This course is designed for musicians who want to refine their performance skills while gaining real-world experience in the music industry. You will take part in live shows, songwriting projects, recording sessions and live briefs, building a professional portfolio through hands-on collaboration and performance-based learning.
You will work closely with industry professionals and employers, including opportunities to collaborate with Loft Studios Newcastle, gaining valuable insight into professional studio environments. The course is structured to maximise real-world experience, with two days spent in college developing your skills, and the remainder of the week focused on work experience, employer-led projects and building industry connections.
Upon completing the Higher National Certificate (HNC), you can progress to the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Music Performance, further enhancing your career prospects.
With direct links to regional and national music employers, you will perform at professional events, create original music and develop essential business and networking skills needed to succeed as a working musician. You will also benefit from exclusive masterclasses and seminars led by industry experts, providing insider knowledge and real-world inspiration.
Blending creativity, enterprise, and technical expertise, this course prepares you for the demands of the modern music performance industry.
Course content includes:
Industry Experience includes:
Career Pathways:
UCAS Tariff – 96 points
Relevant Level 3 qualification, plus GCSE Maths and English grade A*-C (9-4 in new grades).
Mature candidates with some relevant experience will be considered without the above formal qualifications.
This is a vocational qualification so you will learn and be assessed by doing – experience is key.
Key activities include:
Developing your vocational skills at level 4/5 through workshops, masterclasses and practical seminars.
You may be involved with performing, designing workshops, projects or fulfilling commissions – as many creatives will teach at some point in their career this will inevitably include some educational practice.
You will learn to develop and deliver sessions, workshops and work as a facilitator.
This is about how you use your vocational skills to successfully complete projects, live briefs or commissions.
You will produce a Major Project or your own design within your vocational field; this project may use some of the learners from lower levels to be your ‘staff’, talent or performers.
You will develop an understanding of managing finances including bidding for funding and managing budgets.
Creating a business plan is a necessary skill that you will develop in relation to projects and enterprise as well Health and Safety management.
You will learn how to deliver a successful pitch to your desired audience – your Major Project could depend on it!
The success of your business is dependent on your mastery of marketing including website creation and using social media to promote your business.
We work extensively with partners such as The Glasshouse International Centre for Music (formerly Sage Gateshead) and recording studios such as Blast Studios and Overall Studios, as well as Creative and Cultural Skills to ensure our qualifications are credible and current.
We have developed ‘CoLab’ to make the best use of our industry specification resources so that you can work within integrated creative teams to fulfil your brief – this could be dancers, musicians, actors, composers/arrangers, production arts specialists, technical theatre practitioners and media.
From day one, this course is designed to lead you directly to industry employers, jobs and working in the music industry — helping you build professional connections and gain real-world experience alongside your studies.
After your Higher National Certificate (HNC), the hope is that you can progress straight into industry jobs and start building your career, or alternatively, continue your studies by progressing to the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Music Performance taking your skills to the next level while deepening your industry experience.
This course is built to develop your entrepreneurial edge. You’ll learn how to create and run your own business, from securing funding to managing finances and completing your tax return, giving you the confidence to work for yourself or within the industry.
Audition/Interview
You will need some vocational ability in your chosen area.
A one-off £40 cost for DBS.
The fee for this course is £5,995.
The fee shown is the fee you will pay per year of study. For example, if the course lasts for one year, this is the full fee you will pay.
If the course lasts for one or more years, this is the fee you’ll pay per year of study.
There may be additional costs for equipment, uniforms or study resources which we’ll let you know about at your course interview.
Many of our learners will apply for a Student Loan to help cover these fees. Our friendly team can help you through this process and can be contacted via email at [email protected] or 0191 490 0300 or via Live Chat.
Please note: The fee shown may be subject to change when our fee policy is agreed in Spring 2026. If this happens after you have applied, you will be contacted directly before the course is due to start. All courses will run subject to sufficient student numbers.
Many of our learners will apply for a Student Loan to help cover these fees.
Our friendly team can help you through this process and can be contacted via email at [email protected] or 0191 490 0300 or via Live Chat.
Please note: The fee shown may be subject to change when our fee policy is agreed in Spring 2025.
If this happens after you have applied, you will be contacted directly before the course is due to start.
All courses will run subject to sufficient student numbers.
Whatever support you need, we’re here for you and will make sure you get the most out of your time at college. We have expert teams in place to look after every single one of our students.
To contact our dedicated Learning Support team email [email protected] or head to Live Chat
Knowledge
Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Personnel and Human Resources: Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labour relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Economics and Accounting: Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Median Salary
£31,609
Averge Qualifications
Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
£25,576
Medicine and Dentistry: Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Psychology: Knowledge of human behaviour and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioural and affective disorders.
Therapy and Counselling: Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counselling and guidance.
Biology: Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
£61,777
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
£34,713
Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
£21,718
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
JOIN OUR SPORTS ACADEMIES
Eight specialist sport academies, all offering first class training, coaching and playing opportunities for everyone, regardless of what you study.
Connect with our Academy socials:
Say Hello to Construction
Wednesday 22 April 2026
Say Hello to Sport & Exercise Science
Thursday 23 April 2026
UPCOMING EVENTS.
Find out about all our upcoming events here. Simply sign up and come along.
View or download our course guide for 16-18 year olds.