MA Popular Music Practice
Research, collaboration, professional development, experimentation, 1-2-1 guidance and more. This is what our MA Popular Music Practice offers you. Over a full twelve-month period of study – or 24 months if you choose our part-time option – you’ll be pushed to expand upon everything you know, moving you away from the skills-based style of undergraduate learning and towards becoming an influential and unique voice in your industry.
Our clearly defined course structure is intelligently composed to cover theoretical, practical and collaborative elements. It culminates in a major project of your choice focusing on one of the following paths: performance, production, composition or entrepreneurship. The path that you choose for your major project will be the specialism stated on your final qualification.
Which specialism will you choose?
For your major project, you’ll focus on one of these specialisms in detail. This is a chance to tailor your studies to your passion whilst taking theory, practice and research to an advanced level.
Performance
Hone your instrumental technique, build on your performance experience and evolve your performance style. With performance, you’ll have the chance to develop your musicality and your capabilities to a highly advanced level. Set yourself up as the go-to musician on the national music scene – and beyond.
Production
Thanks to our fantastic studio facilities and industry-leading lecturers, specialising in production will stretch your skills in recording, mixing, mastering and more. Get involved in extraordinary recording projects and build your portfolio for a sustainable career.
Composition
Whether you are a singer-songwriter, a sound artist or a composer interested in sync opportunities, this path will deepen your knowledge, understanding and ability to write music for a variety of situations, channels and outputs. Furthermore, it is often an excellent pathway of collaboration and will see you embark on exciting projects that span media and genre.
Entrepreneurship
Specialising in entrepreneurship provides a huge range of opportunities such as starting a business, curating events or collaborating with your MA peers and industry organisations. There is huge scope here for you to develop yourself into a commercially minded, music business professional.
Course Specification
Mode of attendance: Full-time (one year) or part-time (two years)
Awarding institution: BIMM University (UK)
Campus delivery: Berlin
Language of study: English
Final award: MA Popular Music Practice
Credits: 90 ECTS// 180 FHEQ (UK) Level credits
Admissions Criteria: A good degree (normally 2.2 or above) or significant experience in a relevant field. All applicants will be subject to interview and a portfolio may also be requested for Recognition of Prior Certified or Experiential Learning (RPCEL).
Application Deadlines:
- 30 July 2024: Final deadline
Minimum Requirements
An undergraduate degree (normally 2.2 equivalent or above) or significant experience in a relevant vocation. Please reference the Entry Requirements webpage for additional international qualification equivalencies.
Proof of English Language proficiency is required if English is not your first language, or you have not studied at Undergraduate level in English previously. BIMM University Berlin requires equivalent to Level B2 CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Please reference our English language requirements webpage for further information.
All applicants will be subject to a portfolio review and interview with a BIMM University Berlin Lecturer. Applicants with significant demonstrable experience in a related vocation, and who do not have an existing recognised undergraduate qualification, may be considered for Recognition of Prior Certified or Experiential Learning (RPCEL).
Progression
You will be qualified to work as an advanced practitioner or educator/researcher within the field of popular music practice and related creative industries.
Course Fees
As part of Europe’s most successful group of music colleges, BIMM University Berlin is uniquely positioned to offer outstanding value and quality.
We’re dedicated to giving our students the best music education possible – which means accessing our globally successful first-rate lecturers in high-tech locations at the heart of Germany’s music scene.
Such cutting-edge facilities can be expensive, but we make sure all BIMM University Berlin courses are great value for money – representing a practical and affordable investment for your future career in the music industry.
Please note: module names and structure may be subject to change.
• Practice as research
• Analysing recorded music
• Analysing audio-visual content
• Autoethnography
• Action research
• Doing ethical research
• Secondary research
• Proposal for Major Project
• The industry taxonomy
• Main disruptors in today’s popular music industry
• Defining success
• Music rights and licensing
• Crowdfunding
• Music marketing
• Big Data
• Direct-to-fan
• Curation
• Career strategies
• Application of analogue/ digital systems in popular music
• Integrating experimental & innovative technology in popular music
• Interactive music systems & apps
• Experiential learning
• Effective negotiation, teamwork and collaborative strategies
• Leadership
• Budgeting
• Locating, negotiating and working with industry stakeholders
• Marketing and branding online and offline
• Event production skills
• Digital tools used in collaborations
• Inclusivity
• Developing as a reflective practitioner
• Delivering a Major Project
• Making your project/ dissertation stand out
• Contextualising your work
• Working with a supervisor
• Disseminating your work
• Tutor and peer feedback
• Self-assessment
Any questions?
For any questions regarding our courses or if you’d like more information on how to apply to BIMM University Berlin, please contact our Admissions Team on +49 (0)30 311 99 186 or email admissions@bimm-university.de.
