Music Technology

We at LAMP offer NCFE Level 1, 2 RSL Level 3 Certificates in Music Technology. The course offers students the opportunity to develop:

Skills in music production using technology and the recording process
Technical skills using music technology including multitrack mixing and mastering skills
Skills in performance using music technology
Sound design
Knowledge of digital distribution on your music.

There is no requirement to have studied Music Technology prior to starting the course

Students can use a variety of music software programs to create, produce and edit their own music. These include Logic Pro X, Universal Audio Luna, Native Instruments Maschine and Ableton Live. There are also a variety of hardware drum machines like MPC Live 2, hardware and modular synths.

Screenshot of project in Native Instruments Maschine

Screenshot of project in Ableton Live

NCFE Level 2 : Music technology

The qualification for Level 2 requires students to complete 2 mandatory units. These are;

Unit 01 Set up and operate audio/MIDI sequencing software
Unit 02 Create music using audio/MIDI sequencing software

and 2 optional units chosen from;

Unit 03 Multi-track audio recording
Unit 04 Use multi-track sound mixing techniques
Unit 05 Using DJ Skills
Unit 06 Dance Music Production
Unit 07 Audio editing
Unit 08 Sound and music production
Unit 09 Sound effects techniques for music production
Unit 10 Microphone use in music production
Unit 11 Location recording

Screenshot from Logic Pro x

NCFE Level 1 : Music technology

The course embeds functional skills in Maths, English and ICT through:

Developing and updating an online portfolio for coursework
Research and discussion on different music genres and their origins
Research classic techniques for creating music through technology
Working with sequencer and song structure lengths
Ratios and frequencies on audio effects units

The qualification for Level 1 requires students to complete 1 mandatory unit from 3 unit choices. These are;

Unit 01 Assist with recording studio operations
Unit 02 Use multi-track loop sequencing software
Unit 03 DJ Skills

and 3 optional units chosen from

Unit 04 MC skills
Unit 05 Sound effects in music production
Unit 06 Sound and music technology
Unit 07 Audio effects processors in music production
Unit 08 Live sound mixing skills
Unit 09 Multi-track mixing skills
Unit 10 Microphones in music production
Unit 11 Use audio editing software
Unit 12 Public address systems
Unit 13 Multi-track audio recording
Unit 14 Location recording

Project in Audacity

Level 2 Extended Certificate in Music Technology

Level 2 extended diploma

LAMP also offers the NCFE Level 2 Extended Certificate in Music Technology. This course allows for the same skill development but requires more units to be completed to achieve it. Students need to complete 2 mandatory units and 4 optional units.

The qualification for Level 3 is through RSL with a wide range of choices of units to complete the qualification. The Extended Diploma is over a period of 1 year and the Subsidiary Diploma is over 2 years.

MUSPRA 366 Music Sequencing and Production
MUSPRA 371 Studio Sound Mixing
MUSPRA 372 Studio Audio Mastering
MUSPRA 374 Remixing and Production
MUSPRA 375 Radio and Podcast Production
MUSPRA 379 Analogue Synthesis
MUSPRA 381 Using Dynamic Processors
MUSPRA 383 Using Equaliser and Filters

Level 1 and 2 Music Technology is entirely coursework based, with no exams, making it an ideal choice for young people that suffer from anxiety. The qualification is marked as a Pass or fail it is then internally quality assured by our team, and externally quality assured by NCFE.

RSL Level 3 Music Technology

RSL Level 3 through is similar in delivery as NCFE where it is coursework based and will be the equivalent in gaining an A Level/s in Music Technology.

Progress is evidenced in an online portfolio, which includes text, pictures, video, and audio.

Young people are introduced through taster sessions to the production software that we offer at LAMP. These initial taster sessions mean that students can have access to the software and can chose which one they are more comfortable using to complete the course.

The qualification for Level 3 is through RSL with a wide range of choices of units to complete the qualification. The Extended Diploma is over a period of 1 year and the Subsidiary Diploma is over 2 years.

There is a choice between 3 core units initially which are

MUSPRA 366 Music Sequencing and Production
MUSPRA 371 Studio Sound Mixing
MUSPRA 369 Digital Recording & Production

After this there are a wide number of optional units that can be used to complete the Extended or Subsidiary Diploma.

The objectives are:

To focus delivery and assessment on practical music making, music production and development of music business skills through learner centred activity;

To make the qualifications relevant to a wide variety of applications from FE provision through to schools, Creative Apprenticeships and e-learning, while ensuring appropriate academic options are available for certain types of HE progression;

To embed transferable skills and functional skills into the qualifications.

Learners will demonstrate:

Sound recording skills
Mixing and mastering skills
Sequencing and production skills
Live sound skills
Radio programming skills
Video production skills
Understanding of contextual issues relating to music
technology

Studio Equipment and Hardware

The studio combines the latest in digital recording alongside traditional analogue recording techniques. Students enjoy learning about the traditions of recording music and sound so we still keep a reel-to-reel tape recorder in service, and one of our bands recently released their music on cassette tape.

Using a software system there are numerous ways to record your music and express your creativity. We have keyboards where you can play your musical parts into the software. We also have drum machines where you can play your drum and percussion sequences in real time, giving you the ‘live’ performance feel. The Theremin is a wireless instrument that you play with hand gestures but with no actual contact. This instrument was invented in 1920 and became popularised by it's use on science fiction films in the 50's and 60's.

If you don’t play the keyboard that is still ok as you can still programme the notes into the software to play as you wish. You can also edit audio and MIDI loops.

Specialist support and extra curricular

One of the LAMP Directors is a music technology specialist, so occasionally they will help out either for enrichment or to deliver a part of the Level 3 course. e.g. most recently teaching part of a unit on Modular Synthesis.

In our extra curricular activities we do various projects at local festivals e.g. plants biodata converted to control voltage to play synthesiser and painting with sound waves.

LAMP Album Vol 1 & 2

We also run after school projects in Music Technology and performance. Recently we release Volume 2 of the LAMP album.

Check it out here...
Leamington LAMP : Vol 2

Simon Lewis

Music Technology

Course Leader

Timothy Ellis
Specialist support

Enrichment

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