School of Informatics & Creative Arts Undergraduate

BA in Music and Performance Technologies

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Course Overview

This course provides musicians with a broad range of musical experience and knowledge necessary to succeed in the contemporary music industry, in Ireland and beyond. These include both the musical and technological skills necessary for 21st century musicians, such as; performance, theory, composition, music production, digital collaboration, creative coding, and entrepreneurship. The aim in bringing together these two areas is to produce graduates who are competent and confident in the diverse range of knowledge and skills required by contemporary music creators, educators, and performers.

The course provides high-level training across multiple genres, including popular, contemporary, Western classical, Irish traditional, and global musics. For each of these genres, performance training is combined with cultural and theoretical background, with the ultimate goal of forming well-rounded musicians who can take up diverse career paths upon graduation.

On completion of this course, graduates will have:

  • A broad knowledge of music performance skills, music technologies, recording and production practices, composition and arranging, music history, analysis, and improvisation
  • An appreciation of a wide range of genres and their historical and cultural contexts
  • Experience working in a studio environment

What makes this course different

Understanding the Industry

The music industry is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape that encompasses the creation, production, distribution, and consumption of music in various forms. From the recording studio to concert stages, the music industry fuels a diverse range of genres and styles, shaping popular culture and influencing society. Whether it is a chart- topping hit, an intimate acoustic performance, or an immersive music festival experience, the music industry continues to be a powerful force that resonates with people around the world.

Career Opportunities

Future Careers:
  • Music performance
  • Music tutoring, teaching, and lecturing
  • Composition and songwriting
  • Community music
  • Arts marketing and promotion
  • Arts management and administration
  • Cultural tourism
  • Festival programming and production
  • Music journalism and digital content creation
  • Music research

Course Delivery and Modules

  • Academic Writing and Research Skills
  • Creative Collaborative Development
  • DAW and Mic Applications
  • Introduction to Musicianship
  • Popular Music: Context
  • Popular Music: Performance
  • Vocal Skills
  • Arranging, Notation and Sequencing
  • Irish Traditional Music: Context
  • Irish Traditional Music: Performance
    Musicianship for the Music Producer

  • Creative Coding for Interactive Applications
  • Harmony and Counterpoint
  • Media and Society 1
  • Sound Design for Games
  • Western Art Music: Context
  • Western Art Music: Performance
  • Contemporary Music Composition and Context
  • Contemporary Music Performance
  • Electronic Music Production
  • Elements of Popular Music: Songwriting
  • Live Sound
  • Music Education: Theories and Approaches

  • Audio Industries
  • Electroacoustic Composition: Composing with Sound
  • Work Placement
  • Community Music
  • Creative Collaborative Project
  • Ethnomusicology: Context
  • Ethnomusicology: Performance
  • Music and Audio Research Skills

Work placement

In Year 3 students undertake an industry work placement where students can gain important experience and industry contacts to help them in their future careers.

Education Progression

On completion of this course, students will be eligible to transfer to Year 4 of the Level 8 course: BA (Hons) in Music and Performance Technologies. (This will be subject to student numbers. Where places are limited, offers will be linked to final GPA achieved.)

Fees and Funding

Please find information on fees and funding here: www.dkit.ie/fees

Entry requirements

Standard entry requirements apply. There are no special entry requirements for this course. 

Recent CAO points

CAO points 2024 272

Student Stories

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How to apply

Apply on CAO

All standard entry first-year applicants must apply for entry through the CAO. See Important application dates for CAO and information for specific applicant types below:

Apply on CAO
CAO code: DK792

Advanced Entry & Transfer Applications

Advanced Entry is for applicants who have previous educational achievements and/or work experience and want to be considered for direct entry into year  2, 3, or 4 of a course. This includes students looking to transfer to DkIT from another Higher Education provider.

International Application (non-EU)

International Applicants (not from or living in the EU) can apply through an agent or directly to DkIT to study this course.

Ask us a Question

If you have a question about the BA in Music and Performance Technologies please ask it below and we will get back to you.

Dr. Kayla Rush

Programme Director
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