Writing music for the moving image has become an increasingly attractive career option. Refine your composition, arranging and production skills and develop an entrepreneurial approach to working in the film music industry.
Film composers garner world-wide recognition for their work, and writing music for the moving image has fast become an attractive career option for composers seeking creative flexibility and a high rate of royalty-based income. Developed to meet the growing demand for fresh talent, our degree in Film Music builds on our established expertise in music production as well as our impressive roster of alumni who have gone on to compose work for independent films, Hollywood blockbusters and studios run by high profile practitioners such as Hans Zimmer.
This is the first course of its kind in a UK conservatoire to focus solely on the composition, production and context of Film Music. It combines one-to-one composition tuition, production sessions in Mac Labs, and a wide variety of supporting topics such as harmony, orchestration and historical, cultural and professional studies.
We have seven mixing rooms, including a studio with a 5.1 surround sound setup and HD projector, making it perfect for cueing up music with film footage.
Our six Apple Mac Labs are equipped with over 100 high-specification iMacs, MIDI keyboards and audio interfaces, as well as industry standard software such as Logic Pro X, Pro Tools and Ableton Live.
You’ll also have access to our unique and vast library of notated soundtrack scores and cues, most of which are transcribed by course leader Brian Morrell.
Each term students benefit from our links with the film music industry through our ‘Film Nights’, where they showcase their work to a live audience and a panel of industry professionals. Previous panel members have included Nicholas Dodd, Composer and Orchestrator (Avatar, Casino Royale and Independence Day); Harry Escott – Composer (Shame, River Deep State, A Mighty Heart), David Julyan (Memento, The Prestige) and Olga Fitzroy (award-winning recording engineer with Foo Fighters and Coldplay).
This MA is the only postgraduate course of its kind in the UK and has been re-developed in response to the changing needs of the industry and in consultation with previous graduates. We designed the course as a conversion degree, and we welcome applicants from non-arts related subjects.
This course is ideal if you want to add a vocational stage management emphasis to your undergraduate degree, or if you have significant workplace experience and would like to gain a formal qualification.
From theatre productions and arts festivals to music gigs and charity events, the entertainment and live events industries are growing rapidly. At the same time, the work of stage managers is becoming more complex and technically challenging. This means that arts and events companies are looking for skilled stage managers with more holistic and integrated perspectives regarding the management of entertainment and live events and the artistic, economic, social and environmental conditions in which they function.
This course has been developed in response to this need and is rooted in a belief that effective stage managers need training that is both practical and critically reflective. It will develop your knowledge of the contemporary issues affecting the management of entertainment and live events while equipping you with the practical skills that are essential for developing a career in the field.
The course is run in partnership with the Edinburgh Stage Management School, which specialises in postgraduate vocational training and combines a well-established industry focus with successful graduate employment. It combines the best aspects of the vocational, practical and academic models.
The BA (Hons) Dance and Drama degree at Edinburgh College is an intensive industry training course delivered by Kingston University. Challenge your potential as you immerse yourself in the art of theatre and performance through a range of techniques. This is a university-level course that will ensure you are prepared to an industry standard to progress into a career as a portfolio artist.
You will develop a range of transferable skills to equip you for the demands of a competitive world. Actors and performers have a massive influence on society and this course aims to show you how you can become a part of that influence. You will critically engage in industry practices and learn how to take a simple performance idea and bring it to life. Throughout the course, you will gain essential experience in professional environments and make crucial connections with industry professionals.
Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS) has a range of exceptional professional facilities including the Pass studio theatre as well as dance, acting and aerial studios. Many of the BA Performances take place in external venues such as Festival Theatre Studio, Traverse Theatre and Assembly Roxy.
HND Musical Theatre is a diverse course designed to push you towards your performing potential. This multi-faceted course will test your skills in acting, singing and dancing with a view to progressing to a career in the exciting industry of musical theatre.
Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS) has a range of exceptional professional facilities including the Pass studio theatre as well as dance, acting and aerial studios
You will gain essential experience through practical and theoretical studies, which include varied acting techniques, vocal training using Estill and other practices, jazz, tap dance, musical theatre repertoire, and production. Opportunities to visit theatres and take part in industry-run workshops will be available through PASS industry connections. As part of this course, you will participate in exciting projects and musical theatre productions.
Upon completion, you will be qualified for further study of musical theatre at a university level. This course also offers exciting opportunities for collaboration with other students at Edinburgh College including make-up artists, costume designers and technical theatre designers. You will meet previous PASS students who have become theatre professionals at our inspiring PASS It On sessions throughout the year.
