Popular Music Performance - Keys Certificate of Higher Education - CertHE

The Popular Music Performance CertHE is a one year course that is designed for students who aspire to fulfill the highest levels of musicianship whilst building a successful portfolio career within today’s modern and diverse popular music industry.

A dynamic, challenging and relevant programme, this course will provide you with the playing, performing, technical and theoretical skills necessary to prepare you for the real world of the portfolio musician. The study of established genres, styles and repertoire sits at the core of the course, and you’ll develop a wide and comprehensive understanding of genre conventions through study of your principal instrument, aimed at enabling you to succeed in a wide range of contexts.

The course covers a variety of learning activities in subject areas such as performance, stylistic techniques, music technology, arranging and composing, sight-reading and sonic analysis. You’ll be challenged to develop outstanding technical skills on your primary instrument.

Over the year, you’ll receive tuition from our expert teaching faculty, made up of highly esteemed musicians, all of whom have active careers in the music industry and higher education sector. Learning will be achieved in small groups, where collaboration is encouraged to enable conceptual exploration of experiences, influences and ideas. Through live performance workshops you’ll develop a strong comradery with your fellow students, be inspired to network and create projects with students from other ICMP programmes, and receive individual instrumental feedback.

ICMP tutors will provide you with relevant knowledge of the internal workings of the music industry through the delivery of regular masterclasses, industry events and networking opportunities, along with addresses from guest lecturers and emerging artists.

At the end of your CertHE studies, you’ll graduate with exceptional technical keyboard skills and substantial live, recorded and remote performance experience, so you’ll be ready to forge a successful career across many areas of the music business. If you’d rather continue with your learning, the course offers a direct path to the second year of the BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance undergraduate degree, where you can further develop your skills for a career as a portfolio musician and professional keyboardist.\*

*\*When you complete this Certificate of Higher Education, you could progress directly into year two of the degree in the same named award, because you'll have studied the same Level 4 curriculum. Progression to a different degree pathway is subject to credit mapping and academic approval before you enrol. Talk to your tutor or our Admissions team about your options.*