Locations

London, Liverpool, Leeds

UCAS code

W374

Start date

15th September 2025

Course length

1 Year

COURSE OVERVIEW

If you’re looking to expand your creative, theoretical and technical skills in music production, ICMP’s CertHE Creative Music Production course is a great place to start.

Over the course of one year, you’ll be guided through a fun and exciting personalised journey where you’ll explore the world of music production across live, studio and digital music making settings. You’ll cover the fundamentals of creative composition, recording and mixing, while you gain an impressive overview of the music business – specifically from a music producer’s point of view. Your year of study will see you broaden your musical horizons as you gain the interpersonal, business and entrepreneurial skills to progress your career as a creative music producer.

In our high-tech Mac labs and dedicated professional project studio – built specifically for Creative Music Production students – you’ll experiment with a range of industry-standard in-the-box (ITB) software, and digital audio workstations (DAWs) including Ableton Live, Pro Tools and Logic Pro. You’ll develop your own unique production style as you learn how to use microphones, mixing desks and audio interfaces to professionally record instruments.

During your lessons, you’ll be guided by expert ICMP tutors, who are all successful musicians, music producers and educators in their own right. Each week, you’ll be creatively inspired and challenged as you compose and produce to brief, exploring an impressive range of genres and styles.

Across your time with us, you’ll have regular opportunities to collaborate with both fellow music production students and vocalists, guitarists, bassists, drummers and songwriters also studying at ICMP. You’ll instantly join ICMP’s dynamic learning community, where you can build your personal and professional network, working in real-world settings and linking with the world-renowned UK music industry.

As an ICMP student, you can book our specialist facilities free of charge for personal use outside of class hours, seven days a week, meaning you can progress your creativity and talent as a music producer with the very best kit. Resources you have access to include writing rooms and studios, ribbon, valve and modelling microphones, instruments, synthesisers, drum machines, controllers, loop stations, vocal processors and effects pedals, and more.

At the end of your time with us, you’ll have gained a solid understanding of the practical elements of music production and recording, as well as a firm idea of the way the music industry operates, and a sense of music’s place throughout history and in the wider world. You’ll also possess good networking skills, a great list of contacts and the necessary drive to get started in the music industry.

If you’d rather continue your studies, you can progress directly into the second year of ICMP’s BA (Hons) Creative Music Production degree or gain a second-year pathway into our BA (Hons) Audio Engineering and Production or the BA (Hons) Music Production for Film, TV and Games degrees.

FEES & FUNDING

Studying music at ICMP is great value, as well as great fun, with fees for our music courses the same as those at many traditional universities.

Course Fees: UK Students | EU/EEA/International Students

Student Finance: Please visit our Fees page for information on accessing to Student Loans, UK students eligible for Loans are able to borrow the full course fee. 

Programme Specification | Programme Handbook

Click to view the full terms and conditions of applying to study at ICMP.

ICMP Music School Logo

Successful completion of the CertHE in Creative Music Production course leads to the award of Certificate of Higher Education by The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance.*

* Please note: ICMP Liverpool and Leeds courses are currently subject to validation.

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Key facts

  • Develop creatively in music production, composition, song creation and music technology.
  • Learn to create, produce, launch and promote market-ready original music using DAWs such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro and Ableton Live.
  • Gain the entrepreneurial, business, networking and life skills to build a portfolio career in music production.
  • Showcase your artistic side by collaborating with fellow students from ICMP’s rich talent pool.
  • High-quality teaching by music production professionals in a creative and inspiring learning environment.
  • Learn to record in a dedicated course studio, using high-tech industry-standard equipment. 
  • Connect with the global music scene in London and Liverpool to build an impressive music industry network.
  • Develop creatively with a critical, analytical and contextual understanding of music production.
  • Study in small groups, with a high number of contact teaching hours.
  • Apply Now

UCAS CODES

Course Ambassador
cam_blackwood_head_shot_0

Cam Blackwood

Acclaimed music producer and songwriter Cam Blackwood is the ambassador for this course.

 

Cam’s impressive writing and production credits include George Ezra, Tom Walker, Lewis Capaldi, Dua Lipa, Jack Savoretti, Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Skunk Anansie, Birdie and Astrid S.

 

Cam is an invaluable resource for ICMP students looking to get ahead in the worlds of studios and production.

COURSE DETAILS

Course Modules

Across the CertHE, you’ll receive a thorough overview of life as a creative music producer, so you can set yourself up for a fulfilling and sustainable production career. You’ll have access to a dedicated course studio where you’ll work with industry-standard equipment and focus on mics and vocal recording. As you examine the history of music production, you’ll discuss how the past continues to inspire us today. You’ll also learn about the business side of the music industry and the revenue streams available to you as an emerging creative music producer.

PROJECT STUDIO RECORDING

You’ll cover the essentials of audio theory in this module, while backing up your knowledge with hands-on experience in our dedicated Creative Music Production course studio. Especially designed to mimic a high-end project studio set-up, you’ll learn to use top industry-standard equipment as you get to grips with a host of recording and engineering practices. The module focuses on making fundamental recordings to a high professional standard – particularly recording exceptional vocals using a range of mic types for varied voices. Upon completion, you’ll be encouraged to apply your newly learned techniques to your own personal music production projects.

  • Full professional studio methods
  • Engineering processes
  • Recording processes
  • Home studio recording techniques
  • Flexible professional recording practices
  • How to use an SSL SiX mixing desk
  • Audio theory fundamentals
  • How to use industry-standard production equipment

DIGITAL MUSIC PRODUCTION

In this module, you’ll discuss how computer technology is used to produce modern music – in particular, by examining the expansive range of methodologies and techniques often used by contemporary artists. You’ll use industry-standard digital audio workstations (DAWs) such as Logic Pro and Pro Tools to experiment with music programming and production techniques such as sampling and synthesis, as you also develop your critical listening skills. As you begin to produce ‘in the box’, you’ll explore the choices and solutions you can use to enrich your creative music production.

