Music - Bass: NQ (Level 6)
Read more
Course overview
Find your voice, grow your confidence, and perform with passion.
The National Qualification in Music (Vocalist) is for singers eager to explore pop, rock, and indie styles in a professional environment. It welcomes school leavers, adult returners, and those already working in the music industry who want to develop technique and stagecraft.
Across this one-year, full-time course, you’ll rehearse, record, and perform live, building your vocal strength, control, and confidence. You’ll also learn digital recording, harmony, and collaborative performance skills. You will also work with Music Business and Music Performance students to develop and showcase original work.
It’s an inspiring route into further study at HND level or into performance and studio work.
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 develop your voice as a creative instrument and your confidence as a performer.
- Build tone, projection, range, and control through one-to-one training.
- Master microphone technique, phrasing, and stylistic performance.
- Perform live as a soloist and with bands, developing collaboration and stage presence.
- Record vocals using professional studio equipment and digital software.
- Write and perform original songs, exploring lyric writing and creative interpretation.
You’ll graduate with the artistry and technical control needed to stand out in today’s music industry.
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
Graduates from this course can progress to entry-level roles such as:
🎤 Session Vocalist – studio or live performance
💡 Songwriter/Performer – writing and producing original material
⚙️ Vocal Coach – teaching technique and performance
🎧 Recording Artist – working with producers or releasing independently
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.
