Musicians
Up to £55,516 /year
Musicians write, arrange, orchestrate, conduct and perform musical compositions.
Admissions
Entry Requirements
What You'll Need
- A minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 9-4 (or A-C) including English and Maths*, OR a Level 2 Electronic Music and Sound Production
- An audition — you’ll need to be experienced and proficient on your chosen instrument or vocals. A video audition will need to be submitted before your interview
- A genuine passion for performing live and building a career in music
*If you haven't yet achieved Grade 4 in Maths or English, you'll keep working towards them alongside your course, built into your timetable.
Explore Related Courses
Other courses you might be interested in:
Level 2 UAL Level 2 Developing Band Skills and Live Gigs – Music Performance & Production Diploma
View all Music Performance and Band Skills courses →
What You'll Learn
Perform Live. Learn the Business. Build Your Future.
At Level 3 you go deeper into performing and rehearsing as a band, writing and arranging your own music, and delivering engaging live sets. Alongside the playing, you’ll explore how the music industry actually works: how artists promote themselves, organise gigs, market themselves, and build a fanbase. You’ll research musical styles, artists and performance techniques, and use that knowledge to plan and improve your own work.
The two-year Extended Diploma is built around your next steps. It brings together everything you’ve learned and applies it to real outcomes: UCAS applications and personal statements, auditions, CVs, professional portfolios, and an extended final project of your own. It’s practical and gig-led, it takes real graft to earn, and it’s the first step on the journey to uni, work, or performing as a career.
Year 1 Units
- How to rehearse and perform effectively as a band
- Writing and arranging your own music
- Understanding roles within a band and live music setting
- Analysing different musical styles and performances
- Improving your work through reflection and feedback
- Researching artists, genres and live performances
- Planning rehearsals, setlists and gigs
- How the music industry works, including live events and gig promotion
- Marketing yourself as an artist or band, and building a fanbase
- An introduction to careers in the music industry
Year 2 Units
- Evaluating your skills and experience, and planning your progression
- Researching universities and music careers
- Writing a UCAS personal statement and CV
- Creating and presenting audition material
- Harvard referencing and industry-standard documents
- Planning and proposing an extended final project
How You're Assessed
Assessment Methods
Coursework
Written assignments, research projects, and case studies that let you explore topics in depth.
Practical Assessment
Hands-on tasks and practical demonstrations in realistic working environments.
Portfolio
Build a portfolio of evidence showcasing your skills and achievements throughout the course.
Career Destinations
Where This Course Takes You
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Your Progression Pathway
- Level 3 UAL Level 3 Developing Band Skills and Live Gigs – Music Performance & Production Diploma
- Extended Diploma or University
- University or Work in the Industry
Life on the Course
See What It's Really Like
Our Facilities
Your Rehearsal Studio, Your Stage
Most of your time is spent playing, rehearsing and performing, not sat in a classroom. The rehearsal studios become your home.
Excellent rehearsal studios
proper spaces to rehearse, jam and develop your sound as a band.
The Café Indie performance link
a real venue connection where you play live to an audience.
Real gigs and performances
perform regularly at college events and external venues, applying your rehearsal, research and planning skills for real.
Expert-led tuition
learn from tutors with real industry experience, in a college that isn't like school.
Rehearsal Studios · Café Indie Venue Link · Regular Live Gigs
Student Voice
“
Recording our first single was and a great opportunity. It was professionally mixed and mastered. It has been huge for us, a massive jump in our careers. Poet’s Corner is us now and we want to continue. The only way to go is up. We are doing something people only dream of doing. If it were not for the College, we would not have met, and we would not be where we are today.
For Parents & Carers
Supporting Your Child's Journey
Tutors With Real Experience
Our tutors bring real industry experience into the classroom. They teach what's actually used in the world of work, and students consistently say this is what makes the course work.
More than a Hobby
This is a practical course. There's real theory and real craft to learn, and students have to work to earn the qualification. It's about turning a genuine interest into a real skill set that hones their craft and gives them great work-ready transferable skills.
Real Career Prospects
These qualifications lead to real jobs. Our courses are built around the skills that employers are actually hiring for — locally and nationally.
For Careers Advisers
Quick Reference Guide
Level
Level 3
Duration
1 or 2 years
Study Mode
Full-Time
Awarding Body
UAL
Location
North Lindsey College
Entry
5 GCSEs Grade 9-4 incl. English and Maths, or a Level 2 qualification
Assessment
Coursework + Practical Assessment + Portfolio
Age
16+
Progression Routes
Route A: L3 Diploma in Developing Band Skills and Live Gigs → L3 Extended Diploma in Developing Band Skills and Live Gigs → University (UCAS points), auditions, or performing/working in music
Ready to Take It Further?
Applications for September 2026 are open. Apply online in 10 minutes.
Questions? Call free 01724 281 111 or email customer.services.team@dncolleges.ac.uk