You will leave this course having learned how to take a simple idea, and expand and explore it until becomes a final product; bringing it to life in musical form.
Technical Theatre is a creative and innovative course that will teach you behind-the-scenes of the theatre and live events industry.
Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS) has exceptional, professional standard, facilities including a studio theatre that seats up to 128 people as well as dance, acting and aerial studios.
Technical Theatre students will have access to professional studios where they will bring their set/lighting/sound designs to life and will learn skills in stage lighting, sound, stage management, props and set construction. Upon completion, you will be qualified for further study at the university level or direct entry into the industry.
In your first year, explore your creative potential and discover backstage theatre disciplines such as; stage management, props sourcing, scenic painting, professional development, stage sound and lighting operation. You will complete a practical work placement in industry, with a company of your choosing, and you will be able to utilise our established industry connections to aid your decision. You will gain essential experience in working environments and make crucial connections with industry professionals.
Advancing onto your second year you will discover dynamic skills in advanced stage management, advanced lighting, advanced sound, audiovisual studies and prop making. You will oversee and manage the technical departments during PASS theatre shows and mentor the year one students on productions.
A qualification in Technical Theatre and Production Arts opens the doors to many different career opportunities within the theatre, events as well as related industries such as live events, outdoor events, live music, conferences, cruises, film and television.
This course will give you the skills you will need to pursue a career as a make-up artist, with a strong emphasis on the skills needed for TV, theatre and special effects. With lots of practical units, theory and background knowledge this course can lead to a freelance or commercial career. Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS) has exceptional facilities and you will have access to industry studios and professional make-up equipment. In the first year, you will focus on essential makeup skills, which you will build on in the second year.
In your second year, you will develop specific skills in specialised areas relevant to working within the performing arts industry. You will gain essential work experience throughout the course working alongside hair and beauty, photography, dance and performing arts students as well as at a variety of fun charity functions.
Upon completion of this course, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge you need to pursue a successful career as a make-up artist. There is a whole range of exciting opportunities in TV, film and fashion. You will be in a great position to progress onto further degree-level studies too.
Costume for Stage and Screen HND provides a 2-year intensive industry training opportunity in Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS) bespoke workshops. Discover your creative potential as you explore costume design and learn industry design techniques using sewing machines, paint techniques, wig preparation skills and embroidery. This course will ensure you are fully prepared and qualified to progress onto further study at a university level and is a direct route to the third year of BA Hons Costume and Performance Design course at Bournemouth University.
During this course, you will complete a practical work placement which will be made available through PASS industry connections. Immerse yourself in the art of costume design as you gain essential experience in professional environments and make crucial connections with theatre professionals. You will learn how to take a simple idea and expand and explore it until becomes a final product; bringing it to life. You may find yourself working alongside an ex-PASS student as most move on to professional employment within the industry upon completion. You will experience how the wardrobe department impacts theatre productions and learn professional skills that are highly sought after in the industry.
The two-term L2 Certificate in Music Technology focuses on the development of music production skills. You will work on production technique for computer based electronic music as well as developing skills in recording live performers. This is an accredited course, meaning upon successful completion you will gain a L2 Certificate in Music Technology. The course runs on-site all-day Thursday. You will be expected to do independent learning between weekly sessions.
*Subject to validation.
This course is not accepting applications for 2023 entry, please check back in the autumn if you’re interested in applying for 2024 entry.
This course equips you with skills to make authentic & powerful solo performance work. It is an in depth look at traditional stories and contemporary poetry: how they are created, performed & received. With a focus on applied storytelling and critical thinking, you will also acquire skills in facilitation, festival curating and producing.
Focusing on using folklore, myth & poetry to create new work, you will learn the art of solo performance. Led by internationally recognised storyteller, Jan Blake, you will benefit from industry placements with professional practitioners.
Learn a wide range of skills whilst discovering how the resilience that you build as a storyteller & spoken word artist will prepare you for the many diverse spaces in which this work can be applied, as a tool for transformation, beyond the stage.
Discover how to turn your passion for music into a rewarding career. Whether you want to be a performer or producer, engineer or songwriter, DJ or rock guitarist, this course is a starting point for all those careers. To develop your skills, enhance your academic ability and enjoy your music through study, you’ll work with a small group and try many different genres and techniques.
- Work as a team with other musicians and producers to create your own unique sound
- Utilize practical performance skills and technical production skills
- Build skills in your chosen specialist area in our outstanding facilities
- Gain confidence in your ability as a musician
Progression may include a level 2 qualification, an apprenticeship, or relevant employment.
