Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician.
Creative Music Industry
Whether your students want to gain employment in the music industry or go into higher education, a Creative Music Industry qualification will give them the professional knowledge and skills needed for a career in music.
With pathways in Performance, Production, Composition, Live Events and Entrepreneurship, you’ll be able to build the most industry relevant qualification on the market.
Vocational Qualifications
Creative Music Industry
RSL’s Vocational Qualifications in the Creative Music Industry are designed to be a current reflection of the sector, offering 160+ units in diverse disciplines, suited to the kind of portfolio careers which predominate in the music industry.
The Creative Music Industry qualification suite has five pathways: Performance, Production, Composition, Live Events and Entrepreneurship. Each pathway is defined by the mandatory content within it, but there are a huge range of optional units on offer enabling centres and learners to tailor their qualification to their main strengths and areas of interest.
With qualifications at Levels 1-3 ranging from 60-1080 guided learning hours and flexible delivery encouraged, Creative Music Industry is sure to the fit the needs of your institution.
“The UK music industry contributes over £5.2 billion to the UK economy with over 190,000 full-time jobs sustained.”
– UK Music – Measuring Music 2019 report
How it works
Get started with RSL’s Vocational Qualifications in three simple steps…
01
Download the syllabus pack
Download the syllabus pack to review the requirements and processes for this qualification suite.
02
Build your qualification
Tailor your courses to your learners needs and centre’s expertise with our Core Units and innovative Optional Units.
03
Submit centre approval application
Ready to deliver? Submit your centre approval application via our website
Pathway Information
The Creative Music Industry qualification suite focuses on recognition of achievement through the development of practical skills. With a huge range of unit combinations on offer, you can tailor your curriculum to suit your learners’ needs whilst maximising your centre’s resources and expertise.
Creative Music Industry is split into five pathways: Performance, Production, Composition, Live Events and Entrepreneurship. Each pathway embodies a specific profile of study and this informs the core unit choices, which you are guided to make. Learners will be led by centres when choosing the pathway options available to them, and the units within their chosen pathway.
Core Units
Click through the pathway titles to see the Core Units at each level associated with that pathway…
Level 1
- Rehearsing Music
- Performing Music Live
Level 2
- Rehearsing Music
- Performing Music Live
Level 3
- Rehearsing Music
- Performing Music Live
- Improving Instrumental Performance
Level 1
- Recording Sound
- Music Sequencing and Production
Level 2
- Recording Sound
- Music Sequencing and Production
Level 3
- Music Sequencing and Production
- Digital Recording and Production
- Studio Sound Mixing
Level 1
- Solo Music Composition
- Practical Harmony
Level 2
- Solo Music Composition
- Practical Harmony
Level 3
- Solo Music Composition
- Collaborative Music Composition
- Practical Harmony
Level 1
- Organising a Music Event
- Practical Sound Reinforcement
Level 2
- Organising a Music Event
- Practical Sound Reinforcement
Level 3
- Managing a Music Event
- Practical Sound Reinforcement
- Live Event Promotion
Level 1
- Exploring a Career in Music
- Understanding the Music Industry
Level 2
- Earning Money in the Music Industry
- Music Marketing and Promotion
Level 3
- Setting up a Music Business
- Music Promotion
- Copyright and Music
Optional & Skills Units
In addition to the mandatory core units, learners can select from a number of optional units, which are open to all pathways. The number of optional units selected will depend on the chosen type of final award. Learners can also take additional ‘core’ units, from any of the pathways, which will be considered as optional units within the qualification.
Please scroll through a selection of unit examples below. Download the syllabus pack to explore the full list of optional and skills units available at each level.
Qualification Titles & Structure
RSL endeavour to provide qualifications at each level which will fit with the needs of centres and learners. We design qualifications which learners can build upon, and that centres can timetable in to a wider programme of study or as a full time course. With our flexible approach to the combination of mandatory and optional content, our qualifications can be tailored to your needs. From a 60 guided learning hour Award at Level 1 through to over 1000 guided learning hours on one of our Level 3 Extended Diplomas, you are sure to find the right qualification size for you.
Level 1
All pathways available. Centre or learner chooses one.
| Qualification Titles | Guided Learning Hours (GLH) | Total Qualification Time (TQT) | Core Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Award in the Creative Music Industry | 60 | 100 | 1 |
| Level 1 Certificate in the Creative Music Industry | 120 | 200 | 1 |
| Level 1 Extended Certificate in the Creative Music industry | 180 | 300 | 1 |
| Level 1 Diploma in the Creative Music Industry | 480 | 800 | 1 |
Level 2
All pathways available. Centre or learner chooses one.
| Qualification Titles | Guided Learning Hours (GLH) | Total Qualification Time (TQT) | Core Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 Award in the Creative Music Industry | 60 | 100 | 1 |
| Level 2 Certificate in the Creative Music Industry | 120 | 200 | 1 |
| Level 2 Extended Certificate in the Creative Music industry | 180 | 300 | 1 |
| Level 2 Diploma in the Creative Music Industry | 480 | 800 | 1 |
Level 3
All pathways available. Centre or learner chooses one.
| Qualification Titles | Guided Learning Hours (GLH) | Total Qualification Time (TQT) | Core Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Award in the Creative Music Industry | 90 | 150 | 1 |
| Level 3 Certificate in the Creative Music Industry | 210 | 350 | 1 |
| Level 3 Extended Certificate in the Creative Music industry | 360 | 600 | 1 |
| Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in the Creative Music Industry | 540 | 900 | 1 |
| Level 3 Diploma in the Creative Music Industry | 720 | 1200 | 2 |
| Level 3 Extended Diploma in the Creative Music Industry | 1080 | 1800 | 2 |
For Performance Tables qualifications click here.:
Level 3 Tech Levels for Music Practitioners (Confirmed for DfE Performance Tables Until 2023)
Why RSL Vocational Qualifications?
