Whilst talking to Joe Bennet, up at Bath Spa Uni, about the upcoming Student Battle of the Bands, I came across this item on their music course syllabus. I think it might be of interest to local musicians who may not have realised that there is a course of this calibre right on their doorstep:

School of Music and the Performing Arts.

TThe Foundation Degree in Commercial Music is a vocationally focused
course aimed at practicing musicians who wish to develop their skills
to a professional level, and gain an in-depth understanding of the
workings of the music industry. All applicants are 'players' and will
be expected to perform on stage as part of the course.

The course focuses on three areas - music performance - songwriting,
music production and the music industry. The performance and production
strands are primarily skills-based and feature a strong practical
element. The industry strand aims to equip you with a relevant,
thorough and up-to-date knowledge of the workings of the music
business. You will be encouraged to develop creatively as a song writer
and performer, but always with an awareness of the commercial viability
of your musical output.

Course Structure and Content.

Each semester, you will study three modules, one each for the three
main areas of the course.

Every performance-based module culminates in a live gig, several of
which are in our own international venue, the Michael Tippett Centre.
As part of the course's ongoing commitment to vocationally-relevant
teaching, representatives of the UK music industry are invited to all
student performances.

During the second year, you will write, produce, and record a complete
album on the University College's record label. You then undertake a
two-week national tour, which is used as part of the promotional
campaign for the product. The album is eventually promoted on the
internet via student-devised websites.......

Read more about this course and their other courses on the School of Music and the Performing Arts website.