Module manager: Dr Mic Spencer
Email: m.spencer@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module will teach you the key skills that you may need as a professional composer. You’ll learn how composers earn money, how to budget for projects, and how to create collaboration agreements. You will also explore topics such as rights and publishing, including how to publish your own work. In addition, you’ll learn how to use social media for self-promotion and how to work effectively with promoters, festivals, conductors, engineers, performers, and producers. Promotion and how to work effectively with promoters, festivals, conductors, engineers, performers, and producers. Networking and building your entrepreneurial and promotional skills are also important parts of the module. You’ll reflect on your own skills and values, and you’ll learn how to create practical resources for your future career—such as funding applications, media packs, creative CVs, and long-term plans. By the end of the module, you will complete a project that showcases your creativity and places you in the real-world context of a professional composer. Networking and building your entrepreneurial and promotional skills are also important parts of the module. You’ll reflect on your own skills and values, and you’ll learn how to create practical resources for your future career—such as funding applications, media packs, creative CVs, and long-term plans. By the end of the module, you will complete a project that showcases your creativity and places you in the real-world context of a professional composer. Promotion and how to work effectively with promoters, festivals, conductors, engineers, performers, and producers. Networking and building your entrepreneurial and promotional skills are also important parts of the module. You’ll reflect on your own skills and values, and you’ll learn how to create practical resources for your future career—such as funding applications, media packs, creative CVs, and long-term plans. By the end of the module, you will complete a project that showcases your creativity and places you in the real-world context of a professional composer. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
By the end of this module, you will have developed a comprehensive understanding of the professional skills required of a contemporary composer or music producer. You will be able to explain the various income streams available to composers, create realistic project budgets, and draft effective collaboration agreements. You will demonstrate an understanding of rights management and publishing, including the processes involved in publishing your own compositions. You will also develop practical skills in self-promotion by learning how to use social media strategically and how to communicate professionally with promoters, festivals, conductors, performers, or technical teams. Throughout the module, you will cultivate your networking abilities, strengthen your entrepreneurial mindset, and refine your promotional strategies. You will critically reflect on your own artistic identity, skill set, and values, and you will produce key professional resources—such as funding applications, media packs, creative CVs, and long-term career plans—that support your future development. Ultimately, you will apply these skills in a final project that showcases your creative practice within a realistic professional context. Promotion by learning how to use social media strategically and how to communicate professionally with promoters, festivals, conductors, performers, or technical teams. Throughout the module, you will cultivate your networking abilities, strengthen your entrepreneurial mindset, and refine your promotional strategies. You will critically reflect on your own artistic identity, skill set, and values, and you will produce key professional resources—such as funding applications, media packs, creative CVs, and long-term career plans—that support your future development. Ultimately, you will apply these skills in a final project that showcases your creative practice within a realistic professional context.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Devise a project where your music interacts with the practical elements of relevant key professional contexts.
2. Show creative initiative in applying knowledge and skills to academic and real-world practical scenarios.
3. Interrogate and critique methods used in professional practice relating to composition or music production.
4. Reflect critically on your own learning, achievements and personal/professional development
5. Communicate ideas in precise, organised and accessible ways
6. Work effectively with others in response to a challenging brief and an external/real-world situation
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Lecture | 7 | 1 | 7 |
| Practical | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Seminar | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Private study hours | 185 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 15 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Ongoing formative feedback will be provided through the seminars, supervisions and the practical session.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Portfolio | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 09/03/2026
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