Frequently Asked Questions
About Applying
Find out more about the short courses available in the upcoming semester at our Scotland centres. Our short courses focus on sound production, music business, hip-hop and rap and much, much more. This semester all short courses have been adapted for Online delivery rather than in-centre. For more information please do not hesitate to get in touch with us!
Edinburgh – [email protected]
Glasgow – [email protected]
Sign up to attend a course here.
Our HNC in Music is the first year of our HND in Music, available as an independent qualification but designed to be followed-up with our HND. Partially funded by SAAS (Scotland), it is a 1-year course suitable for all musical disciplines and instruments. Curated and delivered by music professionals, it is available in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both centres boast state of the art teaching & rehearsal rooms, mac suites, recording studios and a team of professional tutors. By the end of the HNC students will be qualified to start straight on our HND (+ 1 year).
Our HND is a full-time, pathway-specific course partially funded by SAAS (Scotland), suitable for all disciplines. A 2-year course encompassing our HNCas its first year. Curated and delivered by professionals and accredited by Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) it is available in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both centres boast state-of-the-art teaching & rehearsal rooms, MAC suites, recording studios and a team of dedicated tutors. Our unique draw has always been supporting students with their chosen pathway and this year we are thrilled to be offering Hip-Hop for the first time.
Curated for, and by, modern musicians.
All our tutors work in music and the course is delivered by and written by professionals. With that comes community, common goals and an immediate industry focus you won’t get elsewhere. Get serious about your music with our HND.
Gain a full Honours Degree and consolidate your practice. Eligible for student finance, designed for musicians of all disciplines.
Equivalent to the 3rd year of a degree, this flexible top-up year is designed to follow on from our Foundation Degree in Music & Sound, but would also suit any applicants studying a music related HND, Foundation Degree or indeed those with relevant and recognised industry experience.
Validated by the University of West London, the course is developed to reflect developments the modern music industry, and allows students to take the next step up in the practice and study. Students will learn the skills to become independent, multi-skilled music practitioners, fluent with various forms of multi-media and develop an awareness of the various careers available in the music industry. We provide the time, space and the opportunity to develop your own sound and work on your material alongside gaining valuable vocational skills. The course is available at any of our regional centres or you can study it online.
About Delivery
Find out more about the short courses available in the upcoming semester at our Scotland centres. Our short courses focus on sound production, music business, hip-hop and rap and much, much more. This semester all short courses have been adapted for Online delivery rather than in-centre. For more information please do not hesitate to get in touch with us!
Edinburgh – [email protected]
Glasgow – [email protected]
Sign up to attend a course here.
Our HNC in Music is the first year of our HND in Music, available as an independent qualification but designed to be followed-up with our HND. Partially funded by SAAS (Scotland), it is a 1-year course suitable for all musical disciplines and instruments. Curated and delivered by music professionals, it is available in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both centres boast state of the art teaching & rehearsal rooms, mac suites, recording studios and a team of professional tutors. By the end of the HNC students will be qualified to start straight on our HND (+ 1 year).
Our HND is a full-time, pathway-specific course partially funded by SAAS (Scotland), suitable for all disciplines. A 2-year course encompassing our HNCas its first year. Curated and delivered by professionals and accredited by Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) it is available in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both centres boast state-of-the-art teaching & rehearsal rooms, MAC suites, recording studios and a team of dedicated tutors. Our unique draw has always been supporting students with their chosen pathway and this year we are thrilled to be offering Hip-Hop for the first time.
Curated for, and by, modern musicians.
All our tutors work in music and the course is delivered by and written by professionals. With that comes community, common goals and an immediate industry focus you won’t get elsewhere. Get serious about your music with our HND.
Gain a full Honours Degree and consolidate your practice. Eligible for student finance, designed for musicians of all disciplines.
