Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Music

This course has been designed as a full time two year programme and is equivalent to 3 A levels.

2024/25

10477

Bangor, Lisburn

Full-Time

Further Education

Music

Course Overview

The Extended National Diploma in music is a popular course aimed at preparing you for a career in the modern music industry as well as developing the skills required for study at higher levels.

The course focuses on performance, composition, arranging, sequencing & music industry in the first year. With learning & assessment based around understanding multiple genres of music, how they’re constructed & how to manipulate & crate using a D.A.W and with live performance.

Music Industry also helps you focus on where your own personal career can develop within the music industry.

At SERC we also implement the use of practical theory throughout the whole course. In second year the focus then turns to major projects.

Our students have to run a series of events that they setup & run as a team. This will give you hands on experience at team working & working in a specific role within the music industry. There’s also units on Personal development where we break out into Sound for moving image, songwriting & tutoring.

The units also cover studio work & some live sound setup.

By the end of the course we would hope to have helped develop a student who can create music in multiple styles, understands how to navigate the music industry within their chosen sector to get ahead & also is a confident performer who knows how to work with other musicians & can run their own events.

You’re a musician who wants to develop a career in the music industry. Someone that feels stuck as a musician and wants to make the step from beginner to intermediate or intermediate to advanced. If you feel like you have talent but don’t know how to make a living from your music.

how to develop and refine music performance techniques, the history of popular music, development of music theory and harmony. You’ll also gain keyboard skills, use music notation software and develop song writing techniques. You will have numerous opportunities to perform and participate in live music performances, and have your music recorded and produced.

The industry standard music recording and performance facilities at our SPACE Building, Bangor, the music practice and performance facilities at our Lisburn Campus, with industry standard equipment using M1 Mac mini’s, With the latest Pro Tools, Logic & Ableton.

The opportunity to play real world events such as council events, school tours with musical theatre performers or recording music for music video projects. We provide the opportunity for a number of students to visit Nashville for a FREE 3-week trip. Exploring music city & gaining relevant information from industry experts as well as visiting Belmont University & Vanderbilt university.

This year we have 12 students and 4 members of staff heading out to play events over the St. Patricks Day period & engage with multiple music professionals.

Successful completion of the National Extended Diploma in Music will lead to Higher Education at HND or at university or into employment in the music industry.

BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Music, or, 4 GCSE’s at Grade C or above, plus successful outcome at audition/interview

(You will be required to complete Essential Skills in Numeracy, Literacy and ICT if you do not have a GCSE grade C).

For more information or help with this course send us an enquiry and a member of our team will get back in touch.

Rory Jeffers

Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Music

I enrolled at SERC after studying A-Levels that didn’t suit the career route that I want to take.

Rhys Gray

Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Music

My time on my course really exceeded my expectations in helping me develop new skills and techniques in many areas of music production. There was always fantastic support from the tutors who had lots of industry experience to guide me along the way.

Available Sessions

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Terms & Conditions

Students will be required to comply with SERC's Terms & Conditions of study.

We strive to ensure the description of courses on SERC's website and in publications is accurate. However, for various reasons there may be occasions when the College may need to change arrangements or be unable to deliver classes due to circumstances such as reduced funding. If there are insufficient numbers applying for a course it may not be viable to deliver the class.

Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.

Further Education

If you have just completed your GCSEs, Further Education is most likely the option for you. FE covers qualifications from entry to higher level qualifications such as Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, NVQ, BTEC and Apprenticeships.

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