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Music Performance and Production Diploma Level 2

Are you passionate about music? Do you dream of performing on stage or producing your own tracks? Our Level 2 Award and Diploma in Music Performance and Production are tailor-made for individuals like you who crave a hands-on, immersive learning experience.

Developed to address the growing need for comprehensive training in music performance and production, our course offers a dynamic curriculum that fosters collaboration, creativity, and real-world skills. Whether you’re an aspiring musician, producer, or sound engineer, our course will equip you with the knowledge and expertise necessary to thrive in the competitive music industry.

What sets our qualification apart is its emphasis on practical learning. Say goodbye to traditional classroom lectures and hello to interactive workshops, studio sessions, and live performances. Led by industry professionals, our innovative teaching methods cater to students who thrive in a hands-on environment, making learning both enjoyable and effective.

Throughout the course, you’ll delve into various aspects of music performance and production, honing your skills in areas such as instrumental technique, vocal performance, studio recording, mixing, musicianship, song writing and more. But it’s not just about mastering the technical aspects – we also prioritise the development of essential transferable skills such as adaptability, collaboration, and creativity, ensuring you’re well-prepared for future success.

Our supportive learning environment encourages students to take ownership of their education, fostering independence and self-reliance. You’ll be treated as a young professional from day one, with opportunities to showcase your talents, collaborate with peers, and undertake challenging projects that push your creative boundaries.

The course is for one-year to ensure you have ample time to absorb the material and refine your craft. Plus, with units designed to build upon each other cohesively, you’ll progress steadily towards your goals, culminating in a collaborative assignment that showcases your newfound skills and prepares you for further study.

Whether you’re looking to kickstart your career in music or simply explore your passion in a supportive and inspiring environment, our Level 2 Music Performance and Production course is your gateway to success. Join us and embark on a journey of musical discovery today!

Course Info

Do I have to pay a fee?

How to make an Application

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Who Is The Course For?

The course is suitable for all types of musicians and music producers. Specific classes cater for individual needs whilst providing a foundation of skills and knowledge that prepare you for the next step in your career as a creative artist.

How Will I Learn?

The Level 2 Music Performance and Production Diploma course will prepare you for Level 3 study. Delivery is through a combination of practical music making, music production classes, classroom theory, tutorials and assignments.

Our music course tutors are all experienced professional musicians. The emphasis is on practical skills, performance development, music production, musicianship, composition, and research, along with opportunities to participate in a range of musical experiences such as workshops and playing gigs.

In addition to your main programme, you will engage in activities to develop your English, Maths and employability skills.

Course Content

Music Performance and Production Diploma Level 2 course units and topics include:

Music Industry
Musicianship
Performance Workshop
Studio Recording
Music Production
Music Appreciation
Mixing
Composition
Band Rehearsals

Entry Requirements

4 GCSEs (9-3) including English, or Level 1 Functional Skills Equivalent, or satisfactory results (Merit/Distinction) in a relevant Level 1 qualification
An audition/interview

All applicants will be auditioned and should have sufficient ability to succeed on the course. Candidates will be expected to perform on one instrument (which can include voice) to a competent level of proficiency at equivalent to grade 3/4 Rockschool or ABRSM examinations standard or above.

What Can I Do Next?

The Level 2 Music Performance and Production Diploma course will prepare you for progression into Level 3 Music Performance or Music Production.

Facilities

Facilities include

Professional Concert Hall
2 Recording Studios
Music Production Suite
20 Practise Rooms with pianos
Dedicated Band Rehearsal Rooms
Performance Area and Live Recording Studio
Large Teaching Spaces

Fees and Finance

Students’ college education is funded for three academic years after leaving secondary school in year 11. Please click the button below which will apply to your age on the 31st August 2025 in order to find out more information about fees and finance relating to your course.

I will be under 19 on the 31st August 2025

I will be 19 or over on the 31st August 2025

16-18 - Do I have to pay a fee?

All students aged 16-18 on the first day of their course will have their course fully-funded by the government.