Equivalent to the 3rd year of a degree, this flexible top-up year is designed to follow on from our Foundation Degree in Music & Sound, but would also suit any applicants studying a music related HND, Foundation Degree or indeed those with relevant and recognised industry experience.
Validated by the University of West London, the course is developed to reflect developments the modern music industry, and allows students to take the next step up in the practice and study. Students will learn the skills to become independent, multi-skilled music practitioners, fluent with various forms of multi-media and develop an awareness of the various careers available in the music industry. We provide the time, space and the opportunity to develop your own sound and work on your material alongside gaining valuable vocational skills. The course is available at any of our regional centres or you can study it online.
About Finance
Find out more about the short courses available in the upcoming semester at our Scotland centres. Our short courses focus on sound production, music business, hip-hop and rap and much, much more. This semester all short courses have been adapted for Online delivery rather than in-centre. For more information please do not hesitate to get in touch with us!
Edinburgh – [email protected]
Glasgow – [email protected]
Sign up to attend a course here.
Our HNC in Music is the first year of our HND in Music, available as an independent qualification but designed to be followed-up with our HND. Partially funded by SAAS (Scotland), it is a 1-year course suitable for all musical disciplines and instruments. Curated and delivered by music professionals, it is available in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both centres boast state of the art teaching & rehearsal rooms, mac suites, recording studios and a team of professional tutors. By the end of the HNC students will be qualified to start straight on our HND (+ 1 year).
Our HND is a full-time, pathway-specific course partially funded by SAAS (Scotland), suitable for all disciplines. A 2-year course encompassing our HNCas its first year. Curated and delivered by professionals and accredited by Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) it is available in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both centres boast state-of-the-art teaching & rehearsal rooms, MAC suites, recording studios and a team of dedicated tutors. Our unique draw has always been supporting students with their chosen pathway and this year we are thrilled to be offering Hip-Hop for the first time.
Curated for, and by, modern musicians.
All our tutors work in music and the course is delivered by and written by professionals. With that comes community, common goals and an immediate industry focus you won’t get elsewhere. Get serious about your music with our HND.
Gain a full Honours Degree and consolidate your practice. Eligible for student finance, designed for musicians of all disciplines.
Equivalent to the 3rd year of a degree, this flexible top-up year is designed to follow on from our Foundation Degree in Music & Sound, but would also suit any applicants studying a music related HND, Foundation Degree or indeed those with relevant and recognised industry experience.
Validated by the University of West London, the course is developed to reflect developments the modern music industry, and allows students to take the next step up in the practice and study. Students will learn the skills to become independent, multi-skilled music practitioners, fluent with various forms of multi-media and develop an awareness of the various careers available in the music industry. We provide the time, space and the opportunity to develop your own sound and work on your material alongside gaining valuable vocational skills. The course is available at any of our regional centres or you can study it online.
About Fast Track
Find out more about the short courses available in the upcoming semester at our Scotland centres. Our short courses focus on sound production, music business, hip-hop and rap and much, much more. This semester all short courses have been adapted for Online delivery rather than in-centre. For more information please do not hesitate to get in touch with us!
Edinburgh – [email protected]
Glasgow – [email protected]
Sign up to attend a course here.
Our HNC in Music is the first year of our HND in Music, available as an independent qualification but designed to be followed-up with our HND. Partially funded by SAAS (Scotland), it is a 1-year course suitable for all musical disciplines and instruments. Curated and delivered by music professionals, it is available in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both centres boast state of the art teaching & rehearsal rooms, mac suites, recording studios and a team of professional tutors. By the end of the HNC students will be qualified to start straight on our HND (+ 1 year).
Our HND is a full-time, pathway-specific course partially funded by SAAS (Scotland), suitable for all disciplines. A 2-year course encompassing our HNCas its first year. Curated and delivered by professionals and accredited by Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) it is available in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both centres boast state-of-the-art teaching & rehearsal rooms, MAC suites, recording studios and a team of dedicated tutors. Our unique draw has always been supporting students with their chosen pathway and this year we are thrilled to be offering Hip-Hop for the first time.
Curated for, and by, modern musicians.
All our tutors work in music and the course is delivered by and written by professionals. With that comes community, common goals and an immediate industry focus you won’t get elsewhere. Get serious about your music with our HND.
Gain a full Honours Degree and consolidate your practice. Eligible for student finance, designed for musicians of all disciplines.
Equivalent to the 3rd year of a degree, this flexible top-up year is designed to follow on from our Foundation Degree in Music & Sound, but would also suit any applicants studying a music related HND, Foundation Degree or indeed those with relevant and recognised industry experience.
Validated by the University of West London, the course is developed to reflect developments the modern music industry, and allows students to take the next step up in the practice and study. Students will learn the skills to become independent, multi-skilled music practitioners, fluent with various forms of multi-media and develop an awareness of the various careers available in the music industry. We provide the time, space and the opportunity to develop your own sound and work on your material alongside gaining valuable vocational skills. The course is available at any of our regional centres or you can study it online.
About Certification
Find out more about the short courses available in the upcoming semester at our Scotland centres. Our short courses focus on sound production, music business, hip-hop and rap and much, much more. This semester all short courses have been adapted for Online delivery rather than in-centre. For more information please do not hesitate to get in touch with us!
Edinburgh – [email protected]
Glasgow – [email protected]
Sign up to attend a course here.
Our HNC in Music is the first year of our HND in Music, available as an independent qualification but designed to be followed-up with our HND. Partially funded by SAAS (Scotland), it is a 1-year course suitable for all musical disciplines and instruments. Curated and delivered by music professionals, it is available in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both centres boast state of the art teaching & rehearsal rooms, mac suites, recording studios and a team of professional tutors. By the end of the HNC students will be qualified to start straight on our HND (+ 1 year).
Our HND is a full-time, pathway-specific course partially funded by SAAS (Scotland), suitable for all disciplines. A 2-year course encompassing our HNCas its first year. Curated and delivered by professionals and accredited by Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) it is available in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both centres boast state-of-the-art teaching & rehearsal rooms, MAC suites, recording studios and a team of dedicated tutors. Our unique draw has always been supporting students with their chosen pathway and this year we are thrilled to be offering Hip-Hop for the first time.
Curated for, and by, modern musicians.
All our tutors work in music and the course is delivered by and written by professionals. With that comes community, common goals and an immediate industry focus you won’t get elsewhere. Get serious about your music with our HND.
Gain a full Honours Degree and consolidate your practice. Eligible for student finance, designed for musicians of all disciplines.
Equivalent to the 3rd year of a degree, this flexible top-up year is designed to follow on from our Foundation Degree in Music & Sound, but would also suit any applicants studying a music related HND, Foundation Degree or indeed those with relevant and recognised industry experience.
Validated by the University of West London, the course is developed to reflect developments the modern music industry, and allows students to take the next step up in the practice and study. Students will learn the skills to become independent, multi-skilled music practitioners, fluent with various forms of multi-media and develop an awareness of the various careers available in the music industry. We provide the time, space and the opportunity to develop your own sound and work on your material alongside gaining valuable vocational skills. The course is available at any of our regional centres or you can study it online.
AMS Gateshead announce 3 new online open events!
The team at AMS Gateshead have just announced 3 course open evenings in February and March.
The upcoming open events will be specific for each of the courses at our Gateshead centre – RSL Level 3 for 16-18 year olds, and our undergraduate qualifications, the Foundation Degree in Music & Sound, and the BA (Hons) top-up year in Music & Sound.
Our BA top-up year is the final year of a BA, designed to follow on from our Foundation Degree. Those with relevant industry experience may be eligible to fast-track onto this final year without necessary having any prior formal qualifications. We value real-life industry experience, and believe you should be rewarded for working hard in the sector.
