Skip To Main Content

Course
Overview

BA (Hons) Acting (Musicianship) Course Overview BA (Hons) Acting (Musicianship)  Course Overview

We offer training that prepares actors with vocal and instrumental skills for rehearsal, performance, production, interdisciplinary creation, and industry engagement.

Using innovative and traditional practitioner approaches within scenarios designed to stretch and challenge you, you will expand psychological and physical processes to hone and fine tune your acting methodology. You will increase your instrumentation and compositional skills, improve physical stamina, strength, and flexibility, gaining aptitudes in singing, vocal resonance, movement, and the amalgamation of all skills to generate a unique contemporary performer.

You will collaborate with external professionals and students from other disciplines to realise full, professional-scale productions. You also develop self-employment, enterprise and interpersonal skills.

 

Accreditated By:

Accredited by Federation of Drama Schools Accredited by CDMT

Will Hammond, Director of the School of Performance, discusses our BA (Hons) Acting (Musicianship) course, including: how you'll train while being part of LIPA's creative community, why Liverpool's a great base for an Actor/Musician and how the course is a response to an industry need.

What You Will

Study

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

How You Will

Study

  • Technical Skills Classes
    Technical Skills Classes
  • Performances
    Performances
  • Seminars
    Seminars
  • Workshops
    Workshops
  • Independent study
    Independent study
  • Group work
    Group work
  • Masterclasses
    Masterclasses

How You Will Be

Assessed

Your assessment takes place during practical classes and rehearsals, performances and your reflective tasks. Overall, assessment is based on applications of technique in performance situations, either in front of an audience or in workshops.

The coursework element is focussed on your future career, your working environment and critical life skills. In your third year you undertake an optional practical or written research project. Again, career focussed and chosen by you.

Practical/written work ratio

80% practical work / 20% written course work

What Our

Graduates Do

This is a new course, and with the increased demand for performers who combine high level acting skills with first rate musicianship, we expect our graduates to be equipped to gain sustained work with leading theatre companies, musicals, television, film, radio, emerging digital platforms and as musicians. Some of our graduates may also set up their own independent theatre and production companies.

Entry

Requirements

64

UCAS tariff points required from level 3 qualifications

For example:

  • Two A Levels at grade C or above
  • BTEC Extended Diploma: MPP
  • BTEC Diploma: MM
  • T level: P (D or E)
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma: Pass including 64 points from Higher Level subjects

You also need 5 GCSEs grade 4/C or above including English and Maths or Level 2 equivalents.

Mature applicants (aged 21+): if you do not hold the qualifications listed but have relevant work experience, you are welcome to apply. Your application will be considered on an individual basis.

The Acting (Musicianship) programme does not require applicants to have attained a recognised grade standard on their instrument(s). At audition applicants will be assessed on their playing, sight-reading and harmony ability (please note voice is not considered an instrument for the purposes of enrolling upon this course) to ensure the required level to successfully undertake the training is demonstrated.  

5.5

IELTS or above

You need to meet our English language requirement - a minimum of IELTS 5.5 for each of the 4 individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). We also accept other English language examination equivalents. You can find out more about English Language requirements here 

You also need academic qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. You can find out more about qualifications from specific countries here

Mature applicants (aged 21+). If you do not hold the academic qualifications but have relevant work experience, you are welcome to apply.  

The Acting (Musicianship) programme does not require applicants to have attained a recognised grade standard on their instrument(s). At audition applicants will be assessed on their playing, sight-reading and harmony ability (please note voice is not considered an instrument for the purposes of enrolling upon this course) to ensure the required level to successfully undertake the training is demonstrated.  

Educational qualifications are important but limited in what they can tell us about you.

Your natural ability, your fit with what and how we teach, your growth and your potential are also key factors in our admission process. We can’t evaluate these solely on your educational achievements, so no matter which course you are applying for, we look for the following attributes on your application and at the interview stage.

Key

Attributes

1

Knowledge, Ability and Experience

We’d like you to have some performance experience in more than one acting genre as this shows us you’re interested in becoming a versatile actor. If you have some ability in directing or writing, we’d be interested to know about this, although these aren’t essential for entry on to the course. We’d expect you to have potential in singing and dance ability combined with a solid grounding in your musical instrument skills.

2

Commitment

We’re keen to hear about how much acting you are doing outside your school qualifications. Tell us about any extra-curricular performance(s) at your school or college, with a youth theatre or amateur dramatic group or perhaps at a professional level. We understand that distance or cost may have stopped you from gaining formal experience, so we also like to read what you have done to connect to acting (for example: reading or seeing other people act).

3

Ability To Work Effectively with Others

While you’re with us (and in your professional work) you’ll work with a range of people – students, teachers and industry professionals, so it’s essential that you can work well with others. We’d like to see that you can take direction and feedback well, listen to others and offer support and constructive feedback.

4

Broad Interest and Engagement

We look for evidence that you are curious about the world around you and want to engage with all aspects of the course you’re applying for and the wide range of opportunities we offer.

5

Self-Awareness

We’d like to know why you’re applying to us and how you think the course you’re applying for will help you to grow and achieve your career aspirations. We’d like to see that you understand your strengths and weaknesses and how we can support you

6

A Spirit of Enterprise

We want you to be able to work on your own initiative and see that you’re interested in creating your own opportunities. You may have been involved in creative projects which weren’t part of your regular school/college curriculum, or if you haven’t had the chance to do this, you might have ideas and ambitions which you can tell us about.

  • "When I met LIPA students, I was struck by their commitment to continual improvement to develop their craft."

    Woody Harrelson
    Actor, writer, director, producer

    Woody Harrelson Quote Icon

Course Changes

For information on possible changes to course information, see our course changes information page.

View the programme specification on the LJMU course catalogue here