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COURSE OVERVIEW
The Foundation Year is the ideal starting point for students at the beginning of their musical journey, especially those with a few productions, events, or relevant qualifications already under their belt. As part of a four-year degree, this preparatory year offers a personalised learning experience, shaped by a thoughtfully structured curriculum that supports each student’s individual development. Throughout the year, students explore a wide range of musical pathways – including performance, production, songwriting, and music business—while their learning is tailored to align with their chosen area of focus. With an emphasis on building the core skills needed for Level 4 study, the programme also encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, providing opportunities to work alongside students from other creative fields.
COURSE DETAILS
Our foundation year (Level 3) enables you to study the following undergraduate degrees:
- BA (Hons) Commercial Music
- BA (Hons) Music Business Management
- BMus (Hons) Music Performance & Production
MODULES
- Introduction to Contemporary Music
- Music Culture and Context
- Academic and Professional Skills
- Final Project
Teaching comprises 1 day on site and 1 day of independent online tasks.
TUTOR HIGHLIGHTS
PAUL WILLIAMS
Programme Leader for Foundation Year
Paul has been signed to Columbia Records as a singer, songwriter & guitarist with The Montrose Avenue, having chart success in the UK and Japan with Top 40 singles and over 60,000 albums sold.
He has extensive international touring experience in the US, Europe and Japan, performed at UK festivals such as Glastonbury and Reading, as well as performing live on TV shows such as TFI Friday. With the self-produced band Nazca Lines he signed an international publishing deal with LoveCat Music, where his songs & recordings have been featured on prime time US/Canadian TV shows, Netflix/Prime series and international feature films.
He has Music Production experience as in-house engineer for several London based recording studios, as well as production credits on a number of successful albums. He also has international touring and festival experience as a FOH Live Sound Engineer, working for a number of high-profile artists such as Roots Manuva & Pavement. He has Production Management experience running stages at Glastonbury (Shangri-La), Boomtown, Kendal Calling & Victorious festivals
FAQ’s
The music Foundation course is designed for students who want to build their skills and confidence before starting an undergraduate degree. It’s particularly suited to those earlier in their musical journey, giving you the chance to explore different areas of music while developing the creative, practical and academic skills you’ll need for degree-level study.
The standard entry requirement for LCCM’s music Foundation courses in London is 48 UCAS tariff points from accepted qualifications. We also accept a range of equivalent Level 3 UK and international qualifications, which are considered individually. If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need to meet the relevant English language requirements.
The Foundation Year lasts one academic year and forms the first year of a four-year undergraduate degree at LCCM. After completing Level 3, you’ll progress to the three-year degree programme linked to your chosen route. Check the current course information for available start dates, as these can vary between intakes.
After successfully completing the Foundation Year, you’ll progress to Level 4 and begin the first year of your chosen undergraduate degree. LCCM’s music Foundation courses are designed to prepare you for this next stage, so you’ll already have developed experience across contemporary music alongside the academic and professional skills needed for degree-level study.
The music Foundation degree route can lead into three undergraduate programmes at LCCM: BA (Hons) Commercial Music, BA (Hons) Music Business Management and BMus (Hons) Music Performance & Production. Your Foundation Year gives you the Level 3 preparation needed before progressing into Level 4 of your chosen degree.
A typical week on the Foundation in Music combines scheduled teaching with plenty of time for independent study and creative work. Around a third of your learning hours are scheduled, with the rest completed independently. Your week can include practical workshops, research tasks, technical development, guided learning and time spent developing your own projects.
You’ll study four areas: Academic and Professional Skills, Introduction to Contemporary Music, Music Culture and Context and a Final Project. Together, they introduce you to performance, production, music business and the wider context of contemporary music, while developing your research, communication and study skills ready for the next stage of your degree.
The professional music degree Foundation Year is assessed entirely through coursework, with no written or practical exams at Level 3. Assessments are designed around the skills you develop throughout the year and can include practical work, research, projects and reflective writing, giving you opportunities to apply what you’ve learned rather than relying on traditional exams.
You’ll develop a mix of creative, practical, academic and professional skills to prepare you for undergraduate study. This includes experience across contemporary music, alongside research, academic writing, critical thinking, communication and independent project work. You’ll also build your confidence working independently and develop a clearer idea of where you want to take your music studies.
Yes. Music production is one of the areas you can explore during the Foundation Year, alongside performance, songwriting and music business. You’ll be introduced to contemporary music-making and the role of technology in music, giving you a foundation in production while developing the broader skills you’ll need before progressing to your chosen undergraduate degree.