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Explore our Music facilities with Guildhall students

Guildhall has a unique buzz and vibe to it…a great sense of community and friendliness

Rebecca Carson
BMus Flute

Rebecca Carson
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
The strong collaboration between departments has created a very special and supportive atmosphere

Meili Li
MMus Opera Studies

Meili Li
The teaching staff encourage the diversity that Guildhall is known for…there is something for everyone, regardless of style and influence

Oliver Leith
MMus Composition

Oliver Leith
Such incredible musicians and inspiring teachers and the opportunity to hear from world-class visiting artists has been invaluable

Vijay Prakash
MMus Jazz Trombone

Vijay Prakash
During my time here, I organised an international conference based around my subject involving delegates from 4 continents

Emily Baines
DMus, ‘Mechanical Musical Instruments as a Source for Historical Performance’

Emily Baines
In my first year, I was given the opportunity to play with the Britten-Pears Orchestra. We performed a number of concerts and our CD, recorded at one of those concerts, went on to win the BBC Music Magazine Award for Best Opera Recording.

Andrew McCoy
BMus Tenor Trombone

Andrew McCoy
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
I feel that the people here really make the institution. I found Guildhall to be a really supportive environment that gave me room to explore, take risks, and mature as a mucisian, and as a human being.

Francesca Chiejina
MPerf Vocal Studies

Francesca Chiejina
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 one of the largest growth areas in the music industry today, and suitably skilled electronic musicians can enjoy a wealth of vocational opportunities. At undergraduate level, our approach is deliberately vocational, reflecting the distinctive character of conservatoire training.

Students receive a weekly one-to-one lesson in their specific discipline with one of the Department’s expert professors, allowing for a totally individualised approach to developing skill and artistic excellence. This core approach is supported by a range of common techniques classes and whole Department creative workshops. Regular visiting professionals further enrich the curriculum with vital insights into the realities of working as a fulltime musician.

Major projects undertaken by the Department reflect real-world scenarios as closely as possible; recent partnerships have included EMI Production Music, Native Instruments, Barbican Film and the electronic instrument developer, ROLI.  There are regular opportunities to produce hybrid electro-acoustic music with our Guildhall Session Orchestra.

Cross-departmental collaboration and experimentation are actively encouraged. All Electronic Music students work across year groups through a series of collaborative projects within
weekly creative workshops.

Read more about the BMus programme structure.

Postgraduate

Guildhall School offers unique training in electronic and produced music. With a primarily practical and project-based approach, the postgraduate programme provides a fast-paced and diverse preparation for professional life - allowing students to explore and refine their individual artistic specialism in or across several of the department’s seven specialist disciplines.

Part 1 (MMus)

At MMus level, students spend the year producing three portfolios of musical activity: original artistic output, collaborative projects and project leadership. This is be supported by a combination of one-to-one lessons, classes, and collaborative group sessions and seminars.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the many creative and collaborative opportunities Guildhall School has to offer, such as producing music with Guildhall Session Orchestra or working with Production Arts students to produce events with a range of external clients. During this year, students also have the opportunity to diversify their studies through the departmental elective programme.

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 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

Electronic Music disciplines

Our disciplines reflect specific career paths that demand a specialist technical and artistic focus. Students choose one discipline on entry to the School to set the bias of their studies, but this does not exclude incorporating elements of other disciplines, as appropriate to your unique career aspirations.

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 throughout, involving activity across all disciplines
  • Film Music: covering all media composition and production (film, television, radio, production music etc.)
  • Sonic Arts: incorporating electroacoustic composition, sound art, installations, experimental music etc.
  • Game Audio: specialist study of music, sound and programming for games
  • Live Electronics: for those focusing on 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 (instruments, interfaces, etc.)

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.

Please note: changing specialist discipline is subject to a formal approval process and meeting specified criteria.

    Recent Department highlights

    • 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
    • Silent film projects on The Lodger, The Lost World and The Adventures of Prince Achmed with Barbican Film
    • Performances at Glastonbury Festival
    • Performances at the Barbican Centre
    • Masterclasses with Harry Gregson-Williams, Steve Reich, Tory Miller, Imogen Heap, Stephen Endelman, Kevin Kerrigan, Leafcutter John, Rupert Collinson (AIR), Trevor Wishart, Robert Henke, Richard Tognetti and Kathinka Pasveer.
    • Numina, Revolution 360 and Towards the Mean installations at the Barbican Centre
    • The Gift installation with Melanie Manchot at the Bloomberg Space
    • Performances as part of A Scream and an Outrage curated by Nico Muhly at the Barbican
    • Collaboration with Central Saint Martins animation students

      Find out about our Electronic Music facilities

      Recent alumni

      97% of BMus students move into employment or further study  (Destination of Leavers from Higher Education 2016/17).

      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.