Sign up via the links below if you’re interested in attending one of the events with the AMS Gateshead team! You’ll get the Zoom video link (which will go live on the day) sent straight to your inbox! Each event will include an informative presentation, Q&A session and performances from staff/students.
RSL Level 3 Diploma
24th February 2021
SIGN UP
Foundation Degree in Music & Sound
3rd March 2021
SIGN UP
BA Hons Top-up Degree in Music & Sound
10th March 2021
SIGN UP
Missed out on our HNC open event? Don't fret, another one is coming!
Missed out on our last open day? Not to worry – There’s another chance to join our Edinburgh team for an insight into the HNC in Music on Wednesday 3rd March!
Last week saw over 30 attend our most recent HNC online open event. There was great performances from current AMS Edinburgh students, a digital presentation about the HNC course, what you can expect from a course at AMS, and all the details on how to apply and when. But if you missed out, don’t worry. There’s another chance to attend an open day in a few weeks.
Wednesday 3rd March 20201: Via Zoom, our friendly team will guide attendees through all aspects of the HNC course (starting in September 2021) covering all you need to know about the course content and requirements. We will host this event on Zoom with invites to join this event via email once you have signed up.
Find out about:
- How to apply
- Fees and funding
- The audition process
- Life at AMS Edinburgh!
You will have the opportunity to ask questions and find out what it’s like to be part of our team. You will also be treated to wonderful performances from some of our talented students and staff!
Schedule:
- 17:00 – 17:30 – Introduction and Q&A Session
- 17:30 – 18:00 – Performances
- 18:00 – Fin
If you require further information please feel free to get in touch by calling 0131-656-0600 or alternatively email [email protected]
We look forward to meeting you all!
Guest playlist, Scottish hip-hop and the best female rappers of all time
We invited Sunny G Radio host Delaina Sepko to write a very special guest blog for us on women and hip-hop – part of a series of features we’re running focused on hip-hop, to mark the start of our new HND hip-hop and rap module. Alongside that, she’s even curated a hip-hop guest playlist for us! It’s an eclectic mix packed with Scottish hip-hop, and classic bangers from some of the best female rappers and MC’s of the past and present – all in the same place. Nice.
Delaina is a music researcher, with her own show on the Scottish radio station Sunny G called ‘Breaks and Beats’. She writes for us about how her passion for hip-hop often conflicts with the sexism engrained in some of it’s content, and how this motivated her to start a gender-balanced hip-hop radio show. Her playlist for us reflects that, a bangin’ mix of Scottish hip-hop’s best talents, and a fantastic array of some of the best female rappers, hip-hopppers and MC’s of all time – the likes of Queen Latifah, Da Brat, Missy Elliot, Lil’ Kim, Roxanne Shante, Salt N Pepa, Little Simz, Eve and Lady Leshurr all feature.
Read her guest blog here, and listen to the playlist in the player below.
About the AuthorDelaina Sepko is a music researcher, radio presenter and life-long hip hop head living in Glasgow, Scotland. She trained as a sound engineer at Sarm West under Trevor Horn, Tim Weidner and Robert Orton and was a finalist for the 2005 Music Week Woman of The Year award for being Sarm’s first female assistant engineer. After working with the Pet Shop Boys, Seal, Tinchy Stryder, Transglobal Underground and Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly., she earned an MSc and PhD in Information Studies and audio preservation from University of Glasgow. Now she is a contributor to the long form blog Hip Hop Scotland, presents Beats & Breaks on Sunny G Radio every Wednesday from 8-10 PM and uses the show to promote gender equality and showcase Scottish hip-hop.
Website: www.dmfresearch.com
Twitter: @delainasepko
Listen to Beats & Breaks archived shows on Mixcloud.
Look back on the best of 'Off The Record' Virtual Conference 2020!
We are the proud supporters of the Off The Record podcast, as well as the recent conference – which was held online last year. Check out the 2020 conference including a talk with our own Melisa Kelly and alumni Zoe Graham.
