Music and sound

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Why Study here

You're right in the heart of the city that's helped to re-shape genres, and every time you walk out of your door you will get to live that atmosphere. Whether you like live acoustic bands, soft jazz, or a bit of dubstep, there's plenty to discover at our local music venues. In class, you will develop a foundation of knowledge and be provided with the guidance you need to find your style. You'll be able to experiment with the latest industry-standard equipment and software. We will also introduce you to people that can give you a place to perform, or a first step onto your chosen career path.

Courses

Hone your skills with our range of undergraduate and postgraduate music and sound degrees.

BA (Hons)

Music Industries Management

BA (Hons)

Music Performance and Production

Band on stage at music festival taking applauds following performance

BA (Hons)

Music Production

Two female students working at production desk

BSc (Hons)

Music Technology

Recording studio with sound desks and equipment

BA (Hons) Music Performance and Production

Amanda Belle BA (Hons) Music Production and Performance

Matthew Flint BA (Hons) Music Industries Management

Jake Smurthwaite BSc (Hons) Music Technology

MSc

Audio and Acoustics

Anechoic chamber, acoustics lab facilities at Leeds Beckett University

Popular Music and Culture

Sonic Arts

Music Production

Group of students watching production session at studio production desk

Music for The Moving Image

A male student sitting at a desk with a computer keyboard and three screens, using composition software

Sound Design

Student in grey hoodie working on sound production in studios

MSc

Sound and Music for Interactive Games

Annie Simmons MA Music Production

Your student experience

Enrol on one of our music and sound courses, and you'll have the creative space you need to write and produce your own music. You'll be part of a community of potential collaborators, and you'll get support from your peers, lecturers, and our dedicated pastoral care team. You'll also be able to explore our links with the creative community in Leeds, one of the most exciting havens of upcoming and established music in the UK.

90%

of BSc (Hons) Music Technology graduates in work or further study 15 months after graduation*

*Percentage of respondents from this course, HESA Graduate outcomes 20-21

Portrait of Lewis Barn stood on bridge in countryside

"While I had originally set out to study music production, I was spending more time practising my sound design skills and field recording than recording and composing music, so I decided to follow this passion, leading me to look into the Sound and Music for Interactive Games course at Leeds Beckett."

Lewis MSc Sound and Music for Interactive Games

95%

of students on BA (Hons) Music Production were positive about the way teaching staff explain things

National Student Survey 2023

"My tuition at university and the opportunities that were given to listen top producers, to take up their advice and tips was invaluable. I have learned how to take my productions to the next level and become a contender in the music industry."

Rowena Smith MA Music Production

"The course leans into four main subjects; performance (group and individual), composition and arrangement, technology and production, and contextual studies, using historical case studies to enrich your knowledge of all things music."

Joshua BA (Hons) Music Performance and Production

The dome ceiling and shopping space on middle floor of Corn Exchange in Leeds City Centre

Graffiti on the Leeds River near Brewery Wharf, Leeds

Leeds Town Hall at night with moving light from traffic

FACILITIES

We are dedicated to providing our students with the best possible music and audio education and to being a driving force behind the music industry in Leeds. In the Leeds School of Arts Building music and sound students will have access to state-of-the-art recording studios, performance studios, production suites, dubbing theatres, acoustics testing labs and more, all kitted out with the latest industry-standard equipment. Here, anyone who is passionate about music and sound will be able to create, innovate and develop the skills required to unlock a range of exciting career paths within the industry.

Leeds School of Arts music and sound facilities Find out more about our industry-standard music and sound facilities.

Reverb Chamber Music and Sound students at Leeds School of Arts use omnidirectional sound sources in the reverb chamber to measure absorption and reverberation

Anechoic Chamber Music and Sound students at Leeds School of Arts use the Anechoic chamber to analyse the design characteristics of audio equipment, and for psychoacoustic testing to determine peoples perception of sounds

Kemar workshop in the Audio Lab Music and Sound students work with test equipment such as the Kemar dummy in a state-of-the-art audio lab at Leeds School of Arts

Studio 1 Live Room

Large double height recording studio with a drum set and amp in foreground and a grand piano towards the back. Up above is a window from the control room.

Mastering

Central control desk in the centre of a music studio style space - surrounded by a circle of head height speakers.

Control room

Production suite

Room with a mix of production consoles, computers and speakers set on wooden desks.

Dubbing theatre

A control desk, with screens, speakers and a seating area in front of it.

Anechoic chamber

Chamber style room with every wall and the ceiling covered in wedged pieces of sound insulating foam.

Ensemble room

Open music studio space with wooden floor, speakers, amps and control consoles.

Student work

Leeds Dance Community radio

Music and Sound students at Leeds School of Arts can get hands-on radio experience through our partnership with Leeds Dance Community (LDC) radio. LDC radio is one of Leeds’s newest FM stations which broadcasts live from our Headingley campus. Work placement opportunities provide students with valuable media and broadcasting experience. Find out more about how the station came about, how it strives to connect communities in Leeds through a shared love of dance music, and how the partnership with LBU benefits students by listening to the podcast here:

Your teaching community

Discover the art of great music, from people who've been there. Our expert lecturers and researchers are experienced performers, producers and sound designers who have worked with major names in the UK and beyond. You'll also have the support of our pastoral team, and access to placements and industry opportunities. Our students have rubbed shoulders with artists like the Kaiser Chiefs while running the Live at Leeds Festival, and completed placements across the music industry.