Careers Brief - Music & Sound Technology FdSc
Overview
The Foundation degree in Music & Sound Technology offers you the opportunity for progression onto an Honours degree course and direct job entry.
This course is designed to give you training in practical and theoretical aspects of music, sound and audio generation and to provide you with the skills and knowledge for the widest range of job roles.
To make a success within the audio visual industry, you need to combine specialist skills with an entrepreneurial attitude and a commitment to keep your skills up-to-date.
Go to the website links below to find out more.
To consider a wider choice of careers (matched to your interests) use Prospects Planner and other tools listed in the Career Planning section of this Careers Guide.
Further Study
You may be able to apply for a top-up degree. Top-up degrees are designed as direct progression from Foundation degree to achieve an Ordinary or Honours degree, though entry may be selective.
Alternatively, you could transfer onto a relevant Honours degree. Entry point would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses but could be the final year.
Go to http://onlineservices.bournemouth.ac.uk/courses/ for information on the BSc (Hons) Music and Audio Technology (designated linked course) at Bournemouth University.
Institutions offering related Top-ups include:
University of Brighton; University of Greenwich; New College Nottingham; Northbrook College Sussex; University of Plymouth; University Campus Suffolk; University of Sunderland; University of Wolverhampton.
To search degree courses go to www.ucas.com (UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK ) - click on the appropriate year and ‘Subject Search’. Use the university/college links for course details.
You will need to use UCAS to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.
Find out how much this will cost you. Where is the funding coming from? Go to the university/college website for information on course costs and finance and to www.direct.gov.uk/uni/ for additional help with student support.
With a good Honours degree (First or 2.1), you may progress onto an appropriate higher level Masters and/or PhD doctorate. This could be to develop your area of study to a more in-depth practical and/or academic level or to gain other specialist training.
For information on postgraduate study and finance, go to the national online directory at www.prospects.ac.uk/study.htm .
Go to the main section Further Study of this Guide for more information and help.
Useful Links
The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media - Careers section:
Go to sector sub-headings or input 'audio and sound' into 'Search for' for a wide selection of job roles and other related information.
e-skills UK - Sector Skills Council for IT and Telecoms
Creative Choices - online service supporting the individual and business in the Creative industries and cultural sector
Sound and Music - UK's landmark organisation for new music and sound
BBC Introducing - click on sub-heading 'ADVICE' Advice for music makers
Record Production - start by clicking on section heading 'Recording Studio Jobs & Careers'
The Radio Academy promoting UK broadcasting and audio production - drop down sub-headings 'Knowledge Bank' + 'News'
The Engineering and Technology Board - careers and news
ETB - engineering and technology careers
http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/
Government Careers Advice service
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on sub-heading ‘Job Families & Articles’
Go to Divisions 'Blitz Academy Career Advice' - careers guidance website for those interested in a career in games
www.ukperformingarts.co.uk/music
UKP-Arts the UK performance industry training and careers site
www.prospects.ac.uk/starting_out.htm
Graduate Prospects - national careers website for HE students studying in the UK:
Drop down sub-heading 'Job sectors' - click on 'Creative arts and culture' + 'Media'
The Knowledge Online for film, TV, video & commercials production industries
The Guardian newspaper online - key source for current media news and jobs
Careersbox - careers films on the web. Choose Sector 'Creative & Media'.
The Organisation for Sound Professionals
The Association of Motion Picture Sound
The Professional Recording Association
BPI - The British Recorded Music Industry
Institute of Sound and Communications Engineers
Professional Lighting and Sound Association
EntsWeb Directory of Entertainment, Music & Leisure
Showcase – The Music Business Guide
BECTU The Media & Entertainment Union
Incorporated Society of Musicians
The Musicians Union offers a range of services for professional and student musicians
UK Music representing the UK music industry
Go to '4TALENT'
Arts Council England – developing, promoting and investing in the arts in England. Go to sub-heading ‘Funding’.
www.artswales.org.uk/ Arts Council of Wales
www.scottisharts.org.uk/ The Scottish Arts Council
www.artscouncil-ni.org/ Arts Council of Northern Ireland
www.guidance-research.org/future-trends/media/
Warwick Institute for Employment Research - 'Audio-visual industries'
www.intute.ac.uk/artsandhumanities/
Intute is a free online service providing a database and access to web resources for education and research in the Creative Arts and Humanities. Under ‘Arts and Creative Industries’ click on ‘Music and the Performing Arts’ – ‘Music’.
Go to the Job Applications section of this Careers Guide for additional help and advice on making applications.
