Faculty of Music : Guide to courses 4. Bachelor of Music

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4. Bachelor of Music
    4.1. Course objectives
    4.2. Planning an undergraduate course
    4.3. Course requirements
    4.4. General requirements
    4.5. Course structure (Bachelor of Music)
    4.6. Specialisations in the BMus
        4.6.1. Performance stream
        4.6.2. Composition stream
        4.6.3. Instrumental/vocal teaching stream
        4.6.4. Music therapy stream
        4.6.5. Musicology/ethnomusicology stream

4. Bachelor of Music

The BMus course is designed to provide students with a perspective for the discipline of music and the specialist knowledge and skills that should prepare them for a professional career in music.

4.1. Course objectives

The Bachelor of Music course has as its objectives that graduates:

• can demonstrate the professional musical skills and expertise required to enable them to take their place in the community as teachers, performers, composers, music therapists, musicologists, or in a range of occupations requiring musical ability;

• can apply critical and analytical skills, an independent approach to knowledge and intellectual understanding of music in a broad and changing range of social and historical contexts;

• can communicate effectively as promoters of an informed interest in music and the performance of music among scholars as well as in the wider community; and

• have a continuing commitment to music learning informed by current research.

4.2. Planning an undergraduate course

For details of music subjects and the music major available in the BA, see the Faculty of Arts Music history entry in this Handbook.

For the BMus, course requirements and electives are listed below. Before enrolling, note that non-music subjects taught at times conflicting with music subjects must be avoided. Both the lecture timetable and ensemble and practical class schedules should be checked. These are posted on the notice board early in each year. practical study and music performance lessons are individually arranged.

More detailed information about activities in the faculty and scholarships and prizes is given in the faculty's undergraduate course and subject guide, available from the Faculty of Music. The Degree Programs Manager, Faculty of Music, is available to clarify music enrolment matters, and advice on academic matters should be sought from the Deputy Dean or Dean.

4.3. Course requirements

The first two years is common to all BMus students. In second year, students who wish to prepare for a career in composition follow the course prescribed for that specialisation. BMus (Performance) students are expected to study intensively the instrument with which they completed the entrance requirement without change or interruption for the duration of their course. Those who complete Practical Study 2-1 and 2-2 with excellent results may then proceed to Music Performance 3 then 4.

All students in the music therapy stream receive group tuition over two years in various instruments important to their work, and students in the performance course pattern are encouraged to take a second practical study (when available).

All other students take the compulsory BMus core and have a wide choice of subject combinations. Those preparing for careers in solo or orchestral performance may give their course an intensively practical orientation; those interested in musicology focus on academic subjects.

All BMus students take an intensive aural training subject, a program of ensemble work, a sequence of theoretical and historical studies, and a comprehensive music literature requirement. In ensemble they are allocated by the Dean to one or more of the faculty's performing groups. Currently, these include the Faculty Orchestra, Choir, Chamber Choir, Baroque Ensemble, Contemporary Ensemble, Big Band, Early Music Ensemble and a number of others. These ensembles are dependent on attendance, and full participation is required.

Attendance at public concerts is also regarded as important, and all BMus students are required to attend and write short reports on a minimum five concerts approved by the faculty in each semester.

4.4. General requirements

All candidates for the degree shall, during the four years of their studies, complete subjects in the Arts Faculty of no less than 25 credit points to a maximum of 50 points approved in advance by the Faculty of Music.

4.5. Course structure (Bachelor of Music)

*Students wishing to pursue composition should not enrol in Careers in Music, but the subject as prescribed below:

Composition

enrol in 740-212 Music Technology Studies: Introduction to Electro-Acoustic Music

4.6. Specialisations in the BMus

While the music therapy course is largely fixed in its structure, there is considerable flexibility for all other students. Beyond the core subjects, students may focus their course according to their aspirations or interests into, at one extreme, an intensively practical study program or, at the other extreme, a largely academic degree.

Students are advised to consider their career interests and make their subject choices accordingly. In preparing for certain careers, the following patterns are recommended.

The first two years of the BMus, irrespective of the specialisation, are listed above. The specialisation years are as follows.

4.6.1. Performance stream

Students preparing for careers in solo or orchestral performance should take the maximum number of practical subjects available under performance studies. A European language subject may be desirable.

To gain entry into this steam, you must obtain a place in the quota; as a guide this normally means a result no lower than 80% in Practical Study 2-2.

*Electives can be taken from any offerings under:

• academic electives

• applied electives

• Arts Faculty electives

4.6.2. Composition stream

Students preparing for careers as composers or arrangers take Composition 1 in first or second year, and choose music technology studies involving technical skills. A suggested pattern is:

*Electives can be taken from any offerings under:

• academic electives

• applied electives

• Arts Faculty subjects

4.6.3. Instrumental/vocal teaching stream

This course is aimed at students who wish to prepare for a career in studio teaching.

*Electives can be taken from any offerings under:

• academic electives

• applied electives

• Arts Faculty subjects

4.6.4. Music therapy stream

This course is designed for students seeking careers as music therapists in health or special education. The music therapy course combines training in appropriate musical skills with psychology, physiology, social and clinical studies.

Quota: Owing to the limited availability of clinical placements, a quota of eight undergraduate students applies for entry to the third year of this course. Academic studies in year 2. Selection is determined at a meeting of the Board of Examiners in early December and students are advised by letter from the Dean whether or not they have been successful.

The course is currently on a two-year cycle as per the structure below:

4.6.5. Musicology/ethnomusicology stream

This course aims to develop students' understanding and knowledge of music, musical scholarship and research methods to prepare them as professional musicologists. Students will complete advanced seminars in music history, theory, research methodology and systematic disciplines such as analysis, ethnomusicology, aesthetics, historiography and palaeography. A dissertation presenting the results of a substantial project is the culminating point of the course.

Students choose this stream in preparation for careers in music criticism, librarianship, journalism, research, editing, radio and television music programming, or other branches of musicology.

*Electives can be taken from any offerings under:

• academic electives

• applied electives

• Arts Faculty subjects

  At least 3 of the electives must be from musicology studies

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