Course description
BA (Hons) Music
Our BA(Hons) Music degree is the only programme of its kind in the world.
Being delivered through distance learning, our online music degree is centred upon practice and supported by the development of an understanding of musical contexts. You may opt to specialise in composition, orchestration/arrangement or musicology. You will delve into the historical context and learn the building blocks of harmony, analysis and form. Through the course, you’ll be encouraged to develop a unique identity and style as a practising musician.
You’ll expand your skills and expertise across music supported by a specialist musician, a dedicated student support team, as well as a thriving creative community who share your passion for music.
The course offers additional optional opportunities for group work including a Music and Fine Art collaborative project, with opportunities for your work to be recorded through our tutor network.
If you are new to music, have a look at our Open Foundations Music course!
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Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
Students wishing to study the Music degree must have ABRSM Grade 5 Theory, or you can take OCA’s Music Foundation which is equivalent. Apart from that all you need is a passion for the arts, and willingness to learn.
All OCA courses require students to be IT literate, have a good internet connection, and have a good standard of English equivalent to CEFR B2.
For more information about admission requirements, please visit the institute website.
Outcome / Qualification etc.
Final Award Title and Type: BA (Hons) Music
Upon successful completion of the course students are able to:
- Demonstrate a knowledge of repertoire and its associated compositional styles and techniques across the history of Western art music.
- Produce written music using appropriate software and notation conventions, read scores and listen critically to recordings
- Critically evaluate their own work and the work of others
- Understand the changing role of music in society and the cultural and historical contexts in which repertoire is written
- Understand the link between theory and practice in relation to musical study
- Understand musical processes, forms and methods of harmonic construction
Training Course Content
Core Units
All students must take Composing Music and Stylistic Techniques at Level 1 (HE4). These are sequential, and build your musical practice up, level by level. Level 1 (HE4) units have been written by experienced musicians Carla Rees, Gavin Wayte, and Patric Standford; you’ll become proficient with the tools and techniques of composition, which will be relevant if your interest is mainstream classical, or any other genre of music. During your Level 1 journey you can choose Optional Modules mentioned below, which follow on to Level 2.
At Level 3 (HE6), you’ll take Major Project and Contextual Studies at the same time, and these two units bring together everything you will have learnt throughout the degree. Sustaining Your Practice follows this by preparing you for life after study, ensuring you continue your artistic practice, and perhaps become a professional musician.
Optional Units
At Level 1 (HE4) you have three options to choose from. From the Present to the Past gives you the option to explore western classical music without the need for technical skill, whilst Creative Arts Today lets you discover musical composition in collaboration with other artistic pursuits such as Creative Writing or Photography. You can explore how society looks at the world and has developed a visual vocabulary to describe it in the third option, Understanding Visual Culture.
Level 2 builds on the units taken at Level 1 through Moving on with Composition, Orchestration and Arrangement, Instruments & Repertoire, or History & Context.
These units are all about exploring music in greater depth. For example, Moving on with Composition builds in choral and orchestral elements, or piano accompaniments. With Orchestration & Arrangement you’ll look at case studies of established composing to look at blending orchestral groups and scoring for a range of different ensembles. Instruments & Repertoire allows you to explore the history and development of instruments, and the music written for them, including performance practice and interpretation. History & Context provides an opportunity to research individual areas of interest from the Renaissance to the present day.
Course delivery details
As a flexible degree, you can complete the programme in 4–9 years, with a maximum of three years to complete each level of the course.
Expenses
UK 2020/21 Fees
- Foundations: £900 per course
- Level 1 (HE4): £4,050 for the level
- Level 2 (HE5): £3,340 for the level
- Level 3 (HE6): £3,340 for the level
Outside of the UK 2020/21 Fees
- Foundations: £1,050 per course
- Level 1 (HE4): £4,500 for the level
- Level 2 (HE5): £3,690 for the level
- Level 3 (HE6): £3,690 for the level
Continuing Studies
Upon completing the BA (Hons) Music degree at OCA you’ll have the skills you need to work in the music industry. Where you take those skills is up to you, and you’ve got no shortage of options to choose from.
With the skills you’ll have you could be a composer, orchestrator/arranger or musicologist, and will be equipped for a portfolio career as a musician. You could create your own works, collaborate with other musicians and artists, and/or explore many other aspects of the music industry, such as music publishing, music administration, events organisation, become an artist agent or music journalist. The course also provides you will the necessary skills to be eligible for further specialist study at Postgraduate level, including courses in writing music for film and TV, music-related research and much more.