Study Vocals at the Academy of Music and Sound and increase your expressive powers, technique and musicianship through 1-1 tutorials and small group settings taught by a professional vocalist who is still current and working in the music industry.
Our vocational, hands-on courses prepare graduates for life-long careers in the creative industries.
Mountview Technical Production graduates enter a strong network of successful professionals working in lighting, sound and technical production as well as senior management roles. Their work spans large-scale national, West End and regional theatres as well international touring productions, festivals & events, as well as TV, film and media companies.
The Technical Production Foundation Degree is a full-time two-year course with 30 contact hours per week over 36 weeks in each year. With continuous assessment across all the compulsory modules based on coursework and practical show roles, students work alongside professional lighting designers, sound designers, senior technicians and programmers.
Specialisms in Sound, Lighting and Technical Management are built on a robust foundation of transferable skills. Strong emphasis is placed on learning through practice, with workshops in all areas of production arts.
Students can then take third year BA (Hons) top-up in a specialism. This provides greater experience in their chosen field and the responsibility of senior lighting, sound and technical roles. This top-up year is open to non-Mountview Foundation graduates with relevant qualifications or experience.
Technical Production training covers:
- Hands-on training with contemporary equipment
- Technical stage craft skills including rigging and flying and installation of live productions
- Sound studio skills including recording and editing technology and techniques
- Lighting Studio skills including computerised drafting and visualisation software’s
- Understanding and designing lighting and sound systems
- Prepping, fitting, and monitoring radio mic systems
- Planning, prepping and managing lighting equipment for live productions
- Programming and mixing industry standard sound desks on plays and musicals
- Programming and operating lighting desks, including working with generic and moving lighting equipment
- Technical and maintenance skills such as power distribution, soldering and other skills needed by the modern production professional
Mountview’s one-year Diploma in Stage and Production Management enables experienced students and practitioners to gain an advanced qualification and enhance their employability.
Students on this course experience the challenge of a fast-paced production environment, working on a broad range of projects while developing theoretical, creative, critical thinking and practical skills.
The Diploma is a great opportunity for those with existing experience to gain a formal qualification in Stage and Production Management. For applicants currently working in the industry, it also offers the chance to advance their skills, expand their network of contacts, and progress on to the next stage of their career.
GRADUATE DESTINATIONS
Graduates enter a strong network of successful professionals working in lighting, sound and technical production. Their work spans large-scale national, West End and regional theatres, international touring productions, festivals and events, as well as TV, film and media companies.
Production Arts graduates have gone on to work with a diverse range of companies including the National Theatre, Secret Cinema, Hamilton, Mamma Mia and Matilda the Musical.
COURSE LEADER AND GUEST PRACTITIONERS
Our resident team of tutors for this course are supported by industry professionals who work alongside the students on productions. Previous guest tutors have included professionals from:
• Punchdrunk
• Hamilton
• The Globe
• The National Theatre
COURSE DELIVERY
This is a one-year full-time vocational course and is ideal for students who wish to develop their experience and skills in management, theatre production arts or technical theatre through practical work in professional theatre environments.
The course is delivered through:
• Workshops
• Collaborative and independent project work
• Regular appraisals that examine learning methods and set objectives
• Self-directed study
• Practical experience in diverse performance environments, including plays, showcases, site specific projects, large scale musicals and film
Students also undertake work placements with external organisations, allowing them to develop a network of professional contacts and gain valuable experience. Previous placement destinations have included Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Globe, Wiltons Music Hall, National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Park Theatre and the Barbican.
SHOWCASE
Students are given integral roles on both Mountview productions and professional placements. This provides excellent opportunities to showcase skills, gain important industry contacts and develop personal networks, all of which are key to your career progression.
The BA (Hons) Live Event Management degree is a groundbreaking programme with the ever-changing live music ecosystem at its heart. Developed in consultation with key bodies of the live events industry, this highly practical contemporary course will connect you to the cutting edge of the fast-moving and constantly evolving live events sector. You’ll be encouraged to look to the future to see what’s possible, as you collaborate on real-world projects and build impressive creative, business, management and innovation skills.
Designed for the next generation of entrepreneurs in the multi-billion-pound UK live events industry, you’ll develop a host of practical, theoretical and creative skills in live production, event management and arts curation. Immersing you at the heart of the industry, you’ll gain the knowledge and abilities you need to run creative live music events across your professional career.
Tailor-made for aspiring contemporary songwriters, our Songwriting and Artist Development course will engage you in a nurturing environment where you will be able to hone your creative, technical and business skills.
Our BSc (Hons) Songwriting and Artist Development degree is one of five exciting courses in the Undergraduate Music Programme. To help you grow as an artist we have created the UKs only songwriting course offering a Bachelor of Science (BSc), due to its unique blend of creative, technical and business aspects, setting you up for a successful career as a songwriter.
The course will develop your songwriting skills to establish your own musical style whilst learning how to record, produce and master your products to ensure they are industry ready for marketing and promotion.
