British Council LogoBTEC National Award in
Music Technology – Level 3

The BTEC National Award in Music Technology is aimed at those who are interested in developing the skills required for a career in sound engineering and the music industry. Candidates should have a keen interest in all aspects of music production with the emphasis on music technology. Successful completing students can continue to year two to achieve a national certificate. BTEC National Awards are valued highly by employers and the Higher Education sector (University and Colleges)

Entry Requirements

You will need to hold the equivalent of a UK level 2 qualification and have an interest, or experience in music or the music technology industry. The College will assess your qualifications and tell you whether you are eligible to join the course. You will need to complete the application and write 250 words on the back page of the form explaining why you want to undertake your chosen course.

Course Content

You will gain the skills to use computers for music creation, develop recording techniques in the 24 track studios and develop an understanding of the music industry.You will also develop research skills, create music for film, and develop projects. During this two-year course students take part in live music events, visits to music studios and live performances.

Core Units to be studied include:

Creating a Music Product

This unit is core in the National Awards and National Certificate in Music Technology.There are many roles within the music industry that contribute to the effective creation of a commercial music product.Alongside the artist,key roles are those of the recording engineer and the producer.This unit will encourage learners to undertake a range of roles in the studio as part of a team, with the aim of creating a product that satisfies current technical and creative trends whilst utilising the best of current technology. Each team will plan and create an audio CD with a number of tracks.

Material can be derived from any style of performance, including live musicians, MIDI sequences, sample-based material and DJ techniques. Material used can be original compositions written by team members or sourced elsewhere,or it can be ‘cover versions’ of material from any source.When working with existing material, correct copyright procedures must be followed. If the material is original, each writer will be credited and the work protected effectively.

Each team member will be ‘The Producer’ for a range of contrasting material and participate in the remainder of the tracks.The focus for the unit is on teamwork, where each team member will have clearly-defined roles in the studio whilst creating a series of recordings.All learners will perform a range of roles and be expected to demonstrate effectively and record their skills in these areas.All learners must also ‘engineer’ for other producers in the team, but can perform these duties whilst ‘producing’ if appropriate to the style of music.

Sound Recording Techniques

The recording of sound has been possible for many years but has changed dramatically in the last couple of decades.The falling relative price of sound recording equipment has led to increased ownership of high quality technology that musicians can install at home.At the same time,and because of this,the loss of many small and medium-sized recording studios have meant that there are fewer musicians benefiting from the expertise and experience to be gained by working with professional sound engineers.

The purpose of this unit is to equip learners with an understanding of the practical skills involved in sound recording. It could be argued that these skills help to sustain performers in the business by allowing them to produce recordings of their work for sale on the web or at concerts,or for promotion purposes when trying to get a gig or a record deal.This unit will take learners through the process of sound recording; the ‘recording chain’ as it has been called. Starting with the capture of sounds into the recorder, learners will then balance and mix sounds before finally producing the stereo master recording.

The unit is not intended to produce accomplished sound engineers, as this requires a wider range of skills, but it offers a comprehensive step towards solid practical experience of the different stages of recording.

Planning a Music Recording

When working in the music profession, either as a creative recording artist or in one of the many managing and supporting roles, a common skill is to be able to plan and work towards an effective final studio product that can be marketed to the right target audience.When planning a recording session,effective teamwork is essential and is only possible when everyone involved understands the process. Industry teams vary in size depending on the recording session being planned.The recording of a full orchestra, for example, requires more in-depth planning and support on the recording day than the recording of a single session singer. During this unit, learners will work as a team to plan a recording session.

Each team member will have a variety of clearly defined roles as the process moves through preproduction, recording of basic tracks, overdubbing and mixing, editing, and mastering. Learners will apply skills and knowledge particular to their specialised discipline but they will also develop the skills required at recognised stages in the process. Learners will be required to show that they understand the purpose of the planning procedure, a range of roles within this procedure, and the interaction that exists between these different roles.

The Sound and Music Industry

The sound and music industry embraces a whole range of occupations from artists, producers and sound engineers to publishers, printers, managers, lawyers, instrument makers, electronics engineers, all of whom need specialist knowledge of how the industry works and what is needed of them.The four ‘major companies’ (Sony/BMG,EMI,Universal and Warner) dominate but there are many more small companies who often employ artists and other personnel on a freelance basis.This unit will introduce learners both to the many roles in the music industry and also to the expectations of the music industry and the possibilities of freelance work.