Costs of studying

If you are/will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August in the calendar year when you begin a programme of study, you DO NOT pay tuition fees, College registration fees or examination/board registration fees. However, there are some courses which have additional costs which could include:

Equipment costs – such as uniforms, kits, books and so on
Trips and enrichment activities
DBS checks (formerly CRB checks)
Occupational Health Screening

You will be informed of any additional costs associated with your chosen programme as early as possible to allow time for payment to be made.

Applicants thinking of enrolling on this course can apply for funding to help with the costs associated with attending college. Bursary awards can help with your course related costs such as travel, books and equipment and much more.

The bursary fund cannot provide help with costs unrelated to your course, such as general living expenses, nor can it be used as an attendance incentive.

Applications to the fund are not normally considered if the household income exceeds £30,000 but may be considered in some instances if the household is experiencing severe financial hardship.

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is aimed at helping:

Students who are aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August 2025

Students aged 19 who started a two-year programme before their 19th birthday

Students aged 19 or over on 31st August 2025 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

When can I apply?

******Applications for student funding for learners who started in September 2024 are still open. Applications can be made from this page using the button below.

Applications for student funding for learners starting in September 2025 will not open until the end of June 2025*****

Bursary Application Form (Students Starting September 2024)

For courses starting in September 2024, applications should be made by 1st November 2024. If you find yourself in financial hardship after this date it is important that you still contact Student Services. Applications received after 1st November will be considered on a pro-rata basis subject to need and the availability of funds.

You are advised to read the notes and policies at the beginning of the form and ensure that you provide all the evidence that is required when submitting your application.

Full details of the bursary funds, including making an application, can be found here:

16-19 Bursary Information

I will be 19 or over on the 31st August 2025

Aged 19+ - Do I have to pay a fee?

If you are aged 19 and over, in certain circumstances you may be eligible for a fee waiver and therefore you will not have to pay for your course.

Eligibility for a fee waiver will depend your age at the start of the course, your previous qualifications, your employment status and whether you claim certain benefits.

If you do not meet the criteria for a fee waiver, you may be eligible for some assistance from the College’s Bursary Funds, depending on the household financial circumstances.

If you do not meet the criteria for a fee waiver, and are not eligible for assistance from the Bursary Fund, you will have to pay for this course.

This programme may be free if you meet the eligibility criteria listed below. If these do not apply, you will need to pay a fee, and the published fee is located further down the course information page.

The information in this section applies to this course, and may not apply to other courses with different funding criteria.

You will not pay tuition fees if you are:

aged 19-24 on the 31st August 2025 and have an active Education, Health and Care Plan.

aged 19+ and employed, or self-employed and your annual gross income is below £25,000.

aged 19+, unemployed and not on benefits or in receipt of benefits with an income less than £892 a month or £1,437 a month with a joint benefit claim.

You will not meet the eligibility criteria if you:

are aged over 19 at the start of the course and you are employed, or self-employed and your annual gross income is over £25,000.

Therefore you will pay tuition fees.

In certain circumstances, the College’s discretionary bursary fund maybe able to assist with a contribution towards tuition fees. Eligibility to the fund depends on the household’s financial circumstances. Further information regarding the discretionary bursary fund can be found further down this page.

Please note that if you have to pay the full-cost fee, you are unable to access any financial assistance from the College Bursary Fund.

Other Additional Costs

Regardless of whether tuition fees apply, some of our programmes incur additional costs which could include:

Equipment costs – such as uniforms, kits, books and so on
Trips and enrichment activities
DBS checks (formerly CRB checks)
Occupational Health Screening

You will be informed of any additional costs associated with your chosen programme as early as possible to allow time for payment to be made.

Am I eligible for a bursary?

If you are aged 19 at the start of the course, unemployed and not in receipt of benefits, or employed and earning over £25,000, you may be eligible for assistance with your tuition fees from the College Bursary fund.

If you are assessed as being eligible for a bursary award to assist with your tuition fees, the award will not exceed 75% of the fee payable and you will be responsible for paying the balance of the fee.

Students of all ages can apply for assistance from the bursary fund for other course related costs, such as transport, meals, books and equipment.

