Full-time Higher Diploma

Guitar

Guitar
 Higher Diploma

 

The foremost intensive Higher Diploma course for musicians and singers wishing to study a wide range of contemporary styles, fast-track the development of their musicianship, playing and performing skills, and to discover their creative potential.

 

  • Long standing reputation and proven track record -  first programme of its kind in the UK
  • Intense, focused and practical course that will fast-track your skills in performance, reading and music theory
  • Covers and wide range of diverse and relevant musical styles
  • Practically focused – you are actually playing much of the time!

 


This one year course is designed to equip aspiring professional musicians with skills and awareness required by today’s ever-changing music industry. Successful students will gain a recognised qualification which can be used to progress to the institute’s BMus or BA.

During the programme, students perform every week in live band situations with other instrumentalists, studying the different musical styles relevant to today’s wide-ranging musical arena.

Class sizes are generally no more than 12 students, creating a high level of interaction between students and tutors. This ensures that learning opportunities are maximised and that the learning environment remains extremely focused.

The programme is broken down into four key areas: Core Curriculum, Performance, Stylistic Study and Musicianship.



Likely employment/progression outcomes:

 

  • BA or BMus Undergraduate Degree Programmes
  • Band leader
  • Uniquely creative performing musician
  • Private teaching
  • Highly able collaborative artist

 

 


 


 
















The Institute holds Highly Trusted Sponsor status as awarded by UKBA

The Higher Diploma in Music Performance is accredited by JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support)

Related Full-time Courses
Guitar Masters Degree (MMus)
Guitar BMus (Hons) Degree
Guitar BA (Hons) Degree
Guitar Cert HE
Guitar Diploma
Guitar Certificate

Course Name:

Guitar Higher Diploma

Full Qualification:

Edexcel Level 5 BTEC Diploma in Music (Performance)

Delivery Location:

The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance

Course Start Date:

September or April Annually

 

  

Course Duration:

One Year Full Time (30 Weeks)

Class Size:

Instrumental classes are typically 12 students per class. Academic subject class sizes can vary depending upon the mode of delivery

Timing:

3 x 10-week terms, 16/17 hours/week, 3 days/week

 
 

Entry Requirements

 

Applicants should possess intermediate skill levels on their instrument and would typically have a minimum of 5 GCSE’s grade A to C or similar qualifications. There is a mandatory assessment prior to acceptance. Sight reading skills are not required.

Before enrolling on a full-time course at the Institute every student must undergo an assessment. The assessment is mandatory for all full-time courses. It is free of charge and is a very relaxed and informal meeting with one of our tutors. The purpose of an assessment is to help us determine the current level of a student’s musicianship and to understand professional and academic goals. Once these issues have been assessed the Institute will provide students with feedback and discuss options for study. Due to the intensity of the Higher Diploma programme the admissions team spend a considerable amount of time exploring whether students will be capable of fulfilling study commitments.

Applicants who do not have English as a first language will need IELTS 5.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each element (or an equivalent qualification).

The Institute is committed to promoting fairness and equality throughout its provision. Thus, special care is taken to ensure that students with disabilities are offered support early on in the application process.

Students that apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required level of ability.
 

More Info / How to Apply


For more information about any course or to apply, please contact the admissions team:

Online: Enquiry Form

Email: enquiries@icmp.co.uk

Phone: 020 7328 0222



> Download Programme Specification
> Frequently Asked Questions

> Accommodation Support

 

YEAR ONE (TERM ONE)

CORE CURRICULUM MODULES

> Harmony, Theory & Aural 1: An integrated approach to harmonic, theoretical and aural principles in both a generic and instrument-specific context. This module is designed to support all other learning on the course. Case studies and examples are used frequently to reinforce learning.
> Fretboard Skills: Builds solid foundations on the fretboard that will enable you to master your instrument, both in technique and understanding.
> Keyboards: Provides the student with an introduction to the keyboard as a 2nd instrument.


  

STYLISTIC STUDY MODULES

> Rhythm Guitar: Covers a wide range of rhythm guitar styles, breaking each down into component parts.
> Blues Covers: a wide variety of styles within the blues idiom through study of some of the main stylistic innovators.
> Rock Covers: a wide variety of styles within the classic rock idiom through study of some of the main stylistic innovators.
> Fingerstyle: This module introduces and develops the fingerstyle technique, applicable to both acoustic and electric guitar.
   
