AMSonline and FRETMONKEY
AMSonline are now working with the international guitar community of FRETMONKEY to offer online music qualifications.
At the start of 2019, AMSonline had a suite of undergraduate and postgraduate music qualifications validated for supported distance-learning with the London College of Music (University of West London). This meant that courses could be accessed worldwide with no need for conventional college lectures. The courses are delivered 100% online, so anywhere with an internet connection is now a workspace.
What's the deal then?
Traditional academic qualifications come at a premium. Undergraduate college fees average about $10,000 for a state-resident student and $25,000 for a non-state resident per annum. That is before room, board, books and other expenses are taken into consideration.
The tuition fee for the BA (Hons) top-up Music & Sound with AMSonline is £6,150 per annum. That's about $7,600. There is no need to travel to college: All you will need is a DAW (digital audio workstation) that you might already own.
I'm already working in music; I don't need college
Unlike more traditional music qualifications, the AMSonline degree is designed for those working in music that want to develop their skill-set. The courses themselves are flexible; both in the curriculum studied and the mode of study. There are modules on creating content such as music for TV or games, composing library or stock music, songwriting, spoken word and radio broadcast as well as events management, music production and performance. In addition to online course materials, AMSonline students are supported 1:1 by industry professionals that are actually working in the areas mentioned above.
Fast-Track entry
Applicants are welcomed to apply to start directly on the final year of a Bachelor's Degree using their industry experience to 'Fast-Track' the first two years. This means that if you have 5 or more years experience in the music industry, you could apply. This could save you potentially 2-3 years of study time and costs, and gain you an internationally-recognised BA (Hons) degree certified by the London College of Music in just 12 months.
What about FRETMONKEY?
For students participating in this specialized program, FRETMONKEY will deliver additional programming in DIY record label services which includes online opportunities as well as optional face-to-face options at the FRETMONKEY RECORDS STUDIO located in Conway, Arkansas (USA). In addition to this local provision, an AMSonline representative will be specifically provided for you so that, whilst you are studying, you will be supported in a peer-to-peer community. This means you will experience more of a blended learning experience than those that are solely studying online.
How do I find out more?
Applications are being taken now for the next start point, which is September 2020. If you would like to find out more, please complete the form by clicking the link below.
Trivium shoutout AMS Glasgow for their Covid response
Shoutout from Trivium’s Matthew Heafy
At AMS Glasgow we took it as red that we would continue to deliver our music qualifications despite the current shutdown. As a provider in the sector we worked to get our entire delivery moved over to an online model as quickly as we could, to ensure that education could continue for our students, and work for our staff as smoothly as possible. We thankfully managed a swift transition within 4 days, and although things are still a little strange, we’re happy to be able to continue teaching and playing, in a more digital form.
Still, it came as a bit of a surprise to discover that guitarist, vocalist and founding member of metal band Trivium, Matt Heafy thought our efforts were worthy of a video shoutout! On further research we found out that some of our students had actually arranged the shoutout, and that made it all the sweeter.
“Thank you for keeping education going” the frontman said in the video. We’re absolutely chuffed by the praise, and at our students for reaching out to the band. Matty also chats about some of the great spots to eat and drink around Glasgow – making us miss the outside, but thankful we’ve got such a great city to look forward to enjoying again soon.
Thanks so much to our students for their efforts to keep things going whilst we’re all at home, and thanks to Matt Heafy for the kind words.
You can check out the full video in the player below.
Introducing music masterclass
We’ve teamed up with new platform musicmasterclass.com to offer students free online tutorials
Here’s what they’re all about…
musicmasterclass.com is the new tutorial website from Kevin Harding – Founder of the Academy of Music and Sound. Set to launch on Friday 10th April 2020 with a series of free online classes with Kris Barras, Tom Baxter & Phil Henry. We’ve joined forced in order to offer our students some extra online learning material during this period of self-isolation!
musicmasterclass offers a unique opportunity to learn new skills and enhance your musical expertise in just a few clicks. For the first few weeks, Music Masterclasses will showcase free expert sessions with artists who have an expert niche of musical expertise in areas such as Blues Guitar, Blues Harmonica, Songwriting and Slide Guitar.
