In Glasgow, online or out gigging - learn with the Academy of Music and Sound

The Academy of Music and Sound’s centre in Glasgow has 200 full-time students, studying HND Music, BA(Hons) Professional Music and starting in September this year an MMus Popular Music Performance degree; SAAS funding is available.

The tutors are all working musicians currently active in the Scottish music industries, including Georgia Cecile and Jodie Bremaneson of Skerryvore.

Of the acts performing at the TRNSMT festival this summer, no fewer than seven different acts feature current or former students from the academy.

It has a a strong community focus, with lots of extra-curricular activities on offer: including short courses in sound recording, building your own synthesiser and issues in employability for women in the music industry.

The academy has a guitar ensemble which is open to everyone and rehearses weekly, and a monthly multi-media improvisation night. All these are free and open to both AMS full-time students and all other musicians.

Last year, all BA(hons) graduates were in employment or further study six months after graduating, and all of them have continued to be involved in music on either a full time or part time basis.

On average, 96 per cent of people who start the BA(hons) course will complete and pass it.

But you do not have to be in Glasgow to be part of the Academy of Music and Sound, thanks to its digital learning centre, called AMS Online.

People who have completed an HND Music, or have other relevant professional experience, can join straight into BA(hons) level; and students can use their current musical activities as evidence for their course. The course is flexibly structured and each student has individual mentoring sessions. Inperson support (and camaraderie!) would be available in the Glasgow centre as well, if they wanted to come across occasionally.

Nick Jennison: vocalist and lead guitarist with Saints Of Arcadia summed it up: ‘I’d highly recommend AMS Online, its flexibility allowed me to gain a degree while fitting it around my touring and gigging schedule – what legends!’