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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:

  • Ben Hayes
  • Ben Laver (CEO of Box of Toys Audio)
  • Christopher Branch
  • Emma Williams
  • Jethro Cooke
  • Jordan Rees
  • Jon Daou
  • Jo Wills
  • Raisa Khan
  • Seth Scott

Find out more

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

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