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Undergraduate

BA in Music and Performance Technologies

Turn your musical dreams into a successful career.
DK792
272 Points

CAO Code

DK792

Start Date

September 2025

Duration

3 Years

Work Placement

Yes

NFQ Level

7

Discipline Area

Music, Drama & Performance

Course Type

Undergraduate

Study Mode

Full-Time

Delivery

On Campus

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

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.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Take advantage of our state-of-the-art facilities in the PJ Carroll’s building and gain opportunities to collaborate on creative projects with students across the Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music.

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

  • Year 1

    • 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
  • Year 2

    • 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
  • Year 3

    • 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.)

Undergraduate 4 Years On Campus

BA (Hons) in Music and Performance Technologies

View Course Details

Fees and Funding

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

Entry Requirements

Recent CAO Points

2024 CAO Round 1 Points

272

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:

CAO Code: DK792
Apply on CAO

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

Email: Kayla.Rush@dkit.ie

Disclaimer: All module titles are subject to change and for indicative purposes only. All courses are delivered subject to demand and timetables are subject to change. Elective Module options will only run subject to student numbers. The relevant Department will determine the viability of each elective module option proceeding depending on the number of students who choose that option. Students will be offered alternative elective modules on their programme should their preferred elective option not be proceeding. Award Options for Common Entry Programmes: The relevant Department will determine the viability of each award option proceeding depending on the number of students who choose either option. If the numbers for one of the Award options exceed available places, students for this option will be selected based on Academic Merit (highest grades).