Craft Practices
Foundation Degree Arts – Musical Instruments
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Award: Foundation Degree Arts - Musical Instruments
Duration: 2 academic years, full time
School: School of Arts
Campus: West Dean
Scholarships and bursaries: See available funding
If your goal is to set up an instrument-making workshop or to work in the trade, this foundation degree is internationally respected for the high-level craftsmanship students attain. It encompasses the whole field of stringed musical instrument making. This enables students to then transfer their skills to making any stringed musical instrument, including guitar and violin. Through learning and assessing the historical approach to constructing the viola da gamba, students are equipped with a broad knowledge and ability to assess construction for a wide range of stringed musical instruments.
Learning environment
- Low student: tutor ratio
- Your own bench in the workshop with access 8.30am - 9pm, seven days a week*
- A professional environment that encourages a business-like approach
- Lectures, tutorials and demonstrations
- Study tours and visits to specialist collections
You can expect
- To learn basic tool skills and advance to decorative and head carving, purfling design and motif
- To study instrument design, history and playing
- To complete up to three instrument-making projects a year (you will be able to keep the first instrument you make and keep additional instruments for a nominal fee to cover the cost of materials).
- To have access to a separate machine shop, varnishing room and photography space
- To develop skills in machine setting, woodturning, varnishing, care of timber/tone-wood
- Visiting tutors in bow-making, pigment laking, soundboard construction etc.
- Playing lessons by early music professionals
- To attend events such as The London International Festival of Early Music
- To have the opportunity to sell instruments through the College with the income split 50:50
Virtual tour & gallery
School of Arts
Explore and expand your work in a uniquely immersive environment with its own connections to art history. Our School of Arts students enjoy specialist studio spaces dedicated to painting and drawing, sculpture and tapestry and textile-based work as well as exceptional exhibition space.
Fees & funding
2025/26 Course Fees - UK & International Students
- £4,933 per term (£14,800 per academic year)
Lunch, accommodation and other living expenses are additional. Find out more
A £250 course fee and £200 accommodation deposit (if residential) is required to secure your place. Details will be provided to you in your offer. Fees are billed termly in advance. Please see the Terms and Conditions for further information.
We may routinely increase our course fees from year to year for one-year courses as well as courses lasting two or more years and may review and change such course fees without notice.
Funding
You may be eligible to apply for a Student Loan to cover course fees and/or maintenance; more information can be found on the Government Student Finance website.
Scholarships and Bursaries are also available based on individual need.
Entry requirements
- UCAS tariff points: 120 - Completion of a level 3 qualification, for example: A-Levels, BTEC or Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.
- Applicants can be considered if they can provide evidence of prior learning and provide a digital portfolio.
- E portfolio of work related to application (optional at point of application. A portfolio will be requested if shortlisted for an interview) The portfolio should evidence commitment to the discipline. It could include sketchbooks, technical and material exploration, design work, project development from start to finish, detailed images of finished work. Where possible, applicants are encouraged to include a video of working on a practical exercise as part of the portfolio, of which the College can provide guidance if required (see below). If applicants cannot provide a portfolio, the College will provide a practical exercise that can be done remotely to asses mental agility and dexterity and suitability for this skills based programme.
- International students must provide evidence of English language ability to Level B2 (IELTS 6.0), as well as equivalent level 3 qualifications.
How to create a portfolio
Do you need help creating a portfolio to apply for one of our FdA courses? Read our portfolio advice to learn about the general requirements, what we look for in a good portfolio, and what it should reflect.
How to apply
UCAS - If you are applying for more than one institution, all applications must be made through UCAS
Direct - If you only wish to apply to West Dean, applications for this course can be made by submitting a completed application form and emailing it to [email protected].
FAQs
What level of qualification is the Foundation Degree?
The Foundation Degree Arts is a Level 5 qualification and equivalent to the first 2 years of our BA (Hons) in Craft Practices.
Entry requirements ask for a portfolio. What is this and what should be included?
Students need to prepare a digital portfolio to evidence their manual dexterity and their interest in the area of craft practice they have chosen. It could include sketches, images of finished work, videos of them working with their hands. Read more tips on preparing a digital portfolio.
