Music - Popular Music - Keyboards - Cork School of Music
Popular Music is the music heard around the clock on radio, TV, in the theatres, clubs and venues all around the country. We use it to encompass all of the sub genres: rock, country, soul, blues, commercial, modern musical theatre, electronic music, dance music, and so on.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Munster Technological University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Munster Technological University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 Years
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Score the necessary CAO points and meet Leaving Certificate Minimum entry requirements
6 Subjects
Subjects O6/H7 4
Subjects H5 2
Maths Grade Ref. 1
English or Irish Grade O6/H7
Entrance Test: Ref. 4
Ref. 4: Entrance test is required for all Popular Music courses (MT931/MT932/MT933/MT934/MT935). These are provisionally scheduled to be held on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th March 2024.
Ref: 1: There is no specific requirement for Mathematics. A grade of F2 or above in foundation level maths is recognised as one of the subjects for entry.
Offers for MT936, MT931, MT932, MT933, MT934, MT935, MT938 and MT939 are made based on the Entrance Test/Assessment Test results to applicants who meet the academic minimum entry requirements for that course.
Garda Vetting Required.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Minimum entry requirements may be satisfied by the results of more than one Leaving Certificate. The minimum entry requirements may be varied for non-standard applicants and holders of QQI-FET awards.
2nd Chance Maths Exam
Some students who apply for MTU courses may not achieve the required entry standard in Maths through the Leaving Certificate examination. For such applicants, the University offers a second chance to reach the required entry standard through a MTU Maths Exam.
This second chance facility allows applicants (depending on their results in the MTU Maths Exam) to gain entry to courses with an Ordinary Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard and (with a higher level of performance) courses with a Higher Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard.
Common Bonus Points Scale for Higher Level Maths
A bonus of 25 points is awarded to applicants who achieve a grade H6 or above in higher level (HL) Maths.
Formula:
All students presenting H6 or above in HL Maths will have 25 points added to their score for Maths.
The six highest subject points scores will then be counted to achieve a cumulative points score, as is normal practice. The bonus points will only be relevant in cases where the subject HL mathematics (including bonus points) is scored as one of the candidate’s six best subjects for points purposes. Consequently, if HL mathematics (cumulative points score) is not among these six subjects, the bonus points will not be included in the total points score. Bonus points will be awarded irrespective of the year in which the examinations were taken.
Foundation Maths
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths fulfils the minimum entry requirements in Maths for the following programmes
MT 541 Bachelor of Business
MT 571 BA in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 574 BA in Social Care
MT 654 HC in Arts in Hospitality Studies
MT 655 HC in Arts in Culinary Studies
MT 941 Bachelor of Business (Honours)
MT 971 BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 974 BA (Honours) in Social Care
Maths is not required for entry to:
MT 575 BA in Community Development
MT 572 BA in Early Childhood Education & Care
MT 820 BA (Honours) in Contemporary Applied Art (Ceramics, Glass, Textiles)
MT 821 BA (Honours) in Fine Art
MT 822 BA (Honours) in Photography with New Media
MT 823 BA (Honours) in Visual Communications
MT 931 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Guitar
MT 932 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Bass Guitar
MT 933 BA (Honours) on Poplular Music - Keyboards
MT 934 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Drums
MT 935 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Voice
MT 936 BA (Honours) in Music
MT 938 BA (Honours) in Musical Theatre
MT 939 BA (Honours in Theatre and Drama Studies
Although not a requirement, if an applicant achieves a minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths this grade is recognised for entry and CAO points are awarded as follows: F1 = 20 points, F2 = 12 points.
Full details of minimum entry requirements for courses are outlined in the relevant course webpage. Applicants are advised to check the relevant subjects, tests, portfolios, and dates very carefully. In particular, there are early assessment procedures for some courses.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Holders of the LCVP apply in the normal way through the CAO. Points are awarded on the same basis as for the Leaving Certificate. The link modules ‘subject’ may not be used to meet the minimum entry requirements.
LCVP Grade Points
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP
The LCA subjects do not meet the minimum requirements for entry to MTU full-time courses. Holders of Leaving Certificate Applied qualifications may wish to proceed to a FET-QQI course and in turn apply to third level on the basis of their FET-QQI award.
Careers / Further progression
Further Studies
Suitably qualified graduates may apply either to undertake research (leading to the award of an MA and/or PhD), or to follow a taught master programme in either Music (Performance or Composition) or Music & Technology. For details, see csm.mtu.ie
Career Opportunities
There are many employment opportunities for popular music graduates apart from the obvious one of performing. Composition, music for multimedia, song writing, playing in recording sessions, in theatrical productions and TV. Outside of this field is the associated area of promotion, festival and arts administration, and the business side of the industry.
