) (REF 2021)
- Our recently refurbished facilities boast brand new studios, teaching spaces, and industry standard equipment. These include recording and production studios, an SSL studio, practice rooms with Yamaha pianos, a multipurpose rehearsal and performance space, iMac suites and a games research lab
- In March 2022 we opened the Tung Auditorium, a new state-of-the-art performance venue seating up to 400 people, with space for a 70-piece orchestra.
My aim is to work in the music industry and this course offered a wide range of modules across the whole industry, allowing me to learn about how different areas operate. It’s also incredibly flexible as it has allowed me to combine performance, marketing, film composition, music history and workplace experience into my degree.
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Careers and employability
Studying Music opens up many career opportunities, including composing, performing, music therapy, community arts, and teaching.
As well as jobs in music employers in many sectors are increasingly seeking arts and humanities graduates for their transferable skills.
As a student in the School of the Arts, you will be supported to maximise your employability from day one.
The School has its own placements and employability officer, and you will have the opportunity to undertake the following work experience opportunities:
- work placement or a year in industry as part of your programme;
- work in our student-run record label to gain practical experience in all aspects of the music industry – from contract negotiation and project planning to promotion and distribution.