Practical Vs Theory
Course overview
Develop your confidence and experiences as a performer through studying topics such as live music, performance, rehearsal skills and style and development. This course is tailored to include multiple units from Music and Performing Arts, to give you the opportunity of deciding which career path you would like to take within the Performing Arts sector.
What Does The Programme Include
You will be working both independently and in small groups in our fully equipped rehearsal rooms, recording facilities and studio theatre. Much of your time will be spent learning theory and preparing material for performances and assessments. Practical Music assessments take place at local music venues in order to give you real world experience of working in the industry. You will be expected to participate and progress in both Performing Arts (Drama, Singing and Movement) as well as Music Performance, in order to give you the best possible experience of the industry and best possible preparation for a Level 3 course in any of these disciplines.
Entry Requirements
4 GCSEs at grades 3/D or above including English and maths, or a relevant Level 1 qualification. In order to be offered a place on the course, you must also successfully complete an audition and interview. For the audition, you may choose to perform a piece of music or a monologue from a published play. Further information will be sent to you when you are offered an interview date.
Need to re-sit? No problem. If you don’t achieve a Grade 4/C in GCSE maths or English, you’ll resit the exams with us and we’ll help you prepare.
Worried about your grades?
Whatever your results, we want to assure you that extenuating circumstances will be considered should you not have the grades indicated above.
We will review each application on a case-by-case basis to ensure you get a place on the course most suitable for you.
One of the ways we do this is through a very effective ‘6 weeks to success programme’ that operates from the first day you start your course. This includes support such as (but not limited to):
- Allowing you to change courses if you change your mind in the first 6 weeks
- Moving you between course levels if you are finding your current level too easy /too hard
- Incorporating English and maths GCSE resits in to your timetable if you don’t meet the grades you need
- One-to-one reviews with your academic tutor to ensure you are progressing and achieving well
Our course enquiries and admissions team are available remotely throughout this unprecedented period. They can be contacted at enquiries@stamford.ac.uk should you have any further questions.
How The Course Will Be Assessed
There are no exams for this course. You will build a portfolio of work for each of the units and complete a mixture of performance based practical assessments along with ongoing log books, research and evaluations.
Additional Information
You will be required to wear plain black clothes that you can move freely in for all practical performing arts lessons. You will also be required to purchase a music ‘kit’ which are available from the college. More information will be given at interview. You will be able to participate in running the of the College radio station and record label where you can release your own music through major online retailers such as iTunes. For detailed information visit http://www.infinitystamford.ac.uk
Potential Future Career
On successful completion of this course you will be able to audition for Level 3 courses in Music Technology, Music Performance, Performing Arts (Acting, Musical Theatre or Dance pathways). This course also aims to build confidence and communication skills that are transferable to and desirable for a number of different industries and vocations.
Course Content
You will study the following units:
- Introduction to performance
- Introduction to production
- Communicating with an audience
- Staging a performance
- Contextual research for performance and production
- Performance skills and practice
- Production skills and practice
- Personal project and presentation
- Producing and performing to an audience




Thanks to the expert training, I’m now able to further my acting career with HNC in Performing Arts — right here at University Centre Stamford!