Study Bass and take your playing to the next level?
ICMP offers a range of industry-aligned bass courses across a variety of levels for bassists looking to take that next step towards a long-term career in the music business.
ICMP has been developing and delivering contemporary music education for over 30 years – longer than any other music school in the UK. In fact, we’ve been committed to providing a bass-specialist education for our students from the very start as, at launch in 1986, ICMP was originally known as Basstech. We pride ourselves on our small class sizes, high number of teaching contact hours, personalised approach to student engagement, regular one-to-one support, and dynamic use of technology in the classroom – innovations you just won’t find to the same extent at any other modern music college.
We understand that each student will have different career motivations and your vision of ‘success’ will be unique, so we encourage you to follow your own individual path. At ICMP, your future is in your hands, and you’ll graduate feeling emboldened and inspired, with the tools, connections, self-confidence and head start you need to drive your career as a bass player forward.
Studying a Bass degree course at ICMP makes financial sense too, with the fees for ICMP degrees similar to those at many traditional UK universities.
So why not immerse yourself in music at ICMP London? It’s the ultimate space to learn, question and discover your place in the music industry.
ICMP Bass courses
Those wishing to study a three-year bass degree programme can choose from a BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance or a BA (Hons) Creative Musicianship course.
There’s also a choice of one-year courses, including the CertHE Popular Music Performance (Bass) and the Cert HE Creative Musicianship.
Postgraduate students can take the one-year Masters (MMus) in Popular Music Performance to develop their bass playing and musicianship skills to the highest level.
Bass Courses
Regardless of your bass course or study level, as a bassist at ICMP you will cover a broad spectrum of musical learning, from developing competent musicianship, theory and music reading skills, and understanding the way the music business operates, to arranging, composing and recording songs, and becoming skilled in the use of industry-standard music technology.
You’ll become part of the wider ICMP bass community and will be challenged to build your technical expertise, play to professional standards and make meaningful contributions to the rhythm sections, bands and working situations you find yourself in. You may also be asked to master some of the additional skills that the modern bassist needs in today’s working environment, such as leading a section or band, playing or programming synth bass, and performing on other instruments, like upright bass.
You’ll complete your studies using a wide range of industry-standard equipment, including Music Man, Fender and Yamaha instruments; Markbass, EBS, Hartke, Aguilar and Ampeg amps; and loopers and effect pedals by brands such as Line 6 and Boss.
Creating opportunities through innovative professional partnerships
At ICMP, we work tirelessly to seek out new partnerships that connect our students and alumni to today’s flourishing professional music scene, plugging ICMP into the heart of the industry. Throughout the year we open our doors to labels, publishers, booking agents, A&R and artist managers, all with the express intent of building our students’ connections. Alongside welcoming industry professionals onsite, we also actively partner with companies and organisations throughout London and the wider music industry. These partnerships offer ICMP students unique and exclusive opportunities to engage with the music industry, building their networks amongst some of the industry’s biggest names.
ICMP Industry Tutors
ICMP’s highly esteemed bass teaching faculty is made up of experienced bassists, accomplished academics, qualified teachers and respected industry practitioners. They’ve shaped the face of the music business and are ready to give generous amounts of their time to help energise and inspire you. They’re highly focused on what works now in today’s music industry, and keen to pass their knowledge of the ever-changing music business landscape, and all things bass, onto you. Above all, they’ll work hard to build and sustain a creative and entrepreneurial community which will identify emerging talent and, ultimately, support you and your classmates as the next generation of skilled professional bassists within the music industry.
ICMP’s International Reach
ICMP is the most international music school in the UK, and you’ll be studying and connecting with students from all around the world. This diversity of global culture and musical styles forms an exceptionally unique musical tribe, making for interesting classroom discussion, stimulating learning experiences and exciting worldwide networking opportunities.
On top of this, ICMP has a truly international outlook as a music education provider, partnering with a range of prestigious, global academic institutes including the Los Angeles College of Music, University of Southern California, ATLA in Paris, the London School of Fashion, Rockacademie in the Netherlands, the Vienna Music Institute and industry partnership Tileyard Studios in London’s King’s Cross.
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