“The plan is to add new artists regularly that will not only enthral viewers with their superb skills, but educate anyone with a passion for improving their instrument/songwriting techniques and to learn about the real world of working in the music industry.” Says founder Kevin Harding.
The new project is a collaboration between the Academy of Music and Sound and Studio54 in Exeter (where many of the classes have been filmed), with the first few classes to be made free, and directly available to students during this moment of isolation and social distancing. Going forward, AMS students will get a discount code for half price access to classes, while paid subscriptions will be available for anyone in the future.
Students can watch the first online masterclass with Kris Barras via the Academy of Music and Sound website now. Plus get to know Kris, host of the first few sessions we’ll be sharing with our students, in the clip below.
Stay tuned!
We will be releasing lessons from Music Masterclass each Wednesday exclusively for users of this website: so look out each week.
Let us know what you think through our socials!
Other classes available now on musicmasterclass.com include:
- Tom Baxter teaches Songwriting
- Phill Henry teaches Slide Guitar
- Phill Henry teaches Blues Harmonica
- Kris Barras teaches Guitar
Sign up for updates here.
Our Scotland online short courses are now live!
Our Sound Production and our Hip Hop and Rap Songwriting and Beat Making Workshops (with the legend that is Steg G) are now all online!
We recently announced that all our upcoming short courses (originally set to take place in Scotland in the coming months) had been validated to be delivered online. It's with great excitement we can reveal that the first few of these courses have been finalised for delivery online arrived, and are available to apply for now!
They are taught courses – you will learn through streamed group classes and 1-1 individual lessons with our experienced tutors - all music industry and education professionals.
And the best part - they are completely free for anyone living in Scotland.
If you have any questions please get in touch. You can get in touch with AMS Edinburgh or Glasgow on their pages on our website, or find us on Facebook here.
Apply now on our dedicated page.
Help and advice for musicians and students during Coronavirus / Covid-19
Coronavirus has begun to impact the music industry in a number of ways.
Our centres in Exeter, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton, Gateshead and are now closed until further notice. Including our head office in Exeter - staff and tutors are working from home and contactable via email.
Please do don't hesitate to contact us directly if you have any queries.
On Monday the Government announced that it would no longer be supporting mass gatherings, with changes expected to last for a few months at least. This follows Ireland, Scotland, and many other countries over the world. It means the live events, music and leisure sector is at a huge risk, those who freelance and those who are part of the gig economy will also largely be effected. IT is also unclear what the future of UK festivals will be like after this summer.
This is a very sad time for everyone in the live event space, hospitality, and arts more broadly. This virus has had unimaginable effects for event organisers, artists, suppliers and all those who work in this fantastic industry. The likes of such a cataclysmic event are so rare and our thoughts go out to everyone affected this very weird moment in time.
Every year we run a stage at Bearded Theory Festival in Derbyshire and run a competition where we ask acts to apply to play. The festival was set to take place on the late May Bank Holiday as it alwayss – the status of many UK festivals remains uncertain. They released a statement a few weeks ago stating stating that they will likely postpone the event for September, and just last week they confirmed a postponed date for 10th-13th September. You can read the full statement here.
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Help and Advice.
In the meantime, we've compiled a list of some helpful advice for working musicians and artists who might be effected by the recent crisis caused by Coronavirus (Covid-19). It includes important advice from The Musician's Union – who have launched a Hardship Fund, Help Musicians UK, who are running a helpline, PRS for Music, who have launched an Emergency Relief Fund, and Creative Scotland, who have promised 3 new funds. Plus there is an ongoing list from The Skinny on events in Scotland that have been cancelled.
If you're a musician , DJ , artist , creative of any kind who relies on travelling and live performance for income the @WeAreTheMU have also set up an email for the latest updates and advice on the corona outbreak .
Sign up for covid-19 updates here.
