Perform: BIMM’s Proven Path to Success
BIMM is dedicated to providing students with the complete set of skills, knowledge and opportunities required to kick-start and maintain a career as a performer in the music industry. Utilising a teaching method we refer to as ‘the BIMM Balance’, we offer access to a unique blend of dedicated academic study and QAA approved opportunities for real-life industry engagement.
These extra opportunities include one-to-one tutorials with experts who continue to shape the industry, tailored careers hubs, networking events and internships with some of the industry’s key publishers, distributors and record labels. And not forgetting of course, a wealth of performance and showcase opportunities at some of Europe’s best music festivals.
As an independent institute, our fully accredited degrees and diplomas have been specifically designed to make you as employable and self-sufficient a performer as possible, with dedicated modules in areas such as Technical Development, Session Styles, Music Theory, Music Business, Live Performance, Artistic Development & Entrepreneurship, Studio Recording and a final Professional Project to help you launch your career with the strongest start possible.
Whether you’re looking to launch a career as a solo performer, or are interested in becoming a session musician or songwriter, each of our courses have numerous successful alumni to prove BIMM’s worth as the right place to achieve your potential. Collectively, our graduates have received more nominations and wins for industry awards such as ‘BBC Sound Of’ and ‘Brits Critics Choice’ than any other music college – with some of our higher profile alumni receiving nominations for Grammy’s (James Bay), and wins for Ivor Novello Awards (Tom Odell), NME Under the Radar (Pale Waves), MOBO’s (Zara McFarlane) and Youtube Music Awards (George Ezra).
As a professional music performer, it’s important to remember that success is not always measured by being centerstage with a top-ten chart position. A high number of our graduates have gone on to become prolific session musicians – working and performing alongside some of the biggest names in the business. Here’s a brief list of some of BIMM graduates whose footsteps you may wish to follow in.
Isabel Torres
Having completed a BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance at BIMM London, Isabel soon found her feet in the industry as a session musician. The talented guitarist has been touring internationally as a band member with Columbia signee Declan McKenna, featuring televised appearances on Later…With Jools Holland, the NME Awards and some of the UK’s biggest festivals. We recently caught up with the young graduate for an update on her progress. Read the full interview with Isabel here!
Kai Smith
Having completed a BA (Hons) in Professional Musicianship at our Brighton campus, Kai has carved out a successful career as freelance session musician. His most recent work has seen him performing live as a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with Zara Larson, MØ, Example and Brit Award winner Dua Lipa (see video). Kai has also returned to BIMM Brighton for a masterclass on how to be a successful session musician and producer. Read more about Kai’s story here.
Debbie Knox-Hewson
Debbie found her feet in the industry soon after graduating from our BA (Hons) in Professional Musicianship course. She rapidly secured the role of live session drummer for Grammy Award nominee Charli XCX. Since then, she’s gone on to perform at festivals such as Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds and has supported the likes of Paramore, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Ellie Goulding and Sia on tours around the world.
Steven McCann
Since graduating from BIMM Dublin in 2016, Steven has become a prolific session guitarist, heading up his own live band and performing alongside likes of Ralph Rolle (Chic), Midge Ure (Ultravox & Thin Lizzy), Paul Noonan (Bell X1), James Vincent McMorrow and Lisa Hannigan (see video).
Steven also promotes WeBloom, a regular live music event in Dublin and has toured Europe as the guitarist on various stage shows, including The Definitive Rat Pack, We’ve Only Just Begun (The Karen Carpenter Story) and 24 Hours From Tulsa. Read more here!
Haz Wheaton
Harry ‘Haz’ Wheaton studied a BA (Hons) degree in Music Business at BIMM Bristol and soon afterwards gained plenty of experience as a backline technician for numerous touring bands. Eventually, Haz found himself returning to his performance roots to fulfill the position of full-time bassist for legendary psychedelic rockers Hawkwind. He continues writing and performing with the band today alongside regular tech work. Read Haz’s story here!
James Frankland
James recently finished a performance degree at our Manchester campus. Since then, he’s been busy forging a career as a session musician, focusing predominantly on pit work with touring theatre shows such as ‘Hair’, ‘Spring Awakening’ and Tick Tick…BOOM’. He’s appeared onstage at venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, The Manchester Ritz and the Union Chapel, London. Alongside performance and studio work, James has also been stepping in front of the camera as a presenter for ‘Britain’s Rare Guitars’. Read more about James’ story here!
If you’re looking to join the ranks of our successful performance graduates and launch your music career with the strongest start possible, then you can start your BIMM application today, RIGHT HERE.
Alternatively, if you’d appreciate the chance to take a look around our state of the art facilities and meet some of your potential lecturers, you can book yourself a place on one of our ever-popular Open Days, HERE.
We look forward to meeting you!
