Music Production and Performance

Music Production and Performance

Our Music Production and Performance programme offers something special. It equips students with the knowledge, understanding and skills to be involved in the entire creative process of a music product, right from the germination of a musical idea, through creation, performance and production to undertaking the final finishing touches in the mastering process.

We pride ourselves on the broad, inclusive and forward-looking approach we take to music production and performance, which befits the 2020s and beyond. In industry students may be expected to take on a wide range of roles related to music production as part of their working life, and we equip students for this modern working environment. Our coverage of recording, mixing, mastering, live sound, computer music creation and production, harmony and composition, popular music studies, performance and music industry content across a wide range of contexts represents this. More specifically, on the BA Music Production and Performance programme, you will receive regular sessions on your specialist instrument or voice, with one of our talented and professional tutors. These take the form of masterclasses in your third year in preparation for your final performance.

Facilities

At our Creative Campus, Kingsway, Music Production and Performance students have access to a fantastic range of facilities, from fully equipped rehearsal and performance spaces right through to the very latest technology.

There has been significant investment in our music production facilities over the last few years. We also have production rooms / workstation suites, as well as a huge range of live sound equipment.

We were one of the very first customers for the new Slate Raven MTZ control surfaces, which allow our students to produce music ‘hands on’ in a similar way to how they would on a mixing desk, but with all the benefits of being able to produce music entirely within a computer, if they want to. At the opposite end of the spectrum, our Audient ASP8024HE analogue mixing desk allows an entirely non-digital mixing experience if that’s what students prefer. Our blend of brand new technology with timeless classics such as a rare original 1980s Roland TB-303, the musical germination of the Acid House scene, gives students the best of both worlds.

We also have a huge range of industry standard microphones, including some of the world’s most revered microphones, such as the Neumann U47 FET, Neumann U87 and Coles 4038 ribbon microphone.

Industry Connections

On our Music Production and Performance

For example, in the recent past we have, through our connections, had students on University of Chester music production programmes undertaking production / engineering work in commercial studios whilst still students with us, and our students regularly undertake live engineering practice at local music venues we have close relationships with.

In 2022 a track and package of remixes created by University of Chester students on our programmes reached No.7 on the Music Week Commercial Pop club chart, one of the UK’s leading club charts, assisted by a promotional campaign conducted with a leading promotions company and funded by the University.

programme, we are always looking for ways to move away from the “campus bubble” and connect with the industry.

Close-Knit Community

Our Creative Campus, Kingsway, is a campus dedicated entirely to the creative areas of music, art, design, dance, drama and media, so all students studying on our campus will be involved in one or more of these areas, and there are great curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for working with others across disciplines.

All our music students work closely together, whether they are producers, performers or both and the mutually-beneficial, symbiotic relationship between those studying production and those studying performance is a real strength of the campus. We have great staff-student ratios and students and staff all typically know each other well which aids thriving in our close-knit, creative community.

For more information contact: Programme Leaders: Jim Mason j.mason@chester.ac.uk

Associate Professor Dr Ruth Dockwray: r.dockwray@chester.ac.uk

Department of Music, Media and Performance

For admissions enquiries: Undergraduate Admissions

University of Chester

Parkgate Road

Chester, CH1 4BJ

t: 01244 511000

e: enquiries@chester.ac.uk

For further information, please contact: Department of Music, Media and Performance

Creative Campus, Kingsway Kingsway Chester, CH2 2LB

t: 01244 515855

e: mmp@chester.ac.uk

Scan here Music Production and Performance (BA Hons)

www.chester.ac.uk

Like many universities across the UK, we are carefully planning for the next year to ensure the health and safety of our students and to ensure that however the situation may develop or change, the academic year will be completed for all students. This may mean we use some alternative modes of delivery to those described in this leaflet, but we’ll still be delivering a high quality learning experience. Further details will follow on our website once plans have been confirmed.