However, taking an honours degree in popular music does not mean that a graduate is restricted to a music driven career for the rest of their life. In addition, a growing number of employers outside the specific music business favour music graduates because of the combination of intellectual training, digital skills, interpersonal sensitivity and greatly enhanced general response rates represented by a musical training.
Further information
42
Entry 2024 - Restricted Course
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid submitting an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all fees are non-refundable.
Restricted Courses
Applying for a restricted course – you must have applied to CAO by 1 February 2024 at 5pm if you wish to apply for a restricted course. The restricted course must be included on your course choices list by that date, or added to your application using the facility to amend course choices (for a fee of €10) before 1 March at 5pm.
Restricted courses normally require additional assessment procedures, for example, the submission of a portfolio, an oral assessment or interview, or a written assessment. Restricted courses are identified in the handbook by the words “(Restricted - see page 3)" on the same line as the restricted course’s title. Please make sure to acquaint yourself with the additional requirements, if any, of the restricted course(s) that you have applied for and go to page 24 of the 2024 CAO Handbook for more information about interviews and assessments.
Exception: If a restricted course shares the exact same assessment procedures with a course you had applied for by 1 February 2024, you may be permitted to introduce it on a Change of Mind. You should consult with the relevant HEI before introducing such a course.
Mature Applicants
Mature applicants – most HEIs will require mature applicants, who wish to be assessed on mature grounds, to have applied to CAO by 1st February 2024 at 5pm, and include course choices by that date or add them using the facility to amend course choices (for a fee of €10) before 1 March at 5pm. (This restriction does not apply if the applicant wishes to be considered on the basis of school leaving qualifications only.) For more information about applying to CAO on the basis of mature years go to www.cao.ie/mature
Supplementary Admission Routes
Applying for DARE and/or HEAR – to be considered for DARE and/or HEAR, applicants must have registered on the CAO system by 1 February 2024 at 5pm. To apply to DARE, you must answer YES to Question 1 ('Do you wish to be considered for DARE?) on Section A of the fully completed Supplementary Information Form (SIF) by 5pm on 1 March 2024.
To apply to HEAR, you must indicate on your CAO application that you wish to apply for HEAR and fully and correctly complete all elements of the online HEAR form by 5pm on 1 March 2024.
Supporting documents for DARE and/or HEAR applicants must be sent to CAO offices before 15 March 2024 at 5pm
Popular Music is the music heard around the clock on radio, TV, in the theatres, clubs and venues all around the country. We use it to encompass all of the sub genres: rock, country, soul, blues, commercial, modern musical theatre, electronic music, dance music, and so on.
This programme of study offers five streams of study, Electric Bass Guitar or Drums or Electric Guitar or Keyboards or Voice.
MT 931 Popular Music: Electric Guitar*
MT 932 Popular Music: Electric Bass Guitar*
MT 933 Popular Music: Keyboards*
MT 934 Popular Music: Drums*
MT 935 Popular Music: Voice* (restricted)
Each student is assigned a matched group of peers to form a small popular ensemble, this becomes the centre of the learning experience. Lectures, classes, and music technology labs provide supporting skills to the core training in performance.
Popular Music is the music heard around the clock on radio, TV, in the theatres, clubs and venues all around the country. We use it to encompass all of the sub genres: rock, country, soul, blues, commercial, modern musical theatre, electronic music, dance music, and so on.
This programme of study offers five streams of study, Electric Bass Guitar or Drums or Electric Guitar or Keyboards or Voice.
MT 931 Popular Music: Electric Guitar*
MT 932 Popular Music: Electric Bass Guitar*
MT 933 Popular Music: Keyboards*
MT 934 Popular Music: Drums*
MT 935 Popular Music: Voice* (restricted)
Each student is assigned a matched group of peers to form a small popular ensemble, this becomes the centre of the learning experience. Lectures, classes, and music technology labs provide supporting skills to the core training in performance.
First Year at a Glance
• Contextual Harmony: a foundation in harmonic and notational skills required of the popular music professional and is delivered in the context of popular music history
• Popular Musicianship: intensive directed study in aural skills and an auxiliary instrument. For non-keyboard players the auxiliary instrument is keyboard, for keyboard players the auxiliary instrument is drum kit
• Popular Ensemble Workshop: practical performance-based engagement with popular music on the student’s principal instrument – both in full band and small ensemble configurations
• Music & Technology: recording studio, its equipment and procedures – while also developing the necessary skill set for the practical operation of live sound equipment
Contact Information
The Administrator
T: +353 (0)21 480 7307
E: csm.infoCork@mtu.ie