Developed in collaboration with industry experts to reflect the fast-moving Creative Industries sector, RSL’s VQs are practically-focused, and contain a wide range units and criteria accurately mapping to specific careers. They provide engaging assessment opportunities for learners that focus on the application of practical and/or technical skills.
Recognition
All Level 3 qualifications carry up to 168 UCAS points allowing opportunities for HE progression, and Level 4/5 qualifications can be topped up at a variety of the UK’s specialist HE providers.
Flexible Choice
We have a huge range of units to choose from at Level 3 providing unrivalled flexibility of delivery. The range of optional units are designed to equip learners with a well-rounded understanding of the Creative Industries.
Fair and Practical Assessment
All assessment is based around practical and/or technical skills and knowledge applicable to roles in the Creative Industries. Learners are graded according to where the majority of their grading sits, resulting in holistic, best-fit assessment.
Current
No set works, or genre/repertoire restrictions, learners can study the genres they are interested in, allowing deeper focus on content that excites them.
Tailored Delivery
Build a course that’s tailored to your learners’ needs whilst maximising your centre’s resources and expertise.
Funding
RSL has a huge range of qualifications at each level which are funded for delivery in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. RSL qualifications are also available for funded delivery in Scotland in certain settings at certain levels. Get in touch for more info.
Help, Support & Quality Assurance
You will get access to RSL’s Help & Support portal, containing multiple QA resources, guidance documents, templates and exemplar materials, plus footage from previously recorded CPD events.
Centres have contact with two allocated RSL Quality Assurance representatives from the start of delivery all the way through to certification. These named contacts will offer the following services to support centre delivery:
- Annual centre visit – a supportive process designed to monitor and review the way in which qualifications are planned and delivered
- A point of contact for subject-specific academic queries throughout delivery
- Building of a strong relationship throughout the duration of the qualification, resulting in moderation of your learner evidence with a known, named contact already familiar with your centre
UCAS Points
RSL Awards’ Vocational Qualifications aid progression into Higher Education. We have a huge range of qualifications at Level 3 that carry UCAS Points. Click the button below to see the allocation of UCAS Points per qualification size and suite.
Changing Awarding Organisations
Moving over to RSL Awards Vocational Qualifications is easy! Just follow these three simple steps…
1. Submit a preliminary application form.
This is found here. Once you have submitted this, our team will be in touch with some login credentials for our website, along with details of the next step.
2. Prepare your full centre approval application for submission.
Our centre approval application pack details all supporting documents that need to be included, along with a guidance document for completing the form itself.
3. Approval complete!
If the application is complete our team will be in touch to inform you of your new status as an approved RSL Awards delivery centre!
Progression and Support
Learners completing these industry relevant qualifications may go on to further study in Higher Education, there are hundreds of music and associated degree courses available across the UK including 14 Commercial Music degrees, 271 Popular Music and Music Degree programmes and 20 Live Event courses.
Those completing a Level 3 Creative Music Industry qualification may also be able to access apprenticeships such as ‘Live Event Technician’, ‘Live Event Rigger’ or ‘Creative Industries Production Manager’.
Learners may also be able to enter directly in to one or more employment opportunities within the industry such as junior roles in booking agencies, promotion companies, labels, venues or retail, or as an artist, session musician or songwriter.
RSL’s Creative Music Industry qualifications are the latest addition to our suite of technical qualifications covering the contemporary creative industries.
There are similarities in the structure and format of these qualifications and our qualifications Performing Arts or Creative Digital Media, and there is a natural linkage in that all the qualifications encourage collegiate working across disparate subjects. However, the Creative Music Industry qualifications are unique in their focus on diverse aspects of the current music industry from performance and songwriting through to marketing, promotion and production.
Prospective learners seeking to gain knowledge and skills in the Creative Music Industry sector through undertaking an RSL qualification could also consider an apprenticeship, traineeship or an alternative qualification when deciding on their pathway into the industry.
Amongst others, RSL’s Creative Music Industry qualifications were designed with input from a range of individuals with considerable experience in diverse areas of the music industry including positions such as artist manager, label owner, producer, performer, educator, studio engineer and company director.
Education institutions contributing to and supporting these qualifications include BIMM, Access Creative College, MAS Records (Kidderminster College), SEMM.
Downloads
Please download the Creative Music Industry Vocational Qualifications syllabus pack for free.
Qualification Details and Registration Fees
Our qualification registration fees are the same for both UK and International delivery centres. These fees apply to each registered learner, with the fee dependent on the size of qualification they are registered on.
Please note: fees listed are for the current academic year.
| QAN | Qualification | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 603/6426/9 | RSL Level 1 Award in the Creative Music Industry | £70 |
| 603/6427/0 | RSL Level 1 Certificate in the Creative Music Industry | £91 |
| 603/6428/2 | RSL Level 1 Extended Certificate in the Creative Music Industry | £127 |
| 603/6429/4 | RSL Level 1 Diploma in the Creative Music Industry | £211 |
Please Note: Fees listed are for the current academic year.
Performance Tables
As well as being industry relevant, we understand the need for our qualifications to be recognised by the Department for Education. That’s why we’ve ensured we have specialist Vocational Qualifications approved in music and performing arts at level 3.
David Langlands – Seaham High School
“I would recommend RSL to any school or college. RSL are a breath of fresh air in comparison to other awarding bodies as RSL take a pragmatic, sensible approach to QA and offer genuine support!”
Register your Interest today
Drop us a message and one of our experts will get back to you!
Want to deliver Vocational Qualifications?
Moving over to RSL Awards Vocational Qualifications is easy. To get started, click on the button below.