The bursary fund cannot assist with any general living costs nor can it be used as an attendance incentive.

Applications to the fund are not normally considered if the household income exceeds £30,000 but may be considered in some instances if the household is experiencing severe financial hardship.

When can I apply?

******Applications for student funding for learners who started in September 2024 are still open. Applications can be made from this page using the button below.

Applications for student funding for learners starting in September 2025 will not open until the end of June 2025*****

Bursary Application Form (Students Starting September 2024)

Full details of the bursary funds can be found here:

16-18 Bursary Information

19+ Bursary Information

Payment Options

Payment should be made in full at the time of enrolment. Acceptable payment methods include Debit Card and Credit Card (excluding American Express). Please note that we are no longer able to accept cash or cheque payments.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes, you can spread the cost of fees. Any student of the College who pays his/her own programme costs is entitled to do so on a monthly payment plan basis, providing the total course fees exceed £200 and the student is aged 19 years, or over, on 31st August in the current academic year.

Where total course fees exceed £200 you (or your employer, if they are paying your course fees) can choose to pay your fees in instalments through a monthly payment plan and 40% of the fee or £500 (whichever is lower) will be payable at enrolment.

The balance must be paid within 6 months or by the end date if the course is less than 6 months in duration.

The monthly instalment payments will also be set up at the point of enrolment, or if you are enrolling using our online enrolment process, a member of our Finance team will contact you to set up the instalment plan after you have submitted your online enrolment.

In order to pay through monthly instalments, students must sign the Colchester Institute Instalment Payment Plan terms and conditions!

If a student fails to sign up to an instalment plan at enrolment all fees will become due for payment within 30 days.

Failure to fulfil any terms and conditions of an instalment agreement will result in you becoming immediately liable for the full outstanding balance and you may not be entitled to pay any future fees by instalments.

Please download and save the form below, then fill it in and sign it. These forms can either be emailed to registry@colchester.ac.uk prior to enrolment, or if you are completing an online enrolment you can upload these documents during the enrolment process.

Further Education Fee Instalment Student Terms and Conditions

Employers who are funding a student’s fees must complete and sign an authorisation form which must be submitted either prior to or at enrolment together with an advance payment of 40% of the course fee or £500, whichever is lower. This can be paid via the online store prior to or at the point of Enrolment.

If the advance payment is not made prior to or at Enrolment the student will not be eligible to attend college.

Further Education Employer Authorisation Form, Instalment Plan, Terms and Conditions

How to make an Application – Watch our video guide!

****Applications for courses starting in September 2025 are now open!****

The application window for full-time courses and joint apprenticeship applications starting in September 2025 opens on Tuesday 1st October at 12pm.

Please see the information below, which provides details on things to be aware of before making an application, and what happens after you apply. We have also prepared a step-by-step video guide on how to make an application below – please view this video which will guide you through the application process.

Application Dos and Don'ts

Before submitting your online application, make sure you have got an email address which you will check frequently and which is professional and appropriate for this purpose, and use this when you create your account. Submit the application as early as possible and remember to make a note of your USERNAME and PASSWORD details! You will need these later.

Application Tips

If you have chosen the study programme you would like to apply for then you are almost there. We recommend that you read our handy application tips, watch our video and then make your application.

You can only apply for one full-time programme and one apprenticeship. You can do this together within the same application form, in what is known as a joint application.

Remember, you cannot study more than one core subject. For example, you would not be able to study two full-time programmes in different subjects simultaneously. You would take Plumbing or Music, not Plumbing and Music.

Your subject will be your primary qualification and forms the bulk of your programme of study.