How are you spending your self-isolation? Making music? What are you listening to to get you through it? Pop us a message and we'll share...
https://twitter.com/theskinnymag/status/1238438158750056449
https://twitter.com/WeAreTheMU/status/1238434558728646661
https://twitter.com/HelpMusiciansUK/status/1238117907374247937
https://twitter.com/PRSforMusic/status/1242769781427748865
https://twitter.com/CreativeScots/status/1243611800568049664
https://twitter.com/ScotWim/status/1238389805114953729
Other Useful Resources.
#SaveOurScene.
Electronic music platform Resident Advisor have launched a campaign called #SaveOurScene, calling on ticket buyers to avoiding claiming for refunds where possible and where you can afford, in order to support a dance music scene that has suffered incredibly from the covid-19 crisis.
It comes after a number of festivals have been cancelled indefinitely, artists are loosing booking fees and gigs, and events are postponed for the foreseeable future, meaning there is no money to support the scene and sector itself. They ask, if you have a ticket to any upcoming event that may be postponed or cancelled, to resist asking for a refund. You can read the full campaign on the RA website.
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The Scottish Music Centre have also produced a very helpful guide for for Musicians, Music Businesses and Freelancers in the Scottish music scene during the pandemic. Take a look here.
There's a petition running asking for government for economic assistance to the events industry during the pandemic. If you work in events, or might be affect, it could be worth singing: HERE
Plus, you can get the latest on music industry figures, stats and financial situation on the Music Business Worldwide's regular newsletter. Read their letter from 13th March 2020 here.
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We'll be back soon with more.
AMS x
Musicians' Union launches 'Coronavirus Hardship Fund'
The 1 Million Pound fund is for MU members with genuine and pressing hardship.
The Musician's Union has launched the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund in order to help support those musicians who may be struggling in these times.
Musicians have lost more than £14m in earnings so far
90% have been affected
Job opportunities are down 69% on this time last year
"In response to the widespread cancellation of work that has hit our profession as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have taken the decision to set up a £1M hardship fund that members with genuine and pressing hardship can apply to." Says the MU.
The fund is open to any current member of the Union who has:
- Been in continuous membership of the MU for the last twelve months or more
- Is currently paying the full MU membership subscription rate
- Is a UK resident
- Is suffering genuine hardship from loss of work due to the Coronavirus pandemic
- Has not already successfully received a payment from the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund
On their website the MU also state that, "it must be emphasised that this is a hardship fund and not a fee replacement fund. The fund will not stretch very far if members who have lost bookings but are not in dire need of financial help all apply."
Grants will be initially limited to £200 to start with, and you will be able to find out if your application has been successful within 3 working days of applying.
Read more about the grand on the Musician's Union website and find out if you are eligible here.
https://twitter.com/WeAreTheMU/status/1242001171641966593
Visit our Coronavirus help page.
Learning Under LockdownCoronavirus moves life online
Covid-19 moves life online
– here’s how we can help
Coronavirus has begun to shake the UK – and indeed the world – in a way that was unimaginable even just one month ago. As we self-isolate, quarantine and social distance in the interest of our public health and collective well-being life has shifted online more and more.
Musicians too have been drastically effected by the global pandemic; event cancellations, gig postponements – the very backbone of the musician’s income taken from underneath them in the most unprecedented way.
Thankfully humans are adaptable creatures. Already, artists and creatives are capitalising on their capacity to mobilise online – online streaming of performances and DJ sets, tutors and artists offering classes online, and platforms like Bandcamp wavering fees to support unsigned acts. Our digital world seems more important now, than it ever has been before. Not just as a means to stay connected when people need it most, but as a way to earn and maintain and income stream, as well as learn new things as stay as motivated, entertained and switched on as we can.
We’ve also been trying to adapt.
We understand a lot of artists might be out of work at the moment, or failing that, slightly more bored than usual, working (or isolating) at home for the foreseeable future.
We’re happy to be able to offer a few small things to musician’s during these trying times…
Free Songwriting & Creative Lyric Approaches short course
Firstly AMS Online's FREE online songwriting short course (creative lyric approaches) is available to enrol onto now. You can expand your skills for free, and try and make the most of that time social distancing.
The syllabus for this course is set out over four weeks, with each week focusing on different areas of lyric writing. Each week provides helpful, practical, creative conversations and activities in order to help you grow as a songwriter and musical communicator. The course is suitable for beginners through to experienced songwriters; anyone who wishes to invigorate or reinvigorate their lyrical output.
