COURSE SUMMARY

The one year Higher Diploma (Guitar) course (in Popular Music Performance) is designed to equip aspiring professional musicians with the skills and awareness required by today's ever-changing music industry.

Successful students will gain two awards, our own Institute of Contemporary Music Performance Diploma and the OCN Diploma (in Popular Music Performance.) This is a level 3 award and is equivalent to 1.5 GCE 'A' levels and can be used for entry into Higher Education.

On the Higher Diploma course you will play and perform guitar every week in live band situations with other instrumentalists, studying the different contemporary musical styles relevant to today's wide-ranging musical arena and industry. Class sizes are generally no more than 12 students, creating a high level of interaction with both your tutors and your fellow musicians. This ensures that your learning and training opportunities are maximized and the learning environment remains extremely focused.

GENERAL COURSE DETAILS

Course name:		Higher Diploma (Guitar)
Commencement:		6th October 2008
Duration:		30 weeks full-time made up of 3 x 10-week terms
Class Times:		16 hours/week, 3 days/week
Cost:		£4,950
Entry Req:		Students should possess Intermediate skill levels on the instrument. There is a mandatory FREE assessment prior to acceptance. Academic qualifications and sight reading skills are not required.

COURSE OUTLINE

Click here to download the 2008 Prospectus with the Higher Diploma Course Outline. 

The Higher Diploma course is broken down into four main areas of study, as follows:

1. CORE CURRICULUM: Covers and develops the essential technical skills that you will require to develop a career as a musician. For example, Harmony and Theory, Instrumental Technique, Transcribing, Arranging and Aural Skills.

2. PERFORMANCE: Covers all the principle contemporary styles, from Blues, Rock and Soul through to advanced styles such as Jazz and Fusion. This provides you with performance experience and skills, as well as a widening song repertoire.

3. STYLISTIC STUDY: This part of the course provides you with an in-depth understanding of all the principle contemporary musical styles, both in terms of performance on your instrument and their historical importance and perspective.

4. SIGHT READING: Assuming no prior reading experience, this part of the course will provide you with the tools required to sight read standard music notation. This essential skill is supported throughout the course in practical performance classes, and is an integral part of a musician's skill set.

Level I (Term 1)

Core Curriculum modules

Aural & Transcribing 1: An introduction to help develop Aural skills, both as an individual skill and in the practical application of Transcribing.

Harmony & Theory 1: An introduction to the practical Harmony and Theory that every guitarist needs to know, such as Diatonic Harmony and Scale/Chord formation.

Fretboard Skills 1: This class builds the solid foundations on the fretboard that will enable the guitarist to master their instrument, both in technique, understanding and visualisation.

Keyboards 1: This module will provide the student with an introduction to the keyboard as a second instrument, supporting the Music Tech and Songwriting pathways.

Music Tech: Providing an introduction to the use of Music Technology this class is geared toward equipping guitarists with the skills required to utilize the technology suite, and supports the creative study that will take place in levels two and three.

Performance Modules

Live Performance Workshop 1: This module teaches guitarists to function in a real-band environment. Alongside fellow students from the bass, drum and vocal faculties, they will learn and perform a repertoire of tunes, covering three key styles; Blues, Soul and Rock.

Rhythm Section Workshop 1: This module begins to investigate the critical role of the guitarist as part of the rhythm section, both analytically and practically. Essential styles are broken down and analysed with examples from each performed in a band environment.

Stylised Study Modules

Rhythm Guitar: This module introduces the guitarist to a wide range of rhythm guitar styles, breaking each down into component parts.

Foundation Blues: Introduces the guitarist to a wide variety of styles within the blues idiom through study of some of the main stylistic innovators.

Rock 1: Introduces the guitarist to a wide variety of styles within the classic rock idiom through study of some of the main stylistic innovators.

Fingerstyle: This module will introduce and develop the fingerstyle technique, applicable to both acoustic and electric guitar.

Sight Reading Modules

Sight Reading 1: Introduces all of the concepts that will enable the guitarist to start sight reading standard music notation.

Reading Skills 1: Focuses on the wider reading skills that every guitarist needs, such as notational symbols, rhythmic subdivisions, shapes, patterns and chart reading.