Application Dos

Apply as early as possible. We start accepting applications from 1st October 2024 and have set an initial deadline of 31st January 2025 for a priority application on your chosen programme (subject to you satisfying the entry requirements), although we still accept applications after this date but may not be able to guarantee you a place on your chosen programme.
Think carefully about your course choice before you apply. Talk to your head of year or careers adviser at school to make sure you have explored all your options and have found a course that suits you best. You may wish to attend one of our open days to find out more before applying.
Make sure you attend any interviews or assessments we invite you to. These are a mandatory part of our process. They give you the opportunity to find out more about our courses, as well as allowing us to make sure you are on the most appropriate course for you. Some courses may invite you to attend a second interview or audition to demonstrate your skills and to ensure you are on the most appropriate level for you.
Please let us know if your contact details or address change. We will use a variety of letters, emails and texts to communicate with you throughout the process, and the information we provide is both confidential and vital to your application. If you move home or change your phone number and don’t inform us of any changes, you could miss some vital information.

Application Don’ts

Do not make multiple applications. If you are unsure, for example, of which construction/trade subject you would like to study, please only make an application for one of them. Likewise, if you later wish you had applied for a different course, please don’t worry – we can change your application. Whatever the reason for wanting to change, there is no need to make another application.
Do not use a school email address when you create your account. Remember, you will need to access this account later in the summer after you have left school.
Do not create another account if you have previously applied. If you have applied in previous years, please do not create a new account. If you are unsure, contact us to check which username and password to use.

Just call us on 01206 712777

What Happens After I Apply?

What happens after I apply?

Once your application has been submitted our admissions team will complete some data checks

Once you have submitted your application form, a member of the Admissions team will check all of your details and your predicted (or actual) grades, including checking that you meet the published entry criteria for your chosen subject. They might email you to ask for more information.

Once your application has been checked, for most programmes you will receive an email asking you to log in to your account and book your interview. The interview is to determine that you have applied for the most suitable programme of study.

Make sure you check your emails regularly or you may miss your interview slot.

If you have applied for Music or Performing Arts we will email you with a date and time for an audition.

All communications will be sent by email, so please check them regularly or you may miss your opportunity to come in for your interview.

Interviews could be in person or they could be on the phone. This will be confirmed in the email, so please check your emails regularly so that you don’t miss important information about your interview.

Check my Application

Log into my Account and Book Interview

When do interviews start?

Interviews for those who we have received an application from will start to take place after our Autumn Open Events. The earlier in the academic year an application is made, the earlier an interview can take place.

What happens at my telephone interview?

You will be asked to book a pre-arranged timeslot and you will need to be ready to answer your phones between the times stated. The call will come from either an 01206 number or it might show as withheld or unknown.

The interview is designed to let out teaching staff find out about you and your interest in the course. To prepare you might want to think about what you enjoy doing, why you have applied for this course, what subjects you expect to do well in (if you are still at school/college) and how you will manage your revision in readiness for any exams.

How will I know if have been offered a place?

Once you have had your interview / audition we will email you to let you know if you have an offer. Offers will be subject to you meeting the published entry requirements of the chosen programme, once GCSE results have been published and provided to the College.

If you are not offered a place on your chosen programme, we will do our best to support you in finding an appropriate alternative.

Your offer

After your interview you will be sent an email to confirm whether you have been offered a place. Please remember to keep checking your email account so that you don’t miss this as it will include important information on your next steps.

Got another question?

For any further questions relating to the post-application process please see our application and enrolment FAQ.

Application and Enrolment FAQ

Watch Our Video Guide

Apply Now For Music Performance and Production Diploma Level 2

Music Performance and Production Diploma Level 2

Course Outline: Our Level 2 Award and Diploma in Music Performance and Production are tailor-made for individuals like you who crave a hands-on, immersive learning experience.

Level	Level 2
Location	Colchester
Duration	Year 1 Diploma
Study Mode	Full-Time
Campus / Adult Skills Centre	Colchester Campus
Start Date	September 2025
Fee(s)	16-18 year olds: Free 19+: £1,923

Apply Online For Colchester Course Enquiry Line: 01206 712777 Course and Application Enquiries Upcoming Open Events Advanced Learner Loan Available

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Disclaimer

All fees, prices and funding information shown on this page are for courses starting in the 2024-25 academic year unless stated otherwise, and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change due to factors outside of our control. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.

Courses fees are generally not confirmed for September until June / July due to the above factors.

The course information describes programmes offered by Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.

The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.