PERFORMANCE MODULES

> Live Performance Workshop: This module teaches guitarists to function in a real-band environment. Alongside fellow students from the drum, bass and vocal faculties, you will learn and perform a repertoire of tunes, covering three key styles: Blues, Soul and Rock.
> Rhythm Section Workshop: This module begins to investigate the critical role of the guitarist as part of the rhythm section, both analytically and practically. Essential styles are broken down, analysed and examples from each performed in a band environment. 


 MUSICIANSHIP MODULES

> Reading Studies: Introduces all of the concepts that will enable the guitarist to start sight reading standard notation, form, rhythm parts and chart reading. 
> Music Technology: An introduction to the use of music technology, designed to equip students with the skills required to program and realise their own works. 
> Professional Musician: Develops the fundamental skills that all musicians need for developing and sustaining a professional career. 

YEAR ONE (TERM TWO)

CORE CURRICULUM MODULES

> Harmony, Theory & Aural 2: An integrated approach to harmonic, theoretical and aural principles in both a generic and instrument-specific context. This module is designed to support all other learning on the course. Case studies and examples are used frequently to reinforce learning.
> Fretboard Skills: Extends fretboard knowledge and technique considerably, incorporating arpeggios and their use, and more advanced modes and minor scales.
> Improvisation: Introduces the key concepts required to become an effective and confident improvising musician over a range of styles.


  

STYLISTIC STUDY MODULES

> Rhythm Guitar: This module takes an advanced and in-depth look at a wider range of rhythm guitar styles.
> Blues: This module builds upon previous learning, taking the skills acquired and developing them. Stylistically it incorporates more fusion and jazz styles.
> Rock: Builds upon the studies undertaken previously, but introduces more technically demanding aspects. As rock guitar has developed over the past 30 years, the physical demands have increased steadily; this module charts the progress of the rock genre.
> Country: Develops some of the more demanding techniques that the country guitarist has to master, such as banjo rolls, pedal steel imitation and hybrid picking.
PERFORMANCE MODULES

> Live Performance Workshop: This module teaches guitarists to function in a real-band environment. Alongside fellow students from the drum, bass and vocal faculties, you will learn and perform a repertoire of tunes, covering three key styles; Pop, Rock and World Music.
> Rhythm Section Workshop: Deepens understanding of the critical role of the guitarist as part of the rhythm section, both analytically and practically. Essential styles are broken down, analysed and examples from each performed in a band environment. 		 MUSICIANSHIP MODULES

> Reading Studies: Further develops from previous learning, incorporating reading in various keys and positions, reading form, rhythm guitar parts and chart reading.
> Live Event Project: This module provides students with the opportunity to collaborate and merge music and business skills when planning, organising and executing a live event. 
> Music Business: Provides students with a practical, coherent and solid overview of the main business practices currently used within the industry, focusing on issues such as revenue streams and copyright protection. 


YEAR ONE (TERM THREE)

CORE CURRICULUM MODULES

> Harmony, Theory & Aural 3: An integrated approach to harmonic, theoretical and aural principles in both a generic and instrument-specific context. This module is designed to support all other learning on the course. Case studies and examples are used frequently to reinforce learning.
> Fretboard Skills: Extends fretboard understanding in chords, scales and arpeggios to an advanced level.

 		  

STYLISTIC STUDY MODULES

> Chord Melody: Covers the role of electric and acoustic guitar in a solo environment, incorporating solo arrangements of many classic jazz and popular tunes.
> Rock: Introduces the more demanding and contemporary techniques made popular post-1980 by players such as Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen & Steve Vai.
PERFORMANCE MODULES

> Live Performance Workshop: Teaches guitarists to function in a real-band environment, where you will learn and perform a repertoire of songs covering three styles; Rock, Funk, and Soul/R&B.
> Advanced Performance Workshop: Involves learning and performing a repertoire of more advanced and esoteric instrumental styles. This module is where many of the aspects studied over the previous two levels including improvisation are applied in a real band environment.
> Jazz: Involves both the practical and theoretical study in small instrument specific groups of how to play jazz and improvise as well as group performance of a repertoire of standard tunes. 		 MUSICIANSHIP MODULES

> Reading Studies: Extends all of the concepts from the previous modules. 
> Music In Context: This module is an introduction to some critical perspectives on how we engage with music and the contexts in which that engagement takes place. Every week a new topic within the subject area shall be introduced followed by discussion and analysis facilitated by the tutor.