Free online short courses from AMS
Our Edinburgh and Glasgow centres recently announced a new series of free short courses, which were originally programmed to take place at both centres over the coming few months. Now sadly, due to the situation dates for the physical workshops will look to be moved, while provision for the courses to be made available online has now been approved and will be available soon! This means ANYONE will be able to take part and they’re completely free.
Read more about the courses on offer on our dedicated page.
Fast-Track an online degree
Plus, a lot has been interrupted during the strange period, but if you’re feeling like being quite productive during this time, you might be interested in our Fast Track Degree scheme. The scheme allows music industry professionals with relevant experience the chance to ‘fast-track’ to the final year of a BA degree in music, sound, production etc (see our courses here), and you could get a degree for a third of the price, for a third of the time – and all from the comfort (or confines…) of your home.
Interested? Sign up here.
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Academy of Music and Sound and AMS Online x
Learning Under Lockdown – Coronavirus moves life online
Here's how AMS Online can help.
Coronavirus has begun to shake the UK – and indeed the world – in a way that was unimaginable even just one month ago. As we self-isolate, quarantine and social distance in the interest of our public health and collective well-being life has shifted online more and more.
Musicians too have been drastically effected by the global pandemic; event cancellations, gig postponements – the very backbone of the musician’s income taken from underneath them in the most unprecedented way.
Thankfully humans are adaptable creatures. Already, artists and creatives are capitalising on their capacity to mobilise online – online streaming of performances and DJ sets, tutors and artists offering classes online, and platforms like Bandcamp wavering fees to support unsigned acts. Our digital world seems more important now, than it ever has been before. Not just as a means to stay connected when people need it most, but as a way to earn and maintain and income stream, as well as learn new things as stay as motivated, entertained and switched on as we can.
We've also been trying to adapt.
We understand a lot of artists might be out of work at the moment, or failing that, slightly more bored than usual, working (or isolating) at home for the foreseeable future.
We're happy to be able to offer a few small things to musician's during these trying times...
Free Songwriting & Creative Lyric Approaches short course
Firstly our FREE online songwriting short course (creative lyric approaches) is available to enrol onto now. You can expand your skills for free, and try and make the most of that time social distancing.
The syllabus for this course is set out over four weeks, with each week focusing on different areas of lyric writing. Each week provides helpful, practical, creative conversations and activities in order to help you grow as a songwriter and musical communicator. The course is suitable for beginners through to experienced songwriters; anyone who wishes to invigorate or reinvigorate their lyrical output.
Free online short courses from AMS
Our Edinburgh and Glasgow centres recently announced a new series of free short courses, which were originally programmed to take place at both centres over the coming few months. Now sadly, due to the situation dates for the physical workshops will look to be moved, while provision for the courses to be made available online has now been approved and will be available soon!
Fast-Track an online degree
Plus, a lot has been interrupted during the strange period, but if you're feeling like being quite productive during this time, you might be interested in our Fast Track Degree scheme. The scheme allows music industry professionals with relevant experience the chance to 'fast-track' to the final year of a BA degree in music, sound, production etc (see our courses here), and you could get a degree for a third of the price, for a third of the time – and all from the comfort (or confines...) of your home.
Interested? Sign up here.
Stay safe.
AMS Online x
Our Free Short Courses are now being developed for online delivery
A Good News Story!
In the light of recent developments there have been a lot of cancellations, the most recent being the annual Glastonbury Festival, and a lot of changes makes for some very negative reading. So here's a good news story! Our short courses that are delivered in Edinburgh and Glasgow have been approved for online delivery.
Short Courses from the comfort of your home...
Currently we run short courses in Sound Production, Synthesis, Rap & hip hop, Working in Live Music and Women's Employability in Music. Read more about all the courses that will be available here.
All online courses will be free of charge - and will hopefully give students and the wider public the change to learn something new and channel some positive energies during all this self-isolation.
As soon as the model for online delivery has been devised details will be available, so keep an eye on these pages for updates.