It is often said that ‘whom you know’ is important in the music industry.This is not totally correct,what is as important is ‘who knows you’.As more and more artists explore the possibilities of promoting their own events and producing their own recordings, it is essential that they know the structure of the industry so that they know where and how to market their skills and how to take responsibility for their own futures.It cannot be stressed enough how important royalties are to the music industry.

The licensing of music to users and the payment of royalties for this use is a complex but fascinating area of the music and sound industry that must be understood.Workers in this industry who do not understand some of the issues with licensing,copyright and royalties could find themselves in breach of the law.This unit will enable learners to become aware of where their career choices fit into the ‘big picture’ of the industry. It includes an examination of working conditions and requirements and the use of marketing and publicity.

Computer Music Systems

The technological revolution of the last decade has seen a rapid expansion in the number of musicians who work with computers. The abilities of computer software have opened up the role of the computer in making and editing music.Traditionally,the music industry worked with hardware but more and more studios are now using computers for recording and editing.

MIDI interfaces allow external keyboards, sound modules and mixing surfaces to be added to the range of sounds and hardware at the musician’s fingertips.Audio interfaces allow recording and playback of live audio,transforming the computer into a fully-featured recording studio.The internet has provided an opportunity for musicians to compose computer-based music and share their music in a way that was never possible before.

Musicians who might not have been financially able to create or publicise their music are now able to set up a computer system at home and publicise/sell their music worldwide. Finally, the influx of computers in music has allowed many musicians who may not play a musical instrument to create and perform music.Throughout the study of this unit, learners will develop a practical knowledge and understanding of the functions that a computer can now serve in working with music.They will work with a computer and peripheral music equipment to create a working computer-based music system.

Learners will demonstrate how to set up and configure their own workstation.This could include the installation and removal of software from their systems,administrative access allowing.Working practically with a number of file types will allow learners to understand how they are used appropriately.

Listening Skills

Anyone working in music needs to have good listening skills.This ability is essential in order to perform,compose or to work as a DJ in a recording studio or with live sound. Producers and personnel making decisions for a record company must be able to listen effectively when making choices.

Sound engineers need to be able to recognise and describe the quality of musical and other sounds so that they can balance and creatively adjust them.They also need to listen for different types of distortion.Music producers need to listen for intonation and timing problems, and DJs need to refine their listening skills in order to match speeds and keys and to recognise points at which to mix.

In this unit, learners will explore the potential of hearing by learning to listen actively instead of passively. Learners will explore what it is that they need to be listening for and how sounds relate to each other musically and in the natural world.This unit is intended to be as practical as possible. It gives learners the opportunity to explore the world of sound and share their discoveries with each other. In developing listening skills, learners will be able to investigate not only musical sounds but also the sounds and rhythms in nature and urban environments.

Learners are required to develop and use a musical vocabulary and combine the theory of music, the nature of sound and production techniques. Learners composing and recording their own music can include examples from their own portfolio to demonstrate what they have learned from listening in a wider context.Throughout this unit,any references to musical instruments are taken to include conventional instruments and any natural or artificially generated sounds.

How will I be assessed?

All units are graded as Pass, Merit or Distinction. Progress is continually assessed throughout the two years through a series of assignments, projects and practical exercises in each subject area of the course. An overall grade is awarded for the qualification at Pass, Merit or Distinction.

What can I do next?

This Award will support you in pursuing a career in the music industry.

Upon successful completion of the Award, you will be able to progress onto the BTEC National Certificate in Music Technology for a second year of study to complete the required units of entry for progress into Higher Education. Upon successful completion of your second year, you may then progress onto a Foundation Degree or Undergraduate degree in Music Technology or most of the related subjects described in the course content.

Year 2

If you wish to continue on to the second year and gain a Certificate Award you will study:

Additional Costs

College libraries stock a range of books related to your course of which you can take out on loan free of charge. You may wish to purchase your own books at a cost of approximately £20-£30 per book. Students may wish to buy their own headphones for practical work at a cost of pproximately £100.

Course Fee

£4,500 per year


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