Level II (Term 2)

Core Curriculum modules

Aural & Transcribing 2: Building upon the aural skills developed in Level I, this module adds more complex chordal structures and progressions.

Harmony & Theory 2: This module further extends understanding of the fretboard and the associated harmony. This moves onto minor scales and their chordal constructions.

Fretboard Skills 2: Extends fretboard knowledge and technique considerably. This incorporates Arpeggios and their use (via Arpeggiator), Modes and Sequential Patterns.

Introduction to Songwriting: this module introduces the broad concepts, and lays the foundations of, the art of songwriting, encouraging students to explore their creative capabilities.

History of Popular Music (2hr): Popular Music is inextricably linked to the environment that nurtured it and in this module students will develop an understanding of it in its historical context, focusing on the cultural and social factors which have influenced its evolution. In practical terms, this provides students with the broader understanding required for convincing, authentic performance.

Performance Modules

Live Performance Workshop 2: This module teaches guitarists to function in a real-band environment. Alongside fellow students from the bass, drum and vocal faculties, they will learn and perform a repertoire of tunes, covering three key styles; Pop, Rock and World Music.

Rhythm Section Workshop 2: Deepens understanding of the critical role of the guitarist as part of the rhythm section, both analytically and practically. More essential styles are broken down, analysed and examples from each performed in a band environment.

Stylised Study Modules

FUNK GUITAR: This module takes an advanced and in depth look at the wider range of styles within the funk idiom.

ADVANCED BLUES: This module builds upon Foundation Blues, taking the skills acquired and developing them. Stylistically it incorporates more Fusion and Jazz styles.

ROCK 2: This module builds upon the studies undertaken in Rock 1, but it introduces the student some more technically demanding aspects. As rock guitar has

developed over the past 30 years, the physical demands have increased steadily, and this module charts the progress of the rock genre.

COUNTRY: This module will develop some of the more demanding techniques that the country guitarist has to master, such as banjo rolls, pedal steel imitation and hybrid picking.

Sight Reading Modules

Sight Reading 2: This module develops all of the concepts from Sight Reading 1, whilst incorporating reading in various keys and positions.

Reading Skills 2: This module will develop the wider reading skills that every guitarist needs, such as reading form, repetition, rhythm guitar parts and chart reading. A conceptual understanding is emphasized throughout.

Level III (Term 3)

Core Curriculum modules

Aural & Arranging: This module adds more complex chordal structures and progressions. Students study various styles and arrange their own material into that style.

Harmony & Theory 3: Extends the Harmony and Theory already learnt into areas of more complex Jazz theory, supporting the styles covered in performance this term.

Fretboard Skills 3: Expands fretboard understanding of Chords, Scales, Arpeggios, Modes and Minor Modes to support the advanced styles being studied this term.

Songwriting: Building on the concepts studies in Level II, the student will further extend their creative potential in this module, both in terms of songwriting and composition.

Music Business (2hrs): A practical understanding of the complex nature of the business that they are entering is an indispensable skill for any aspiring professional musician. This module provides students with a coherent and solid overview of the main business practices currently used within the industry, focusing on issues such as revenue streams to copyright protection.

Performance Modules

Live Performance Workshop 3: This module teaches guitarists to function in a real-band environment. Alongside fellow students from the drum, bass and vocal faculties, they will learn and perform a repertoire of tunes, covering three key styles; Funk, R 'n' B, and Jazz.

Advanced Performance Workshop: Involves learning a repertoire of more advanced and esoteric instrumental styles, including Jazz, Fusion, Country and Contemporary Rock. This module is where many of the aspects studied over the previous two levels are applied in a real band environment.

Stylised Study Modules

CHORD MELODY: This module studies the role of the electric and acoustic guitarist in a solo environment. It incorporates solo arrangements of many classic jazz and popular tunes.

IMPROVISATION: The skill of improvisation is common in most strands of popular music, and this module studies many of the concepts and skills involved. Students will apply these concepts in a wide range of stylistic settings.

ROCK 3: This module extends from Rock 2, introducing the guitarist to the more demanding and contemporary techniques made popular post-1980 by players such as Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai.

Sight Reading Modules

Sight Reading 3: This module extends all of the concepts from the previous modules.

Reading Skills 3: This module will extend the wider reading skills that every guitarist needs, including odd times signatures, real charts and bass ensembles.