Develop your talent as a musician and performer through the practical and theoretical study of popular music.
On this very practically based programme, you will also have the opportunity to develop extremely useful skills such as recording techniques, live PA mixing, songwriting and arranging – all essential for working in the music industry.
Our course provides a unique opportunity for you to excel in performance while developing a critical mind and becoming an intelligent, multi-skilled musician.
Popular musicians learn in different ways so the course uses accelerated learning techniques to ensure that all students progress in areas of musicianship, making clear links between; performance, context, theory and professional practice. The Department is committed to this holistic method of study, helping you to understand the value in what you are learning as you become confident, creative musicians. As a Department, we also have excellent links with industry professionals and visiting professors.
In the 2020 NSS, Popular Music Performance received 100% for teaching on the course and academic support, and 100% of students agreed that staff had made the course interesting.
We pride ourselves on the quality of support we offer, and have a range of support packages to help support students during their time at University.
Engage in the specialist vocational preparation of professional performance by nurturing and developing the practical skills required for this profession.
This course has an emphasis on practical training, and this embodied knowledge is supported by engagement with theoretical studies. It will prepare you for the dynamic and diverse nature of the industry, giving you opportunities to develop your leadership skills, including directing, choreographing, sound and lighting design, and producing a show.
Why study this course with us?
The Hammond is one of the leading providers of performing arts in the North West and has outstanding facilities and resources, including dance and drama studios, a music suite with recording studio, practice rooms and a 420-seat theatre.
The Hammond is highly respected throughout the world, bringing together extremely talented students in singing, acting and dance.
Our curriculum reflects the nature of work within the theatre, which requires technical competence, artistry and creativity, and will encourage you to develop into an independent, reflective practitioner.
We pride ourselves on the quality of support we offer, and have a range of support packages to help support students during their time at University.
Become a honed specialist in theatre directing
Our BA (Hons) Drama, Theatre and Directing course offers you numerous opportunities to both perform in and direct your own performance work, as well as working with pre-existing texts.
This will develop your creative and theoretical skills ready for real-world application after you graduate, as you learn to cultivate your own ideas in response to seeing other contemporary performance practices and the world around you.
You will explore the cultural and critical significance of dramatic practice, process, and product throughout history, as you consider a wide range of historical and social theatre practices and contexts.
When you graduate you will have a confident understanding of the complimentary disciplines of drama, theatre and directing, alongside a range of practical experiences suited to diverse careers in a range of professional contexts.
We have a strong link to the world-renowned Chichester Festival Theatre, where you will discover and experience established theatre practice and perform throughout your studies.
Develop your talent by learning how to record, produce and perform popular music.
Studying on our Music Production and Performance course will provide you with the opportunity to develop the skills needed to become a versatile, intelligent, employable performer and producer. You will also be able to write your own music in the songwriting and composition options.
Why study this course with us?
Being delivered from within the Department of Music, Media and Performance allows students to work with and alongside other performance students, as part of a closeknit,
thriving, creative community. Chester has a strong local music scene with close ties to the Department, and Chester is just a short train ride away from several big cities, including Liverpool and Manchester.
Alongside recording, production, performance and the study of the history of popular music, students have the opportunity to focus on live music technology, music theory and songwriting and composition.
Graduates have gone on to work as songwriters, music promotions managers, recording studio owners, producers, recording engineers and mastering engineers, sound engineers, music teachers and events organisers.
We pride ourselves on the quality of support we offer, and have a range of support packages to help support students during their time at University.
Perfect your acting skills in a creative and caring community
Our practical and performance-based BA (Hons) Acting course helps turn natural talent into a career and make dreams of performing on stage or screen a reality.
Explore a range of key performance topics, including:
