Music Technology BA (Hons)
Subject and course type
- Dance, Drama and Music
- Undergraduate
Prepare for a career in music technology through hands-on workshops, lectures and seminars delivered by active performers, composers and producers, such as Tony Visconti. One of record production's great innovators, Tony Visconti has worked with some of the most dynamic and influential names in pop, from T-Rex and Thin Lizzy to David Bowie, The Damned and U2.
You are reading:
Hone your sound in Kingston School of Art’s thriving music scene
Utilise our Visconti Studio to cultivate your craft.
Music Technology BA (Hons) is aimed at aspiring sound engineers, record producers, sound designers, live sound mixers, and contemporary composers/producers and performers. Hone your sound using digital and analogue sound creation, recording and production techniques, sequencing, synthesis and programming, spatial studies, context, history and criticism.
Benefit from central London's vibrant and multicultural music scene and Kingston School of Art’s creative community to explore and share ideas. Develop specialist skills in audio post-production for:
- Media
- Broadcasting
- Performing with technology
- Live sound reinforcement
- Applications of music technology in education
- Analogue record production - including tape ops and vintage equipment maintenance.
Why choose this course
Music technology is a diverse field that requires practitioners to be multi-skilled, adaptable and adept at collaboration across different disciplines and media. Developments in music technology signal trends and evolutions in music practices, creation and consumption. Our core philosophy is to develop musical, academic and technical skills through the exploration, application and support of creative practice.
Music Technology will be taught at the Coombehurst complex at Kingston Hill, a lively, stimulating environment where our music courses currently make use of four designated buildings. These house a range of specialist facilities, such as:
- Recording studios
- Rehearsal rooms
- Pro Tools
- Ableton and Logic-based MIDI/editing suites
- Synth labs
- Our analogue/hybrid Visconti Studio - Created in partnership with record producer Tony Visconti, the Visconti Studio has a 300m² live room
- Plus rare and vintage recording equipment.
Classes run throughout the day and evening, with regular concerts, gigs and recitals taking place during the academic year. Music industry guest speakers and performers, brought to the University via a series of masterclasses, will be a significant feature of this course and help enhance the process of learning.
You can also participate in local musical initiatives, such as the Kingston Singers, our Stylophone Orchestra and Acid Grass Records, as well as our in-house record label and artist collective.
Follow us on Instagram to see some of the great work we and our graduates are doing.
The Art School Experience
As part of Kingston School of Art, students on this course benefit from joining a creative community where we encourage collaborative working and critical practice.
Our workshops and studios are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.
Course content
Music technology is a diverse field and this course enables you to study it from a broad range of perspectives. You'll work with digital, analogue and hybrid music technology tools to create high quality sound and music productions. From record production to software programming, sonic art and performance, you will develop technical and artistic skills across a range of musical styles and contexts.
Years 1 and 2 are made up of four modules, each worth 30 credit points. Typically, a student must complete 120 credits at each level. In Year 3, students will take a capstone 60 Professional Project module along with two optional modules.
Please note: Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Year 1
In Year 1, you will develop your technical and creative skills through practical instruction in synthesis, sampling and sequencing. You will explore the history and evolution of music technology and study modern recording and sound engineering techniques. You will also undertake training in critical and diagnostic listening. In the Sonic Environments module, you will be introduced to the science and aesthetics of real and imagined spaces.
Core modules
30 credits
Hands-on instruction and practice in synthesiser programming, sampling, sequencing, electronic composition and orchestration. You will learn how to create unique instrument patches and sounds and use them effectively in music productions. Curriculum will cover beat making, groove writing, and style arrangement using Logic Pro and Ableton Live.
The musical concepts of melody, rhythm, harmony, and form will be explored as applied to the principles and techniques of writing and arranging using computers.
30 credits
Through this module you will learn about the history of music technologies, how they have evolved to the present day, transforming how music is conceived of, played, heard, consumed and understood. You will critically engage with key developments led by inventors, producers, artists, composers, technicians in recorded music, live music, art and film. This module also requires you to begin to develop your professional identity and active citizenship, through exploring concepts including understanding ethical issues and values, design thinking, and commercial awareness.
30 credits
This module offers hands-on study in modern recording and sound engineering. Students will learn about analog and digital consoles, microphones, audio signal flow, DAW session management, the principles of signal processing, audio editing and contemporary mixing techniques. You will also receive training in critical and diagnostic listening.
30 credits
This module provides an introduction to the science and aesthetics of real and imagined environments, their acoustics and spatial phenomena. You will engage in creative practice research that will consider a wide range of inter-connected practices: from installations, location recording and measuring impulse responses in real environments, to examining how sound behaves in virtual spaces: interactive game environments, VR, soundtracks and soundscapes. You will learn the fundamentals of acoustics, sound diffusion and absorption, and get to grips with the basic operation of physical modelling software applications.
Year 2
In Year 2, while continuing to develop and diversify your skills, you will specialise in performing with technology and audio post-production. You will also learn more about careers in the music industry and undertake a work placement. All students will have the opportunity to be trained in sound engineering in the Visconti Studio.
Core modules
30 credits
Building on recording and engineering skills developed in Year 1, this module will focus on the aesthetics of production from a range of genres, using the Visconti Studio live room and instrument collection. You will research and critically engage with 20th-century recording and production legacies by attempting to recreate configurations and set ups associated with 'signature' sounds of the past: Phil Spector, George Martin, Brian Wilson and Tony Visconti. You will record and produce music in a variety of styles using a mixture of analogue and digital techniques, and will learn how to master to 1/4 inch tape.
30 credits
In this module you will study a range of topics including copyright law; contracts and legals; performing, publishing and synchronisation rights; publicity and social media; income streams for musicians and music technologists; publishing and the internet income; management, agents, promoters; live music events and merchandising; self-assessment and tax; and the role of unions.
You will also critically evaluate your own personal development through reflection on your progress and goals, as a means of developing your creative practice to explore problems beyond your discipline. This will be supported through personal development planning (supported by your Personal Tutor), enabling you to evidence your understanding of the skills you are developing, through all the work you are creating as part of your course, in preparation for Level 6.
30 credits
From performing with laptops, interfaces, rigs, triggers, live effects manipulation, electronics and video, this module will encourage diversity through a range of performance and collaborative practice. You will also examine case studies, consisting of a range of historical and contemporary performance practices across a variety of cultures and styles.
30 credits
Study on this module will see you creating, editing and manipulating music and sound in a range of media postproduction scenarios, including trailers, TV, advertising, film and games. You will develop practical skills in Foley and ADR (automatic dialogue replacement) recording, editing, design and creation of sound effects, as well as creating audio assets for game soundtracks and interactive media.
Year 3
In Year 3, you will work with a supervisor to develop a personal project in your chosen area. You will also be able to choose from a selection of up to two optional modules covering commercial music production, analogue recording, live sound management, music technology in education and broadcasting.
Core modules
30 credits
As part of this module, you will develop a comprehensive theoretical and practical grounding in professional recording, mixing and mastering practices. The module will be taught in the Visconti Studio, with a mixture of lecture demonstrations and practical workshops, during which you will learn to record, mix and master and develop a comprehensive understanding behind the science, technology and traditions that underpin these practices.
30 credits
This module will develop Future Skills through engagement with Apply. It encourages you to plan for your continuing personal and professional development, and to consolidate your individual approach to managing your career and future learning, by further strengthening your professional skills and identity, and global citizenship.
You will critically evaluate your own personal development through reflection on your progress, as a means of developing your creative practice, and to explore complex problems beyond the University (i.e. within the wider social, cultural, economic, environmental, and industrial contexts). This will be supported through personal development planning, enabling you to evidence your understanding of the skills you are developing, through all the work you are creating as part of your course, and to set goals and take actions which further your ambitions.
You will also begin to consider your future prospects in a chosen discipline within the music technology through your reflections in your PDP portfolio and in your reflection from a presentation of a guest lecturer. As part of this module, you will also be given an industry brief that will further develop your understanding in a specific field of music technology. Finally, you will be encouraged to develop professional networks.
30.00 credits
This module provides hands-on experience in live sound reinforcement and event management. It covers monitoring, lighting and projection, stage design, professional conventions, working with performers and promoters, and logistics. You will train on live mixers and gain experience engineering live sound at events held in a variety of external venues. You will put on shows and organise a small tour, working with local venues and promoters. There will be opportunities to work with local partners in Kingston where possible.
30 credits
You will produce a substantial creative piece of work which develops your skills in a specific area, marking the culmination of your degree work. It is designed to enable you to work independently in an area that excites and interests you. You may choose to create your work within performance, composition/production or a research dissertation. You will be supported by themed group seminar meetings as a whole cohort, supplemented by individual tutorials. You will work towards the major project of your choice and produce a reflective summation to evaluate your work within a wider context.
Get inspired by Tony Visconti
Watch this video to hear legendary music producer Tony Visconti explain why sharing his skills and experience with students at ÖØ¿ÚζSM's Visconti Studio is so important to him.
Future Skills and careers opportunities
Graduates from our Music Technology BA (Hons) course go on to work in roles such as:
- Music producer
- Sound engineer
- Live sound manager
- Sound designer
- Event manager
- Music programmer
- Post-production sound editor
- Foley artist
- Sound recordist
- Music teacher
- Composer
- Music manager.
As the demands of modern-day employment evolve, our Future Skills programme is designed to provide you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.
The programme is embedded within every Kingston Universitycourse curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience to help you become a future-proof graduate.
As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills. The intention being that, when you graduate, you will understand how to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.
At ÖØ¿ÚζSM, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it
For more information on how Kingston prepares you for the future job market, visit our Future Skills page.
Teaching and assessment
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.
It may also include critiques, project work, studio practice and performance, digital labs, workshops, and placements.
Outside the scheduled learning and teaching hours, you will learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, preparing for and completing your work for assessments. Some independent study work may need to be completed on-campus, as you may need to access campus-based facilities such as studios and labs.
Our academic support team here at Kingston Universityprovides help in a range of areas.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at ÖØ¿ÚζSM.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- Year 1: 18% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 2: 19% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 3: 20% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Types of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 81%; exams 5%; practical 14%
- Year 2: Coursework 75%; practical exam 25%
- Year 3: Coursework 90%; practical 10%
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally attracts between 15 and 30 students and lecture sizes are normally 15 to 22. However this can vary by module and academic year.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £9,535* |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2025/26): | £18,500 |
| Year 2 (2026/27): | £19,200 |
| Year 3 (2027/28): | £19,900 |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2025/26 the fees for this course are above.
For courses with Professional Placement, the fee for the placement year can be viewed in our Fees and Funding section. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.
* For full-time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying this course at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston Universitywill pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
There may be costs for participating at external shows and exhibitions, such as travel costs, which will vary according to the location.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
Key information
The scrolling banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
