Foundation Diploma in Professional Musicianship
This one-year practical and vocational course is ideal if you want to further your musical abilities on a part-time basis of 4.5 hours a week.
At BIMM Dublin, we understand that live performance is the key to you becoming a great musician. So, you’ll spend a lot of time working on your techniques and styles to help you develop and find your niche as a performer.
You’ll receive expert guidance from your highly skilled BIMM tutors, all of whom have had vast experience in the music industry and continue to be a part of the business today.
You’ll also study music theory and the fundamental skills required to navigate the world of Digital Audio recording.
During your time on the course, you’ll connect with like-minded fellow musicians for exciting collaboration projects and will get to plug into unique networking opportunities. These include Masterclasses with global music industry professionals. You’ll also have the opportunity to audition for the BIMM Album and the BIMM end-of-term gigs.
All in all, it’s a fantastic part-time introduction to modern music and the industry that surrounds it.
The course is fully validated by BIMM University and successful completion will gain you 60 CATS credits at Level 4 in the National Framework of Qualifications for England & Northern Ireland.
This is the equivalent to 30 ECTS credits at Level 6 on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications.
It’s a great gateway to taking your first steps in a music industry career.
So, what are you waiting for? To make your way as a musician, connect with us, and we’ll connect you to a life in music.
Course specification
Mode of attendance: Part-time
Length of course: 1 year
Awarding institution: BIMM University
Campus delivery: Dublin
Language of study: English
Final award and exit awards: 60 CATS Credits (Equivalent to 30 ECTS Credits)
Admissions Criteria: Successful completion of one module at Level 5. This is equivalent to one O6 (formerly one Ordinary Level D3) in any subject at Leaving Cert.
Minimum requirements
The minimum entry requirement is the successful completion of one module at Level 5. This is equivalent to one O6 (formerly one Ordinary Level D3) in any subject at Leaving Cert.
Applicants must be 17 on 1st January in the year of entry. All applicants are made directly to BIMM Music Institute Dublin. All applicants must also attend an audition to determine their eligibility for the course.
Overseas students where English is not their native language must meet a minimum English language requirement of IELTS 6.0. We require a minimum of 5.5 to be achieved in each band.
Progression
Graduates can progress directly to a career in the music industry or can continue their study with BA (Hons) Commercial Modern Music in Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals or Songwriting at BIMM Music Institute.
Course fees
Because we’re Europe’s largest and most prestigious music institute, we’re uniquely positioned to offer outstanding value and quality to all our students.
Module names and structure may be subject to change.
The Performance Workshop 1 serves as an introduction to live performance, through individual preparation, live ensemble performance and reflective practice. The module will be delivered in alternating weekly sessions which will deal with distinct aspects of live performance. Instrument-specific pre-production classes will equip you with techniques for effective part-preparation, memorisation, and rehearsal strategies.
Performance Workshop classes will provide students with the opportunity to apply these techniques through full band live performance. Students will receive guided feedback and feed forward from tutors and peers, will be encouraged to develop the necessary arrangement and communication skills for professional live performance.
This module will introduce students to a wide range of contemporary music styles and techniques, by exploring the inherent musical traits and seminal artists associated with each one. They will use this learning to inform the creation of original, stylistically apposite instrumental and vocal parts. Students will also develop the core technical instrumental and vocal skills associated with these styles and be afforded the opportunity to apply these creatively during in-class collaborative tasks/performances.
Along with expanding their musical vocabulary, students will also develop creative writing and improvisational skills, and will have the opportunity to give and receive peer feedback. The module aims to provide a solid grounding for instrumentalists and vocalists to enter collaborative music situations with confidence while also establishing a practice regime that will ensure continued development.
The Performance Workshop 2 module offers musicians the opportunity to further develop their live performance skillset, and to build upon areas of learning covered in the Performance Workshop 1 module. The module will be delivered in alternating weekly sessions. Firstly, instrument-specific pre-production classes will equip students with techniques for effective part-preparation, memorisation, and rehearsal strategies.
This learning will then be applied in a live performance workshop session, where students will join multi-discipline ensemble groups, and will work towards an authentic and fully realised performance. They will receive guided feedback from tutors and peers, and be supported in developing confidence onstage, and the necessary arrangement and communication skills for professional live performance.
An understanding of fundamental music theory concepts will enable students to better understand the mechanics of what they are playing and how it fits within a creative musical context. It will also allow students to communicate more confidently with other musicians and allow them to articulate their musical ideas more concisely. An introduction to these concepts will enable students to further explore their compositional creativity by revealing potential harmonic and rhythmic possibilities which may have been previously unexplored.
The ability to navigate the world of Digital Audio recording is an essential part of the modern musician’s skillset. Over the course of this module, you will learn how to set-up a virtual recording ‘session’, create high-quality audio and virtual instruments recordings, and manipulate these recordings quickly and effectively. You will be encouraged to apply these skills to original writing, enhanced by knowledge acquired in the Music Theory component of the module.
Any questions?
For any questions regarding our courses or if you’d like more information on how to apply to BIMM Music Institute, please contact our Admissions Team on +353 1 5133 666 or email [email protected].
