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Explore our Music facilities with Guildhall students

Guildhall has prepared me for a career in music therapy from searching for jobs to having brilliant work experience from the placements they chose for me

Emma Barber
MA Music Therapy

Emma Barber
Guildhall had a crucial role in my success. The very high quality orchestral projects and masterclasses prepared me for professional life

Joao Seara
BMus Double Bass

Joao Seara
Studying at the Guildhall School has been a life-changing and unforgettable adventure

Rebekah Carpio
MMus Clarinet (Orchestral Artistry)

Rebekah Carpio
Working in pairs during the MA has helped me developer a deeper understanding of how opera composers work and how to spark their imaginations with a libretto.

Zoe Palmer (writer)
MA Opera Making and Writing

Zoe Palmer (writer)
The relationship between the Barbican, BBC, and Guildhall is absolutely invaluable as it provides opportunities for students that cannot be found elsewhere.

Emiko Edwards
MPerf Piano

Emiko Edwards
Writing music for theatre has been a highlight of my time at Guildhall, as it has allowed me to explore an art form in which I have a great amount of interest and to work towards a professional finished product.

Alexander Hall
BMus Composition

Alexander Hall
Barbican is a key partner of Guildhall, and we can often get artists who perform there to do a masterclass or project with us, and we often do performances at Barbican events.

Ieva Vaitiekunaite
BMus Electronic Music

Ieva Vaitiekunaite
Whether it is in sit-in rehearsals, side-by-side projects or chamber orchestra sessions, the LSO players offer invaluable guidance and provide a glimpse of the exceptional standards we aspire towards.

Rees Webster
MPerf Oboe (Orchestral Artistry)

Rees Webster
I was excited to cover a role in the UK premiere of Andrew Norman's 'A Trip to the Moon' in the Barbican, have a solo recital at LSO St Luke's and also to sing on the stage of Wigmore Hall.

Mirjam Mesak
MPerf Vocal Studies

Mirjam Mesak
I knew about the fantastic tutoring and resources, but the friendly and stimulating environment clinched it for me.

Eden Lonsdale
BMus Composition

Eden Lonsdale
I had the opportunity to play percussion with the Guildhall Studio Orchestra which gave me the chance to learn from, and play alongside, amazing senior players, as well as to perform with the incredible Liane Carroll.

Dave Adsett
BMus Jazz Drums

Dave Adsett
Guildhall is an institution that knows it has to be connected to the outside world - that's the key thing. It's not a bubble. It has roots in the city and in the world.

Jonathan Ferrucci
Artist Diploma Piano

Jonathan Ferrucci
One minute you could be playing in the Guildhall Studio Orchestra with jazz musicians, the next you could be playing in the opera pit, then the next minute you'll b e with actors doing the musical and then playing a symphony in the orchestra.

Millie Ashton
BMus Violin

Millie Ashton
The departmental philosophy of returning opera back to something that is essentially produced as part of a company is a really great thing.

Klara Kofen (writer)
MA Opera Making and Writing

Klara Kofen (writer)
The quality of teaching is amazingly high. With the guidance and help that I've been given, I feel my work has got dramatically better over a short space of time.

Lucy Armstrong (composer)
MA Opera Making and Writing

Lucy Armstrong (composer)
I set up a piano trio when I arrived, and we have weekly coaching with members of the Endellion Quartet and the faculty. It has been very rewarding.

Leo Popplewell
MMus Cello

Leo Popplewell
It seemed like this was a place to go and experience a complete world of art and performance and see what happened - a place that really encouraged you to make things that you want to make.

Vittorio Angelone
BMus Percussion

Vittorio Angelone
Home > Music > Principal study > Electronic Music
Study Electronic Music at the Guildhall School

Electronic Music

Electronic Music | Film Music | Sonic Arts | Game Audio | Live Electronics | Popular Music Production | New Media

The Electronic Music Department provides a range of specialist disciplines within which to study a wide array of electronic and produced music, from experimental Sonic Art to mainstream Film Scoring.

Dedicated world-class teaching and state-of-the-art facilities prepare you for a career in this growing and fast-paced industry. 

Undergraduate

BMus

Electronic and produced music represents the largest growth area in the music industry today, and suitably skilled musicians and producers enjoy a wealth of viable career opportunities. Guildhall’s dedicated world-class teaching and real-world vocational approach prepare you for a rewarding career in this fast-paced, rapidly evolving industry.

The disciplines reflect specific career paths that demand a specialist technical and artistic focus. You will choose one Principal Study discipline on entry to set the bias of your studies, but may incorporate elements of others in line with your career goals.

For example, a student studying Film Music may wish to also incorporate elements of Game Audio as a complimentary skill. Students preferring a more general curriculum across all areas will find the Electronic Music discipline most suitable.

