TRAINING

PHILOSOPHY & STRUCTURE
Students are encouraged to work individually as well as together as a team. Students are expected to know the structure of the module; the different activities they are expected to complete, and the deadline for submission of the various coursework. In terms of monitoring, students are expected to keep a logbook, which is seen by supervisors/tutor on a periodic basis, and an attendance of each student is kept. Students are also expected to be self-reliant in getting necessary information for the different activities.
To underline that teamwork is important, where they are assessed as a group, each member will get a mark reflecting the member's effort for each activity completed by the group.
Our Music-media programme aims to provide students with the most up to date information on industry standard equipment as well as the use of professional software providing virtual music-media environment on PCs and Apple Mac computers, ensuring that qualified students are able to make an immediate and positive contribution to the industry.
All courses are designed to give students hands on experience, which is essential for building on their theoretical work that is often supported by a discreet basic skills programme. Students are also encouraged to understand the working relationships between various roles and responsibilities within the Industry. Guest producers and musicians/bands are often invited to share heir knowledge and experience, an activity, which adds depth and richness to the students' multi-faceted learning schedule.

ACCREDITATION
AIl our courses will provide students with a formal qualification. Tailor made qualifications will also be developed for other related subject areas and will include management and Internet marketing for musicians etc

1 MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
With the rapid growth of modern technology in the music industry together with the many changes in recording techniques such advances have brought, he modern sound engineer has to bean extremely Adaptable professional. A crash course in microphone techniques and equalising is no longer enough to ensure a career.
Many musicians are now crossing the boundaries from performance into production work. The reduced cost of high quality recording equipment has made the entry point for creating a studio far more accessible.

MAIN QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE:

Btec

• National diploma / Certificate / Award: Music Technology / Media (Digital)

NCFE

• Foundation / Intermediate / Certificate: Performing Arts (Music) / Music Technology / Basic Skills Development

City and Guilds

• Certificate: Electronic servicing / Installing and Support / Information technology / Audio Engineering

The BTEC curriculum is designed for students wanting to gain entrance into he 'state of the art' studio, or make an informed and enhanced effort to put heir own home studio together. With the increasing recognition of the BTEC qualification by Universities, there is also the opportunity to go on o achieve a globally recognised degree in other areas of acoustics.
EARTH is dedicated to providing access for highly motivated individuals into the audio /media and music industries and we expect III participants on the course to show an enthusiasm for their studies which is the basis for success in any area of commerce. In short 'your future is in your hands!' EARTH can open some new doors, but you lave to walk through them and our training methods encourage initiative and decision making to reflect this principle.

COURSE CONTENT
The course is assessed by a series of written assignments, together with a final term practical project. A number of common skills and a level of competence have to be achieved for each assignment in order to gain a full certificate/Diploma.

MIDI Sequencing and Software (Cue-base, Logic Audio etc) Studio Production Process Sound Recording Techniques Audio Electronics Computer Technology for Music

Digital Audio Principles DJ Technology Introduction to Acoustics Sound for Moving Images

2 ACCESS TO MUSIC EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGIES
This programme is designed to raise the level of music literacy and the standard of music literacy and the standard of musician- ship within our local community. Furthermore, to redevelop and reinvigorate music, by Positioning music at the core of the music technology framework. Through EARTH's student centred delivery model, students will develop essential personal and professional knowledge and skills such as, interpersonal skills, teamwork, technology, critical thinking and problem solving. This course is delivered through a workshop platform that provides flexibility and convenience for busy lifestyles and offers students the ability to develop the technology skills that are a necessary part of everyday life for success in today's global community.

The workshops and short courses provide the initial informal training and skills development that I helps us to identify other training needs as they arise. Assistance with the training plan will come from professional practitioners involved in the internal mechanism for guidance and support. The style of delivery may differ from what one might be used to in a traditional classroom. Information is no longer shared in a one-way direction from the instructor to the student. In the student-centred environment, the student becomes an active participant in each of the development Areas. Collaborative learning and interaction with their peers will reinforce the learning that occurs in each area.

OPPORTUNITIES TO PERFORM
In spite of the small number of intake, we will offer opportunities to perform, with at least two performances in a variety of settings in each academic year, ranging from summer festivals/carnivals, student created concerts, to jam sessions, recordings etc. Performance requires both training and practice, and will be supported by at least one-hour individual tuition per week, plus various ensemble rehearsals, plus those hours spent in the practice rooms.

SMALL SIZE, PERSONAL ATTENTION
EARTH's small size leads to small classes and personal attention. A few of the largest classes may have 15; the ratio of students to tutor will be 8 to 1. All students have a "mentor" a faculty member in their own specialty, who helps them plan their program and acts as their advisor and advocate throughout their training. Students are free to change mentors at any point if their needs or interests change. Above all, EARTH is a real community of artists the atmosphere is one of maturity, mutual respect, cooperation, and collaboration.

LESSONS
Lessons are provided in four instruments; bass, drums, guitar and keyboard. All students' performance and composition will take weekly 2-hour lessons in their specialty, and half-hour private lessons will be available to all students. Lessons will be conducted on the student's own instrument, or on EARTH's instruments, which will include a number of western electric/acoustic instruments plus a variety of percussion and African, and Indian instruments.

3 DIGITAL MEDIA
The course aims to advance its students into the new and interesting world of information communication technology (ICT), adding an additional dominion to the music provision of EARTH. Under the Digital Media course students can gain an insight into an ever-widening scope of digital media and the new technology within multimedia. This course aims to look at a number of fundamental principles of video production, Internet design, visual editing and DTP techniques, giving its students a full appreciation of a variety of occupational areas within the music-media industry.

The method of assessment used on this course consists of project work, presentations, assignments and portfolio building which largely involves working in groups, The main areas covered will be;

Video Pre-production Techniques Multimedia Post Production Web Design Non-linear Editing 2D/3D Motion Layering

Observing Safe Practices Special Effects Development Lighting Techniques DTP/Moving Graphics/Multimedia Digital Imaging

FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY
Being small, independent, and literally run by artists, EARTH is more informal, personal, flexible, and gives students more freedom than most other institutions. There will be many opportunities for students to do independent course projects, design, create and promote their own performances. The people who get the most out of EARTH are mature, self-motivated individuals willing to take the initiative and responsibility for their own learning and create their own pathways; there will be fewer barriers and more support for this at EARTH.
Our tutors include recognised postgraduates and masters within each specialty: composition, both instrumental and electronic; traditional instrumental performance; contemporary extended performance techniques; jazz; and vocal music.

STUDENT SUPPORT
As much effort is made as possible to help students gain employment or make links with professionals within the industry. Information is also available regarding avenues into further/higher education and career paths. Some universities are now accepting qualified BTEC students in audio/media engineering onto degree level courses, subject to satisfactory interview.
All lectures and practical tutorials are held in house. Lectures are backed up with handouts, which the students are expected to augment with their own notes towards creating a personal portfolio.