Music - Bass: HND
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Course overview
Shape the harmony, set the tone, and bring every performance to life through your playing.
This two-year, full-time HND Music (Piano/Keyboard) course develops your skills as a versatile performer across classical, jazz, and contemporary styles. You’ll gain a solid foundation in musicianship, performance, and composition, preparing you for a professional career in live music, studio work, or teaching.
Through one-to-one lessons, ensemble rehearsals, and recording projects, you’ll refine your technique, expand your creative range, and learn how to adapt your sound for both acoustic piano and digital keyboard performance.
This course is ideal for:
- Pianists and keyboard players wanting to develop as confident, adaptable performers
- School leavers or adult returners looking to advance their musicianship
- Musicians aiming for a career in performance, composition, or music education
- Those wishing to progress to university-level study in music or sound production
What you will learn
Your learning journey combines individual development with collaborative and creative practice through modules such as:
- First Study – Piano/Keyboard: Weekly one-to-one tuition focused on technique, expression, sight-reading, and stylistic versatility
- Live Performance: Perform solo and as part of ensembles, building confidence and stagecraft
- Digital Audio Workstations: Record and layer parts using Logic Pro and Pro Tools to produce professional recordings
- Music Theory & Harmony: Deepen your understanding of scales, chord progressions, and arrangement
- Songwriting & Composition: Create original material and collaborate on new pieces across genres
- Music Business for Musicians: Learn to manage your career, understand contracts, and market yourself
- Music History & Context: Explore musical eras, genres, and artists that have shaped modern performance
You’ll learn through studio practice, live gigs, creative workshops, and collaborative performance — reflecting the pace and variety of the real music industry.
Entry requirements
✅ One Higher (including Music or equivalent) or an NQ Music qualification
✅ Demonstrable performance ability on keyboard or piano
✅ Interview and practical audition
✅ Mature applicants with experience will also be considered
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
Graduates go on to work as:
🎹 Pianist/Keyboardist
🎧 Session Musician
🎶 Songwriter/Composer
📀 Recording Artist
🧑🏫 Music Tutor
🎤 Live Performer
Future prospects
Graduates can progress to:
- BA/BMus degree pathways at the University of the West of Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University or UHI Perth
- Careers in performance, songwriting, production, or education
Many graduates also move directly into industry as self-employed musicians, performers, or producers.