  • Electronic Music: a broad curriculum involving activity across all disciplines 
  • Film Music: all media composition and production (including film, television, radio, theatre, production music) 
  • Sonic Arts: electro-acoustic composition, sound art, installations, experimental music 
  • Game Audio: music, sound and programming for games 
  • Live Electronics : live performance with electronics (from DJing to experimental performance) 
  • Popular Music Production: songwriting and production across all genres 
  • New Media: creative musical expression with new technology 

Transfer of discipline, where this makes sense, is possible. The most likely scenario is a transfer from general Electronic Music to a more specialist discipline as your artistic direction matures. Changing specialist discipline is subject to a formal approval process and meeting specified criteria.

Cross-departmental collaboration is actively encouraged, and all students have the opportunity to work on major projects in fulfilment of their curriculum. Visiting professionals deliver regular masterclasses to enrich the curriculum and provide industry insights, and partnerships with London film and game schools enhance opportunities further.

Our vocational approach means that we prioritise major projects that respond to real-world opportunities, often working hand in hand with the School’s commercial arm, Guildhall Live Events, and the Production Arts Department. In producing music ‘to brief’, there are termly opportunities to record with the groundbreaking Guildhall Session Orchestra – a fully professional ensemble.

As an undergraduate student, weekly one-to-one lessons in your specific discipline with one of the Department’s expert professors will allow for a totally individualised approach to developing your artistic excellence and skills. This core learning is supported by a range of classes in common techniques and whole-Department creative workshops. Each year, you will submit two folios of individual work, a series of technical exercises, and a portfolio of contributions to cross-departmental projects.

Read more about the BMus programme structure.

Postgraduate

The postgraduate programme provides a fast-paced and diverse preparation for professional life, allowing you to explore and refine your individual artistic specialism in or across several of the Department’s Principal Study disciplines.

Part 1 (MMus)

At MMus level, you will spend the year producing three portfolios of musical activity: original artistic output, collaborative projects and project leadership. This is supported through one-to-one lessons, classes, and collaborative sessions. You will also have the opportunity to diversify your studies through elective modules.

Part 2 (MComp)

Progression to MComp conditional on results from MMus

Exceptional students on Part 1 are given the opportunity to continue their studies at the MComp level. During this year, students independently undertake a portfolio of three self-directed artistic projects, alongside their one-to-one tuition, strengthening their artistic and professional development.

Electronic Music activities

  • Weekly one-to-one tuition in specific disciplines, with mentoring and supervision
  • Weekly cross-year and cross-discipline creative workshops focusing on artistic projects
  • Weekly common techniques seminars
  • Termly collaborative projects
  • Regular partnerships with external organisations, venues and clients

Department Facilities

Guildhall School offers dedicated studios for Electronic Music students. Our main studio is specifically designed for the front and back end of the production process (recording and mixing/mastering), featuring an acoustically isolated control room, recording booths and tie lines to multiple spaces for recording of larger ensembles.

We run Quested, Genelec and PMC monitors, a collection of high quality microphones and preamps, and Macintosh computers with Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Max/MSP, Sibelius, IRCAM ForumSoftware, Cubase, Ableton, and a growing collection of additional software to aid compatibility.

A recording studio, run by staff, serves the entire School, but Electronic Music students can book the live room outside normal operational hours. The live room provides space for medium-sized ensembles and houses a Steinway B grand piano.

Student intake to the Department is carefully proportioned to ensure that access to facilities is excellent - representing one of the UK’s best student equipment ratios for programmes in Electronic Music.

An exciting range of live equipment including state-of-the-art DJing rigs, ROLI Seaboard Ensembles and portable DAW facilities ensures that our music reaches far beyond the studio.

Recent Department highlights

  • Masterclasses delivered by Harry Gregson-Williams, Steve Reich, Tory Miller, Imogen Heap, Stephen Endelman, Kevin Kerrigan, Leafcutter John, Rupert Collinson (AIR), Trevor Wishart, Robert Henke, Debbie Wiseman, Richard Tognetti and Kathinka Pasveer 
  • Soundtrack for the Museum of London immersive experience, Beasts of London 
  • Projects with Waddesdon Manor, including soundtracks and sonic installations for Waddesdon Christmas Carnival and music for the Waddesdon Manor Imaginarium 
  • Music to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Tower Bridge
  • Silent film projects with Barbican Film
  • Performances at Glastonbury Festival
  • Performances at the Barbican Centre

Recent alumni

The alumni profiles and links below provide further insight into the breadth and scope of this dynamic programme:

Find out more

Find further information on teaching staff, audition requirements, open days and how to apply. A list of FAQs is also available.