MA Music Production

New for 2025!

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MA Music Production at Leeds Conservatoire

Launch your career as a highly skilled pioneering music and audio producer with our Music Production Masters degree. 

This practical postgraduate degree will cover all aspects of the music industry, including studios, electronic production, recorded and live music, postproduction, publishing and representation. 

You’ll gain valuable creative and professional skills in mixing and recording, broadening your artistic mindset for the ever-changing landscape of the modern music and media industries. You’ll also build on your theoretical understanding through study of industry practices while enhancing your networking and entrepreneurial capabilities. 

We encourage innovation, and you’ll have the opportunity to adopt new perspectives and methods that will help your work stand out in a competitive global market.  

This full-time course takes place in-person at our Leeds Campus. We also offer an online MA in Music Production, specialising in DAW-based Production.

  • Starts:
  • Duration: 1 Year
  • Venue: In-Person, Leeds Conservatoire
  • UCAS Code: 802F
  • UCAS Institution Code: L31
  • Apply Via: UCAS Conservatoires
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Validated By: University of Hull

This course is part of a brand-new suite of postgraduate music courses including:

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Course Overview

Master Your Skills

You’ll be able to specialise in DAW-based and studio-based practice, as well as immersive audio. Developing your skills and experience, we’ll help you become a critical practitioner, giving you a deeper understanding of your work through specialist tutor, peer and visiting industry guest support. 

Collaborative Curriculum

You’ll be part of a diverse and creative community where you’ll be able to apply your music production skills in a specialist music institution environment where collaboration is encouraged by staff and students alike. This will help boost your adaptability and employability and prepare you to become a pioneer in the evolving music industry. 

What you will study


 

Creative Music Production modules in trimesters 1 and 2 focuses on the practical understanding and realisation of intricate aspects of music production, with a primary emphasis on creative and artistic vision. It is approached through the central themes of listening and practical application, aiming to help students situate their interests while expanding their understanding of the field.

In preparation for presenting their production portfolio, students will embark on a journey of continuous improvement, honing their practical and creative skills by identifying and addressing technical and creative shortcomings. Students will explore a diverse array of repertoire and original compositions, engaging in a thorough exploration and analysis. Simultaneously, they will cultivate a cohesive approach to production, aligning their creative endeavours with the unique demands of their chosen artistic expression.

Critical Perspectives on Music Production module in trimester 1 is delivered through critical group discussion of both historical concepts and current research and practice. Students will evaluate their music production practice in reference to global contemporary debates on the art of music production and the wider creative industries

This module will facilitate learning by addressing and exploring relevant critical and philosophical frameworks through lectures, group research/critical listening seminars and directed independent study. The module allows music producers to meet, evaluate ideas, share production practices and discuss how methodologies meet theories and how theory underpins practice.

Postproduction Mixing and Mastering in trimester 2

The module will explore a range of postproduction techniques and processes allowing the student to best present their individual works produced throughout the course of Trimester 2 and 3.  Students shall consider format outputs both from historical and contemporary perspectives exploring areas such as Immersive Audio/Dolby Atmos and other industry broadcast standards. The integration of conceptual understanding and practical application progresses towards the Major Project module where students undertake their most ambitious work.

Major Project in trimester 3

Students are expected to embark on an ambitious Project around music production in alignment with their creative pursuits. This project may take the form of a digital transferable product or a public showcase.

Examples include live performance, installations publicly accessible EPs, digital applications, web-based projects, or collaborative endeavours.

The student is also expected to exhibit autonomy in creative/artistic decision-making and articulate critical reasoning through either reflective commentary or via Viva Voce. Students are expected to actively engage and captivate their audience with their creative project.

Entry requirements, fees & applying

Course Type: MA Postgraduate Degree
Duration: 1 year
Study Mode: Full Time
Start date: September
Validated by: University of Hull

 

Apply via UCAS Conservatoires

UCAS Code: MA Music Production – 802F

UCAS Institution Code: L31

Apply directly to Leeds Conservatoire

Alternatively you can apply directly to Leeds Conservatoire when direct applications open later in 2024.

Find out more about the application process.

  • A good honours degree, with a 2nd (2:2) classification or equivalent, usually music production or music-related, but qualifications in other fields will also be reviewed and considered. 

OR 

  • Professional experience equivalent to a good honours degree (see our APEL process)
  • All suitable applicants are invited for interview and/or audition
  • All international students must have a British Council English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.0

 

  • Composition: two recent original works and/or recordings with a total duration of around 10 minutes. 
  • Technology & production: two recent projects (e.g., studio production, sound design, electronic composition work) totalling around 10 minutes 

Appilcants will be expected to submit an audition. The auditions process will be communicated later in 2024.

Funding options

Student Loans for Masters level study are available for many Home applicants.

There are also a range of Scholarships & Bursaries available.

Read more on our Postgraduate Fees & Funding page.

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Our community

Our eclectic community comes from all over the world to write, interpret, discover, explore and reflect upon original and existing forms of music. 

Postgraduate students have the opportunity to meet industry guests from across the spectrum, with recent guests including: 

  • Anna Meredith MBE – Composer, producer and performer
  • Neil Davidge – Producer with Massive Attack
  • Harry Escott - Film score composer
  • Tom McRae - Singer, songwriter, recording and touring artist
  • Malcolm Joseph - Bass guitarist with Grace Jones
  • Ayanna Witter Johnson - Composer, performer and musician
  • Scanner - Electronic musician and multimedia artist
Postgraduate Open Days

Find out what it’s like to study at Leeds Conservatoire by coming along to an Open Day. 

Both Online and On-Campus Open Days allow you to find out more about our postgraduate courses, meet our teaching staff and see our facilities.

Find out more
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