MO1S51 - Studio Practice for Musicians 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: MO1S51
Module Title: Studio Practice for Musicians
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Music and Drama
Faculty Sub Group: Music
Module Leader: Andy Cooper
Module Team: Andrew Gwilliam
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 101450 - applied music and musicianship
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

Develop an understanding of the production/recording and mixing techniques used in the production of recorded music.

Develop fundamental skills in the usage of music technology to optimally capture and represent musical ideas/performance.

Develop skills and techniques that can be applied to the production of music.

Gain an understanding of the role of producer/musician within the recording studio environment to maximise their potential during recording and mixing sessions.

Develop core musical judgements within the context of recorded music production. Key skills: musical timing, tuning and arrangement.

Develop the ability to judge the quality of recorded audio in the context of multi-tracked music recordings.

Content Summary

Through a series of lectures and practical workshops, students will:

Be introduced to an array of common recording and production techniques.

Learn a wealth of arrangement and production concepts relevant to expanding upon an artist’s initial ideas.

Develop an appreciation of audio quality and its function in a musical context.

Learn how to represent musical ideas and create a perception of sonic space in a stereo representation of a piece of music

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Seminar 18
Practical classes and workshops 18
Independent Study 72
Directed Study 80
Problem / challenge based learning 12
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Identify problems in the development of creative ideas within the recording studio and outline solutions through a process of review, using appropriate strategies.
LO2 Create and document work, using suitable technologies, and recognise key elements of sonic and audio aesthetics in relation to commercial and popular music.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Project Output 1 Recording Project - Produce a piece of recorded material 15 N/A 75 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Practical Written Work 1 Critical Reflection - Write a critique of the process and outcome of the recorded material 0 1000 25 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Project Output 1
Practical Written Work 1

Reading List

1. Burgess, R.J. (2010) The Art of Music Production. Revised 2nd edn. London: Omnibus Press.
2. Cunningham, M. (1998) Good Vibrations: A History of Record Production. London: Sanctuary Books
3. Droney, M. (2003) Mix Masters: Platinum Engineers Reveal Their Secrets for Success. Massachusetts: Berklee Press
4. Farinella, D.J. (2010) Producing Hit Records: Secrets from the Studio. New York: Schirmer Trade Books
5. Massey, H. (2000) Behind the Glass: Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft the Hits. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books
6. Massey, H. (2009) Behind the Glass: Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft the Hits v2. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books
7. Mixerman (2010) Zen and the Art of Mixing. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corp
8. Moylan, W. (2014) Understanding and Crafting the Mix: The Art of Recording. 3rd edn. Waltham: Focal Press
9. Owsinski, B. (2013) The Mixing Engineer’s Handbook. Boston: Thomson Course Technology.
10. Various. (1985-) Sound On Sound Magazine. UK: SOS Publishing
11. Various. (1985-) Mix Magazine. USA: New Bay Media Group