Artist Development (Level 4)

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If you are looking to apply for September 2026, please go to our website and click APPLY NOW.

The Artist Development course aims to aid you with your early steps as a professional. The course is based around experimentation with your music, image and branding, review and goal setting, allowing you to realise your potential through consistent practice, performance and feedback from teachers, peers and industry experts.

Discover and establish who you are as a creative, and be provided with a real feel for the industry. Examine your own current musical practice and position as a creative music practitioner, and establish what you need going forward to push yourself to the next stage. Develop your craft and products in line with your aims and aspirations, with feedback from industry mentors in artist development companies, to grow in line with current music industry standards and expectations.

The course is designed to give you a wide range of skills and experience that you will need to enter the professional world of music.

Develop technical musical and creative skills such as using technology to compose, audio and video recording, music mixing, digital desktop publishing, video and image editing, repertoire and material creation and development, and creating content to engage audiences.

Identify and learn performance skills appropriate to your musical discipline, and be provided with regular opportunities to practise and perform in front of tutors and peers, showcasing your work in organised performances or showcases to the public.

Develop transferable professional skills including target setting, organisation and managing resources, showcase, promotion and networking skills, on campus, local and national stages.

Create up-to-date professional portfolios/electronic press kits utilising branding and image development, through working with outside artist management agencies.

Through specifically tailored sessions, each focusing on a specific aspect of your creative practice.

You can expect:

• Showcase/performance and reflection sessions
• A ‘creative toolbox’ session focusing on creative digital skills
• An industry and branding seminar
• Group mentoring sessions where you can meet and collaborate with peers across the national college network
• Industry speakers
• Dedicated rehearsal/practical development time.

The course is practical-focused, developing real-life skills, knowledge and experience. The work you do on the course, such as development of material, branding, imagery, and press materials, should be usable in the real world. See us as a mentorship programme, with regular, focused reviews of your developing artistic skill and identity, industry knowledge and professionalism. You’ll also receive termly personalised feedback on your outputs and development from our partners in the music industry.

External working opportunities for working with venues and festivals will also be offered to you, and we encourage you to participate in as many of these industry opportunities as you can. Gigs will be arranged by the college, but you will be supported in creating and promoting your own performances.

This course is internally assessed, meaning your teachers deliver and assess all of your coursework. The course is designed to be as practical as possible; you will find assignments to be a balance of practical work like performances, compositions, audio recordings and visual media, as well as written reports and presentations. The year is currently made up of four projects undertaken in order:

• Deconstruction: A series of reflections on your current creative practice, as well as creative musical and visual experiments to consider your current understanding and what your future needs are.
• Action Plan: Create and carry out a plan to grow yourself as a creative musical practitioner
• Showcase Portfolio: Present a landmark showcase of your musical work and developed branding, gathering audience feedback to provide an opportunity to further refine your ideas.
• Career Action Plan: Reflections on how you have developed during the course, leading to establishing your next career steps in a comprehensive action plan.

The Artist Development course can lead onto further study at undergraduate level if combined with additional qualifications. It can also provide progression into the music industry and the creative sector.