  • Audio and editing 
  • Sample layering 
  • Frequency processing 
  • Dynamic processing 
  • FM synthesis 
  • Sound sources 
  • MIDI programming 
  • Understanding virtual instruments (samplers and synths) 
  • Modulations and envelopes 
  • Modulations and automation 
  • Subtractive synthesis 
  • The creative use of audio effects 

PRODUCTION IN CONTEXT

As you explore and interpret the development of popular music genres, you’ll learn how to use critical texts and resources to help justify your academic position. Analysing music production within the context of contemporary music, you’ll research important events in its history, such as the rise of acid house and the evolution of hip hop, as you also examine the cultures that helped bring these new musical genres to the fore.

  • Styles and genres in music production 
  • The historical role of the music producer 
  • Investigating, analysing and critiquing popular music 
  • Popular music and political events 
  • Popular culture and subcultures 
  • Influencing technologies in music production 
  • Non-musical influencing technologies 

MUSIC BUSINESS FOR CREATIVE PRODUCERS

In the world of contemporary music, successful creatives need to be entrepreneurial. Across this module, you’ll learn about the core functions and structures of the modern music business. You’ll examine existing industry models, practices and processes, and look at how the business and creative worlds interrelate. You’ll also explore music copyright and the responsibilities of collection societies, professionals and organisations. Within the framework of the live music, recorded music and music publishing sectors of the music industry, you’ll investigate the ways these areas interconnect and the revenue streams available to you as a music producer.

  • The role of artist management 
  • The A&R process 
  • Music marketing and promotion 
  • Music sales and distribution 
  • Music rights and royalties 
  • The role of music collection societies 
  • Music industry membership organisations and trade bodies 
  • The future of the music business 

CREATIVE MIXING TECHNIQUES

Drawing on skills developed in the Project Studio Recording module, in Creative Mixing Techniques you’ll further expand your studio proficiencies by exploring a selection of professional music production hardware, and learning digital audio workstation (DAW) in-the-box (ITB) mixing techniques. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to move your ideas from the initial demo stage and turn them into a professional-sounding mix, ready to showcase to others.

  • Introduction to EQ 
  • Introduction to DAW mixing channel layouts 
  • Introduction to compression 
  • The relationship between bass and drums 
  • Mix automation 
  • Lo-fi mixing 
  • The effects bus 
  • The mix bus 
  • Timed, delay and reverb effects 
  • Gates and other insert effects 

CREATIVE COMPOSITION

Learn how to write a collection of original compositions and remixes to be proud of in this module. To do this, you’ll explore essential musical elements across a diverse variety of styles so you can examine different methods of composition. By analysing a selection of popular works, you’ll gain an understanding of compositional practice and core theory and their relationship with creative production. You’ll also be regularly encouraged to experiment and push musical boundaries as you answer composition briefs and look at a number of different creative processes.

  • Creative production approaches to composition 
  • An analysis of popular compositions 
  • Cultural, historical, social and political influences in composition 
  • Experimental composition 
  • Fundamental musical elements of styles and genres 
  • Writing to composition briefs 
  • Compositional peer analysis 
  • How to receive constructive feedback 

TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT

You will be taught from our campuses in Kilburn and Queen's Park, utilising our live rooms, tech suites and in-house music studio facilities as well as classrooms and lecture rooms. You will have access to use these facilities outside of class time while you are a student at ICMP in order to rehearse and record your music. 

You will be taught through a variety of teaching and learning methods including lectures, small group tutorials, performance workshops, music technology workshops tutorials and one-to-one instrumental tuition. 

You will have access to the Student Services Department for support and advice concerning welfare, finance, personal development, safeguarding and more. You'll also have access to our Professional Development team ‘The Hub', who provide bespoke music industry careers advice and access to unique industry opportunities.

Teaching and Learning

On the Cert HE Creative Music Production programme you will be taught through a variety of lectures, seminar, workshops and demonstrations.

When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you'll be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, and preparing coursework assignments.Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities, including our Learning Resource Centre, our many performance and practice rooms, and well-equipped tech suites.

Throughout your year of study, you'll be in timetabled teaching activities, such as lectures, seminars, practical classes and workshops, for 15 hours a week. You’ll also have personalised one-to-one tutorials scheduled throughout the year.

Assessment

Your knowledge and thinking will be assessed through reports, workbooks, presentations, essays, examinations and recordings. Your practical skills will be assessed through recordings, performance, composition and practical examinations, and your skills for life and work will be assessed through project pitches, coursework and presentations.

The assessment breakdown of this programme is:

65% Practical
35% Coursework

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants will typically have A levels, BTEC Diploma or Extended Diploma, International Baccalaureate equivalent to 48 UCAS points, or an ICMP Higher Diploma.

In addition, you should hold a GCSE Grade C or 4 or above in English, or suitable equivalent, such as Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Adult Literacy/Numeracy.

International students will typically hold a relevant equivalent qualification – please check your qualification with our Admissions team. In addition, you should hold a relevant English language qualification equivalent to CEFR Level B2.

We also welcome applications from mature applicants who may have no formal qualifications but can demonstrate their suitability for study through appropriate skills and experience.

All applicants will be invited to attend an audition.

UCAS code W374Uni code i25

HOW TO APPLY

 Please apply via the "APPLY NOW" link below.

At any time during the application process if you need help or further advice just contact our Admissions team who will be happy to assist you. 



By phone:
020 7328 0222

By email:
enquiries@icmp.ac.uk

or

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