The Institute of Contemporary
Music Performance
At ICMP’s School of Music Performance and Creativity, we’re here to support emerging talent with our industry-focused curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities and regular opportunities to perform live. Our creative industries programmes have been specifically designed to give you the skills, knowledge, connections and confidence you need to succeed in the highly competitive music industry – now and into the future.
You’ll have access to our industry-standard facilities and gear - seven days a week, so you can perfect your performance skills whenever it suits you. With state-of-the-art equipment from PRS Guitars, Marshall and many more, all free-of-charge, you can broaden your knowledge by interacting with music producers, promoters, marketers and entrepreneurs from other ICMP schools and disciplines.
UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
This programme focuses on advancing your playing skills, academic knowledge, and entrepreneurial insight into the music business. It prepares you for a dynamic career in music, emphasising collaborative learning and professional development as a versatile musician.
At the School of Music Performance and Creativity, you’ll take part in regular masterclasses, clinics and workshops hosted by inspirational artists, performers, musicians and industry professionals. Thanks to our special guests, you’ll hear tales of life on the road, the thrill of the stage and all the fun of the studio. Through their invaluable experience you’ll gain a fresh perspective on music – and one sure to propel you on to creative success.
UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
This course is designed to immerse students in the world of music composition, performance, and production within a highly interactive setting. It focuses on nurturing your unique artistic identity and equipping you with the skills necessary to thrive as a music professional.
UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
Our comprehensive program aimed at those aspiring to be professional songwriters. It offers a practical, industry-focused curriculum that emphasises building a diverse portfolio career in songwriting. This course is specifically designed to develop your songwriting skills and knowledge, aligning closely with the demands of the music industry.
ICMP’s alumni network is a thriving community of highly successful music professionals. From #1 albums and coveted awards, to headlining festivals and working with the world’s biggest artists, our graduates are really making a name for themselves. Notable names include creative artist Foxes, folk-pop band Daughter, producer extraordinaire Fraser T Smith (Adele, Sam Smith), Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien and Stormzy drummer Matty Brown.
UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
This course is aimed at elevating your abilities as a writer-performer and will push your technical, cooperative, and creative capacities further while providing a deep dive into the music industry's inner workings.
UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
This degree is tailored for ambitious writer-producers, focusing on enhancing songwriting skills, fostering creative collaborations, expanding industry connections, and honing technical music production abilities.
As a School of Music Performance and Creativity student, you’ll be invited to take part in Songwriters’ Circle – our monthly celebration of all things songwriting. Inspired by Nashville’s songwriting circle tradition, you’re encouraged to take to the stage at the event, sharing your influences, inspirations and new music in the supportive glow of the ICMP community. Initially launched at The North London Tavern, the evening is now held at a variety of London locations such as Bush Hall and Hampstead’s Rosslyn Hill Chapel.
POSTGRADUATE COURSE
This postgraduate course integrates theory and research with hands-on practice, focusing on the voice as an instrument. It provides a deep dive into vocal techniques using one's own voice as the primary study tool.
Community is the cornerstone of our school. Connections with other music professionals – whether aspiring or established – are what it’s all about, and you’ll receive regular opportunities to collaborate as you progress through your studies. From industry events to alumni sessions and everything in between, you’ll create networks that last a lifetime, gaining the competitive edge you need for your future career.
POSTGRADUATE COURSE
Aimed at helping you become a commercially successful songwriter, producer or artist, this unique course gives you the music and business tools needed to write and produce hit records across genres.
POSTGRADUATE COURSE
Expand your musical journey with our by refining your advanced instrumental expertise, enhance your musicianship, and sharpen your critical thinking skills to the highest level. This practice-based program offers personalised guidance to take your skills to new heights.
POSTGRADUATE COURSE
Elevate your vocal abilities, expand critical thinking, and refine performance skills to the highest level with this programme, specialising on your vocal performance. In a nurturing environment, delve into personalized vocal mastery, meeting the rising demand for skilled vocalists in today's music industry.
POSTGRADUATE COURSE
Highly creative and research-driven, this course is tailored to your unique interests, empowering you to develop a substantial creative project, typically a debut album. From exploring various facets of songwriting practice to launching a bespoke portfolio career, you'll chart your individual creative path under the guidance of esteemed practitioners and academics.
We’ve been an active force in the global music scene for over 35 years. Through this time, the connections we’ve developed have become close, personal and highly respected — giving as much out to the industry as we get back in return. At ICMP, every programme includes its very own guest lecture programme, exclusive to your course. These lectures invite prominent experts and key players from your chosen specialism to share their experiences and insights from their own careers, complimenting the modules and topics you’ll be covering.
At ICMP, our School of Music Performance and Creativity tutors bring their unique blend of industry experience to the classroom. With thriving careers as artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and composers, they’ve worked with many of the world’s best artists – from Beyoncé and Stormzy to John Mayer and Muse. With such a wealth of experience, they definitely know how to inspire and look forward to supporting the next generation of music industry creatives – you.