I have no experience and therefore no portfolio – can I still apply?
If applicants cannot provide a portfolio, we will ask you to complete a practical exercise to assess mental agility and dexterity and suitability for this skills-based programme. Assessments take place onsite at the college workshops or remotely when it is not possible to come into college.
What do students do after their Foundation degree?
This course is designed to give you well-rounded theory and craft skills. You can set up as a self-employed maker or find employment in this or a creative industry sector. The Foundation degree is also an excellent first step before progressing to the BA (Hons) Craft Practises if you wished to pursue a career in making, or the Graduate Diploma in Conservation Studies if you wish to pursue a career in Conservation.
Ask a question
Need more information? Have a question? Speak to our course advisors
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 01243 818 300 and select option 1
Commendations
Commendations from the University of Sussex include:
"The high quality student experience and strength of student representation within the College."
"The introduction of a “maker-in-residence” scheme to the FdA."
"Responding to employer and student feedback in extending the work placement from 2 weeks to 4 weeks to support employability after graduation."
"The range of tailored study trips to suit different student cohorts."
School of Arts news
20th July 2022
The Regis School sculpt in the landscape
Short course tutor Dan Lobb recently visited The Regis School to deliver Sculpture in the Landscape workshops to Years 9 and 10 as part of their Super Curricular day. Pupils were off-timetable for the day, participating in creative activities they wouldn’t normally have the chance to do. In his introduction, Dan explained that this session was about using materials found naturall...
31st May 2022
Realising the dream of becoming an artist
By Jo Boddy, Foundation Diploma in Art and Design alumna 2021
1st April 2022
St Philip Howard Life Drawing Day
West Dean College of Arts and Conservation recently welcomed 30 budding Year 10 artists from St Philip Howard Catholic School for a life drawing lesson delivered by artist and tutor, Chris Gilvan-Cartwright.
As well as learning new techniques with paints and charcoal and experiencing the freedom of large scale drawing, pupils commented on how they enjoyed taking risks and being brave ...
9th September 2021
6 Tips for getting creative this autumn
By Tiffany Robinson, Programme Coordinator and Tutor - Foundation Diploma Art and Design & Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design
As the long summer days begin to recede comes the autumn light that gives rich intensity at the start or end of the day, I have put together tips focusing on experiencing the light, and the land to make more visceral responses in...
26th February 2021
Studying an object from the Edward James Collection: Silver porringer
By Finn Banwell, Foundation Degree Arts - Metalwork student I first became interested in metalwork when I visited a Japanese silversmith’s workshop. Whilst exploring Kyoto, I found “Artsmith”, a local shop selling a variety of craft pieces and very detailed, intricate examples of metalwork. Also, in this shop, was a workshop, where the Craftsman and owner of ...
15th October 2020
In conversation with puppeteer and FDAD alumna Sue Cooper
Over lockdown, Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (FDAD) alumna Sue Cooper's colourful puppet characters made quite a stir on Instagram and were enjoyed 'live' on the roof of a barge on the Thames Path; with their humorous and heart-warming stories, bringing joy to her local community and challenging stereotypes around ageing. Here Sue tells us more about her latest project ...
Tutors
Dr Nicholas Pyall
Subject Leader - Musical Instruments
Nick makes instruments that are inspired by the Viennese guitars of the early and mid-nineteenth century, including those with extra bass strings, and by mid-twentieth-century North American guitars. He is currently Subject Leader for the FdA Historic Craft Practices - Musical Instruments.
Shem Mackey MA
Master Craftsman Tutor
Shem Mackey is a founder member of the British Violin Making Association (BVMA) and founder editor of its newsletter. His research into instrument construction has been published in The Strad, Early Music and various publications of the BVMA and Viola da Gamba Society.
Arnaud Giral
Subject Tutor - FdA Musical Instruments
Arnaud Giral completed his violin making studies at the Newark School of Violin Making in 2004. He then moved to Montpellier where he focused on viols and baroque violin making. His dedicated approach to historical instruments and his attention to gut strings has led him to work for numerous specialist musicians and renowned early music ensembles.
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