Off the Record was founded in 2013 and is a series of events for young musicians and those who want to work in the industry. It is open to anyone aged 16-25, and is designed to equip young people with music business knowledge, information and skills to help them forge a career in music. In 2020 their music conference was held virtually, and featured events focused on music photography, how to get played on BBC Music Introducing, getting funding, how to build your brand and how to go freelance.
Look back on some of the best talks and discussions – including this one (below) featuring our very own Melisa Kelly all about How To Make Money from your Music Online! Melisa joins fellow panelists to discuss their practical tips for building a streaming presence, what worked for them and how you can build your streaming audiences across all streaming platforms. And check out AMS alumni Zoe Graham on a fascinating panel discussion about how to get the most out of streaming your live performance here.
About Off The Record
Off The Record was founded by Community Interest Company Wide Events in 2013 and is a series of events for young musicians and those who want to work in the industry. It is open to anyone aged 16-25, and is designed to equip young people with music business knowledge, information and skills to help them forge a career in music.
Since 2013, Off The Record has organised and delivered 16 events for young people across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Kirkcaldy, Kilmarnock, Glenrothes, Dundee, Aberdeen, Galashiels and Dumfries, providing insights and advice on how to pursue a career in music. This has enabled participants to build relationships with organisations including the BBC, DF Concerts, The Skinny magazine, numerous managers, promoters, labels and more.
In 2015 Off The Record was the first music business event in the UK to commit to a gender balanced speaker programme. The event always takes place in wheelchair accessible venues and is committed to providing opportunities for young people in the top 15% areas on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.
Current Projects
In November 2018, we hosted two Off The Record events in Dundee and Edinburgh to celebrate the Year of Young People. The events targeted the 16-25 age group and included daytime seminars, discussions, interactive workshops and networking activities featuring a host of music industry professionals from across Scotland and beyond. Topics covered included monetising music, releasing music, organising and getting gigs, music publishing, streaming, working in music and more. In addition, an evening showcase took place in each city featuring performances from some of the country’s most exciting and diverse young musicians.
These events were supported by the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI) programme, which is administered by Creative Scotland. The events featured key figures from the music business taking part in seminars, workshops and advice sessions – all geared to demystifying the industry and providing the basic knowledge to get started.
Save Sunny G Community Radio Station
Help save the people’s station.
Since the closure of their studios in March 2020 as a consequence of Covid 19, Glasgow community station Sunny G has lost significant income streams, resulting in a deficit of approx £30,000. They need your help!
Sunny G is a registered small Scottish Charity with a fantastic team of volunteers. They use Radio / Broadcasting Media / Technology for Community Development. They have launched a GoFundMe page and are asking for donations to help support them.
The following areas have been most effected:
Unable to deliver SQA training.
Advertising and sponsorship income down by approx 70%
Unable to have our regular fundraising gigs and events.
The station’s monthly outgoings include staff costs, licence fees, rent, and utilities are just a few of the monthly obligations that are completely necessary to allow Sunny G Radio to function.
Studio Manager Steven Gilfoyle has been leading the team at Sunny G since April 2020, and has been a founding member since 2001. He believes the station to be the best community radio station in the country. He says: “I would challenge anyone to match us in the breadth of our community radio content and community development that we have provided over the years, considering the lack of resource we have had we always provide a high quality service.”
“We find ourselves trying to survive in an area that contains many of the sectors that have been hardest hit which has destroyed the income streams we used to rely on. We are optimistic that we can see ourselves through this terrible time with the generous help from supporters of the station and the community we serve and work alongside,” he says.
“We have lots of exciting ongoing programming and community development ambitions that take Sunny G into 2021 and beyond.”
They would be extremely grateful for anything you might be able to donate. You can find out more and listen online (if you can’t listen on your FM radio) at www.sunnyg.com.
Our next intake of students will start on 15 February!
