Music Technology (Digital Music Production) BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate

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Music Technology* is a Tech Level qualification, equivalent in size to one A Level. It is a great choice if you wish to compose, record, arrange and mix music for commercial release and for use in film, TV and video game. It provides good preparation for learners considering a career in digital music production. When taken alongside further Level 3 qualifications, it supports access to a range of higher education courses in music production and the wider music industry. As well as direct entry to employment, this qualification will prepare you for higher study of a specialist degree. This route gives you the opportunity to enter the music sector at a higher level, or in a more specialist role.

No prior study of the sector is needed but you should normally have a range of achievement at Level 2, in GCSEs or equivalent qualifications, including Music, English and Mathematics. A grade 5 or above in an instrument would be an advantage and a basic understanding of rhythm and melody is essential.

Audio or video evidence of performing on an instrument or past compositions are good ways to effectively demonstrate your suitability for the course. This process will happen as part of Wyke Start.

*Please note that the official name of this course is: The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Digital Music Production.

The Music Department cultivates an ethos of hard work, high standards and high expectations from both staff and students to enable all students to fulfil their musical potential through performances, academic study and through the music composed during their time at Wyke Sixth Form College.

The Music Department has a range of specialist equipment available to Music Technology students. This includes a state of art recording studio with a selection of microphones and instruments all to be used in an acoustically treated space. You will have access to a DAW (digital audio workstation) for classroom lessons. These machines have a MIDI keyboard, USB soundcard, headphones, duel monitoring screens and run Cubase and Cakewalk software. The recording studio can be booked exclusively for use by music technology students and instrument tuition is provided at a discounted rate. To coincide with this, students can book rehearsal rooms which are all equipped with a piano.

The course consists of 5 modules, 4 of which are internally assessed through coursework and one double points unit which is an externally assessed practical activity undertaken in exam conditions.

YEAR 1

MIXING AND MASTERING TECHNIQUES (UNIT 13)

In this unit, you will gain experience in mixing down and mastering multitrack digital audio workstation (DAW) projects.

You will also realise a sonic vision for a DAW project to achieve your desired sound mimicking professional mixing and mastering techniques as taught by your tutor.

MUSIC AND SOUND FOR MEDIA (UNIT 3)

This unit focuses on producing sounds and providing music for a range of media products, such as games, films and apps. In this unit, you will explore a range of music and sound creation scenarios that might exist in a typical portfolio for someone working in the music industry. You will create and produce music for games and films, as well as create original sounds, noises and effects to support on-screen actions.

YEAR 2

COMMERCIAL MUSIC PRODUCTION (UNIT 16)

In this unit, you will develop the technical skills required to produce modern, commercially driven songs, and also explore the creative techniques which help to define the sound of commercial music.

The creatively disciplined, business orientated, and highly competitive area of commercial music remains the key interest of the major financial forces behind the music industry. Commercial music is a constant in the ever-shifting musical landscape, making it highly desirable for the student of music technology to have an understanding of this key area.

MIXING AND REWORKING (UNIT 10)

In this unit, you will experiment with unique, creative digital audio workstation (DAW)-based techniques associated with remixing. The skills learned will enable you to manipulate music in highly technical and innovative ways, and you will create a portfolio of contrasting remixes and reworks using a wide range of creative audio and musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) sequencing techniques.

DAW PRODUCTION (UNIT 6) DOUBLE POINTS UNIT – EXTERNALLY ASSESSED

In this unit, you will explore how the features of a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) can be used to create and develop your own music. At Wyke Sixth Form College the DAW we use is Cubase. You will understand some of the background principals of how a DAW works, along with the associated specialist and technical terms. To complete the assessment task within this unit, you will need to draw on your learning from across your programme.

The assessment for this unit will be done in exam conditions at the end of your second year of study.

You will receive 4 lessons per week with the Music Production teacher, Steve Cutler. The lessons are split between delivery of theory and practical exercises. A lot of lesson time will be spent completing course work (research, essay writing and practical computer-based work) under the supervision of your Music Production Tutor. Access to the computers and software is vital in order to successfully complete coursework. Very high attendance is necessary, as is the ability to run a DAW from home. Free DAW’s are available on windows (Cakewalk) and mac-based computers (Garage Band).

A combination of external and internal assessed coursework and an external exam.

Information on course specific and pathway specific entry criteria can be found on our website.

This course provides an excellent platform for you if you are wishing to study a music production based degree at higher education, start an apprenticeship with a music technology company or enter the music industry in full term employment as well as being self-employed which many music / sound professionals are. Careers can include studio producer, recording engineer, live sound engineer, plug-in / DAW design engineer, speaker / microphone manufacturer, musician, song writer, Foley artist, sound designer (for film, game, apps and TV) or any combination of the above roles.