Music - Drums: NQ (Level 6)
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Course overview
Find your groove and build the foundations of great performance.
The National Qualification in Music (Bass) is aimed at aspiring musicians keen to develop skills in pop, rock, and indie genres — whether you’re a school leaver, adult returner, or already performing in some capacity.
This one-year, full-time course prepares you for a future in today’s music industry. You’ll perform, record, and write music in a professional environment, playing gigs in venues across the city while developing your technique and stage confidence on bass guitar. You will also collaborate with Music Business and Music Performance students to develop and showcase original work.
Perform in a variety of venues within the vibrant Glasgow music scene, gaining real-world industry experience and audience engagement.
You’ll also learn to use digital recording software effectively, collaborate with other musicians, and build the practical skills needed to progress to HND study or professional performance.
This course is ideal for:
- Passionate musicians keen to develop performance and songwriting skills.
- Learners aiming to perform live and record music professionally.
- Those seeking structured training and studio experience with industry-standard tools.
- Students planning to progress to HNC/HND Music Performance, Music Business, or Sound Production.
What you will learn
You’ll explore the bass as the rhythmic and harmonic heartbeat of every band.
- Develop technical accuracy, tone, and groove through focused one-to-one lessons.
- Perform live across pop, rock, and indie genres, building stage presence and musical confidence.
- Strengthen your understanding of rhythm, harmony, and ensemble performance.
- Record, mix, and evaluate your playing using digital audio software.
- Collaborate with vocalists and instrumentalists to create and perform original material.
By the end of the course, you’ll understand your role as a performer, bandmate, and creative artist in a professional music environment.
Entry requirements
✅ Entry is by audition. You’ll be invited to perform two contrasting pieces in your chosen discipline (bass, drums, guitar, piano/keyboard, or vocals).
✅ No formal qualifications required, though National 5 English is desirable.
✅ Applicants without qualifications but with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.
Your audition will be the key factor in selection, focusing on performance skill, musical awareness, and enthusiasm for collaborative work.
ℹ️ Applicants must be 16 years or older at the start of the course.
ℹ️ For this course, if English is not your first language
- you need to have SQA ESOL Higher (or equivalent, click here to see equivalent qualifications)
- If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment here at the College.
Career Opportunities
This course is suitable for candidates who wish to pursue a career within the music industry in areas such as session musician, sound engineer, songwriter or performing artist
Future prospects
Successful completion of the course can lead to:
- HNC/HND Music Performance
- HNC/HND Music Business
- HNC/HND Sound Production or TV Production
This NQ provides a strong foundation for anyone serious about building a career in performance or progressing into higher-level creative study.