We're so excited to be welcoming a host of new students to AMSonline next month, who will be joining us to start on our online courses like the Foundation Degree, BA (Hons) and M.Mus in Popular Music Performance.
It comes after we saw record levels of students join AMSonline courses in September 2020. Despite Covid, we've been lucky enough to run our courses as usual, with all the regular content, seminars and tutorials, with little interruption!
Whilst most of standard university and college teaching in the UK and elsewhere had to adapt to online delivery in 2020, and is still going on, its perhaps unsurprising that musicians and those interested in studying music, might chose more established online learning platforms at this time.
“In a funny way I never thought my choice to study online in 2018 would eventually be the only choice most students have all around the country. In hard struck times of COVID, I barely felt it negatively impacted my course at all.”
“I would just like to say thank you more than anything for the help I had over my foundation degree!”
George Chambers, student
But that's not to say we've not been impacted by Covid-19 – everyone has felt the impact, and while we might be able to run courses as usual, the year has been a challenging one for us all. But we have good reason so hope that live musicianship can continue very soon! And we're planning on being ready when it does.
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More news from us here.
We just relaunched our Instagram! Check it out.
New Year, New Lockdown...
You know the drill! Courses to move back online from 4th January 2021.
After Monday (04/01/2021) night's announcement, all teaching across all our regional centres will move back fully to online delivery, with group tutorials and one-to-one sessions.
Prior to Monday's news, our centres had been operating under relevant local government guidance, with smaller class sizes, online course options for all courses, less contact time and social distancing though-out the schools. We will now be moving all classes back online, just like we started to do for the very first time in March. We will update students when guidelines are reviewed.
Students can find help & support on our Student Guidance page or via their MyAcademy account. We're doing everything we can to make sure students have a positive and worthwhile experience – we're always here if you need us.
Let us also take this chance to wish you all a Happy New Year! Despite everything, 2020 did bring us some positivity, and we're hoping 2021 brings much better things for musicians and those working in the industry, and there is thankfully good reason to hope. We're sure the music scene will be back and thriving again soon...
And we're going to be ready when it does!
AMS online partner with Sound City
The Academy of Music and Sound and AMSonline will be partnering with Liverpool Sound City on a series of exclusive online masterclasses.
We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be partnering with Liverpool based conference and music festival Sound City on a collaboration which includes a programme of exclusively curated masterclasses focused on employability, industry skills, and careers in the music sector, exclusively for AMS staff and students.
Sound City said of the partnership, “Sound City’s core aim is to help the very best in upcoming talent and with many university courses now competing for attention and so many graduates looking for work, its vital that students set themselves above the competition and make their mark in the industry! Sound City has started a partnership with the Academy of Music and Sound with the primary aim of improving their students music industry skills and employability.”
The first of a series of Masterclass will take place Tuesday 1 December at 7pm via Guesthouse, and will be an interview Band Manager Alfie Skelly on ‘How To Build A Bands Music Profile’
Alfie Skelly has worked in the industry for over 15 years working with the likes of The Coral and Arctic Monkeys. He currently manages The Mysterines (Pretty Face Recordings) and The Lathums ( Island Records) who both had sold-out UK tours, among others including Abbie Ozard, through Modern Sky Record label. The talk will span all things managerial, including how Alfie has built up the profiles of both The Lathums and The Mysterines. Alife will discuss how he gets them gigs, how he lands artists record deals, publishing deals and tours, plus he will talk about how he markets and promotes the bands.
We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to offer this to our students and staff! And with a whole host of exciting masterclasses and talks coming up, we’re sure it’s going to be a thrilling time for online learning.
About Sound City
Globally-recognised Sound City, the leading champion of emerging UK talent, is set to return bigger and better than ever in 2021 – With three full days of music discovery right across the city of Liverpool, Headline acts this year include Rejjie Snow, Red Rum Club and The Murder Capital.”