On this course you will collaborate extensively within the School of Creative Arts, connecting with peers in the fields of Composition, Music Production, Audio Engineering, as well as Live Sound and Lighting to reflect industry practice. The course provides many opportunities for students to collaborate and perform their music in state-of-the-art performance spaces, including our regular HertsLive event and our end of year SonicHerts festival.
Many of our university staff within the Music department are active within the music industry as producers, songwriters, composers, remixers, sound designers and engineers, bringing their experience and expertise into the teaching space.
This tailor-made course has been designed to include the core values required for a successful career as a songwriter. This will include writing engaging songs and making them sound great through contemporary production techniques. You will gain the knowledge to market and promote them effectively in a learning environment where you will develop personally and professionally.
So, if you are a talented songwriter, performer, producer or other music-creator with an appetite to expand your understanding of songwriting and its place within the wider creative industries, then this course is the ideal fit for you.
Utopia Theatre is establishing an African Theatre Youth Academy to run regular performing arts classes and workshops to compliment the skills of young people 9-19 years with African oral storytelling and performance techniques to include acting, music, dance, learning a musical instrument, public speaking and film making etc.
What to expect: Workshops, Masterclasses, and Mentoring in a relaxed environment. A chance to participate in a performance (on stage or as part of the crew) every year
Workshops run on Thursdays.
Juniors: (9-13 years) 6-7 pm
Seniors: (14-19 years) 7-8 pm
In the final week of each month, there will be an opportunity to work with an industry expert in specific theatre skills.
Travel expenses will be covered for those who need them.
We aim to deliver a mentoring programme to a select number of participants to allow for deeper conversation, support and unique opportunities.
Mentoring programme aims:
- Improve access, education and progression opportunities for the next generation of black theatre talent.
- Provide young people with insight into theatre and the breadth of career opportunities available within the industry.
- Age specific guidance in three groups: 12-15 years, 16-18 years and 19-21 years, with mentors to provide ongoing support for young people to navigate their education and/or career.
Content explored:
- Black British Theatre history
- Contemporary jazz workshop
- Acting through song masterclass
- Lighting & sound workshop
- Costume & set design workshop
- Industry panel Q&A
OV Backstage offers paid placements on an Old Vic production to six 18–25 year olds from underrepresented backgrounds in the arts.
Participants shadow an industry professional across 15 paid sessions and get hands-on experience in one of the following disciplines:
- Costume
- Production Management
- Set
- Sound
- Stage Management
The project culminates with a networking session to help participants take the next steps in their careers.
Each participant will receive a fee for taking part in the programme. Additional support for travel costs is available if required.
CERTIFICATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION – MUSICAL THEATRE
We are excited to launch our new full-time Certificate of Higher Education Musical Theatre course, which is awaiting validation by University of East Anglia ahead of its launch in September 2024. This course provides students with an artistically safe and supportive environment to develop their creative instincts while also preparing them for future training and career opportunities within the performing arts.
The course is framed by a focus on discovery. Students will be trained to develop their own personal skill strengths, cultivate independent growth, expand their artistic vocabulary and grow as creative artists.
Students will also gain an understanding of different vocational routes and will be given career tutorials to explore their next steps, alongside focussed audition preparation and 1:1 coaching on auditions.
A CertHE course is a great option for students from a wide range of backgrounds, whether you want to develop your skills before progressing to a three-year training option or as a standalone course before entering the industry directly.
LOCATIONS
The CertHE Musical Theatre course runs in several locations, giving students the opportunity to choose a location which is convenient for them.
• London (Mountview)
• Manchester (Z-Arts)
• Birmingham (Midlands Arts Centre)
All course locations are taught by Mountview staff and will cover the same syllabus.
GRADUATE DESTINATIONS
Graduates of the programme have gone onto secure places at Mountview, RADA, Guildhall, LAMDA, Arts Ed, Italia Conti, Central School of Speech and Drama, Trinity Laban, Emile Dale, LSMT, Laine Theatre Arts, Royal Academy of Music, Institute of the Arts Barcelona, Rose Bruford and GSA, as well as going directly to work within the industry.
COURSE CONTENT AND DELIVERY
Spanning over two terms of study, the CertHE course offers a fast-paced, vocational training environment.
Throughout the course students will investigate and develop their existing practical skills in Musical Theatre, as well as having the opportunity to work in a rehearsal setting and ultimately present a shared performance.
Students will develop acting, singing, dance and associated skills and the training will also include:
• Audition preparation
• 1:1 coaching in auditions
• Career tutorials
• Theatre trips
• Workshops and assignments
SHOWCASE
Students will have two opportunities to work in a rehearsal setting, each culminating in a shared performance piece.
The Chilli Beans are a musical theatre group who love to sing, dance and be on stage. We write, create and perform our own shows. We aim to produce professional standard theatre while giving our audiences a brilliant night out.
If you love musical theatre, singing, dancing, comedy and sparkle then the Chilli Beans are the right group for you. Get involved...
Days: Monday and Friday
Location: Wilditch Centre
