ba (hons) sound arts: experimental music is a multidisciplinary course for sonic artists whose goal is to develop an experimental music and sound arts practice. the course is designed to support each student’s distinctive style of sonic innovation through the development of their creative vision and experimentation, technical and creative skills, and contextual knowledge. you will explore contemporary technologies for experimental music-making, and work collaboratively across a diverse range of media to explore the intersection of sound art, experimental music, and the wider arts. you’ll cover the many ways that sound is used creatively in the contemporary world and learn how to apply your creativity to produce original pieces of work in a wide range of professional artistic areas. the course covers a breadth of contemporary sonic practices, such as sound for screen, sound installation, radio art, instrument design, game environments and virtual reality, creative coding, interactive work and new media. within the experimental music pathway, you'll explore composition, performance, and/or improvisation across a variety of different genres and traditions. you’ll tailor your experimental music practice to different artistic contexts, including: fixed-media, art installations, gallery practices, live and mediated performance practices, mixed-media, audio-visual and interactive works, among others. your creative, contextual and technical knowledge will be built throughout the course. through the lens of gender, race and class alongside climate, ecological and social justice contexts, we invite you to explore sound and music as a vehicle for social and cultural change. you’ll explore the ‘audio essay’, learning transferrable skills for podcasting, as a new and innovative form of presenting research. in your final year, you will choose either an extended audio essay or dissertation to present research into your chosen area. this mix of practical and critical skills will enable you to face the challenges and opportunities of the contemporary sound arts practitioner. our students come from a variety of backgrounds (such as music producer, beat-maker, instrumentalist, vocalist, sound artist, performer, dj, experimental musician) and have a wide range of interests in all things sonic. you will be curious and open-minded and want to develop and expand your potential as a creative artist/practitioner, while learning to be self-reflective and self-critical. we encourage you to explore the diverse ways that sound is used creatively in a wide range of professional artistic areas. what to expect skills and knowledge: develop key skills for a career in sound arts and experimental music, including creative ideation, composition, technical expertise, workflow, production techniques and more. expert staff facilitate your learning with their extensive industry experience. artistic practice: art is at the heart of this course. you’ll gain a firm grounding in established and emerging fine art approaches to sound, including sound installations, environments, and sculpture. creative development: build a professional portfolio of original creative work which reflects you as an artist. creativity is genre-agnostic – your own creative practice is at the centre of this course. some units will be specific to ba (hons) sound arts: experimental music. you will share others with ba (hons) sound arts: design, coming together at key moments in the course. technical expertise: technologies for the control and manipulation of sound and music are central to this course, including analogue and digital, hardware and software, conventional instruments and electronics, to support composition, improvisation, and sonic experimentation. showcase your work: contexts are offered during the course to present your sonic and musical art to the public, including: galleries, mixed-media events, installations, independent or self-released recordings, venues for improvised music, clubs. industry experience and opportunities professional sonic artists and experimental musicians are closely involved in the course, extending opportunities for learning and collaboration. the course’s strong connections with experimental music scenes and creative media that utilise sonic innovation (films, tv, animation, games, vr) help foster professional development and networking. we encourage you to engage in professional sound arts work alongside your studies and many students participate in activities with creative organisations. in the past, these have included: the laptop orchestra, iklectik, corsica studios, resonance fm, drake music, gallery 46, the economist and london sinfonietta. you have the opportunity to undertake the diploma in professional studies or the diploma in creative computing between years 2 and 3 to enhance your learning experience and employability skills. you'll also be encouraged to make use of college-wide facilities, specifically the 3d workshop (which supports fabrication, laser cutting, 3d printing, cnc, vacuum forming) and the creative technology hub (vr, interactive media, electronics and creative coding). mode of study ba (hons) sound arts: experimental music runs for 93 weeks in full time mode. it is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. each stage lasts 31 weeks.