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. Practical study streams
    4.6. Course structure (Bachelor of Music)
    4.7. Core years
    4.8. The specialisation years: third and fourth years
        4.8.1. Composition specialisation
        4.8.2. Instrumental/vocal teaching specialisation
        4.8.3. Music therapy specialisation
        4.8.4. Musicology/ethnomusicology specialisation
        4.8.5. Performance specialisation
        4.8.6. Third and fourth-year electives
    4.9. Bachelor of Music (Honours)

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

On completion of this course, students should be able to:

• contextualise their performing within the best practices of local, national and international standards;

• pursue musical knowledge and skills independently, both in a specialisation and in the discipline as a whole;

• use and assimilate the potential of technologies to facilitate the dissemination of musical skills, knowledge and information;

• make critical, informed and sophisticated responses to new musical ideas, methodologies and theoretical frameworks, both in their specialisation and in the discipline of music as a whole;

• show empathy, self-reflection and critical intelligence in the dissemination of skills and knowledge in their specialisation;

• work competently and productively in a musical setting, both alone and in groups; and

• integrate a holistic view of music from different times and places into their working and intellectual lives.

4.2. Planning an undergraduate course

For the BMus, the course requirements, specialisations and electives are listed below. For the combined degrees BMus/BA, BMus/BTeach, and BMus/BCA, note that non-music subjects taught at times conflicting with music subjects must be avoided. Both the lecture timetable and the practical class and ensemble schedules posted at the Faculty early each year should be checked to determine possible clashes. Practical lessons are individually arranged with the teacher, after a new student interview with the Dean.

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

Students in other faculties seeking to enrol in music subjects must in all cases check first with the Faculty of Music office for details of any audition, sub-quota or other requirement that applies. An application form for the DipMus(Prac) is available, as a pdf file, on the Faculty of Music web site; selection is undertaken in February.

4.3. Course requirements

There is considerable scope for tailoring the BMus course to a student's individual needs and abilities. Students enter one of three practical streams according to prior practical attainment, and in the first two years may enhance the core course with elective subjects that prepare for one of the specialisations or develop other essential skills.

The course has two core years, followed by two specialisation years. In the core years students undertake individual practical tuition on the instrument on which they auditioned, a program of ensemble work, a sequence of aural/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, where full attendance and participation are 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 of five concerts approved by the Faculty each semester.

In the last two years, all students choose a specialisation. Those with potential for careers in performance may give their course an intensively practical orientation; those preparing for careers in composition, studio teaching, classroom teaching, musicology or ethnomusicology, or music therapy each undertake subjects essential to those fields; those studying music as a liberal art focus on academic subjects.

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. Practical study streams

The Faculty offers three streams of practical study in music: intermediate, advanced and performance. Students will be placed in a practical study stream by the Faculty. Placement is based on the BMus entrance audition, taken in November prior to entry, the outcome of which is advised to students by mail in early December. Stream enrolment remains provisional until confirmed or, alternatively, altered according to the student's needs as determined by the Faculty in the first four weeks of teaching. Students who are judged by the Faculty best suited to change streams may also do so at the end of any semester of the course.

Intermediate stream

This stream is for students who have undertaken some prior practical study of their instrument, and achieved a standard which would allow them, in the opinion of the BMus entrance audition panel, to transfer to the advanced stream after first year.

Advanced stream

This stream is for students who have undertaken several years of practical study of their instrument, and achieved a satisfactory standard (approximately AMEB Grade 7) as demonstrated by a pass at the BMus entrance audition.

Performance stream

This stream is only available to students who have demonstrated appropriate performance qualities at a level suggesting aptitude for a professional performing career. A grade of A+ or A is required at the BMus entrance audition. Students in the performance stream will take performance elective subjects, giving a total of 36 one-hour individual lessons each year.

4.6. Course structure (Bachelor of Music)

In first and second years, students undertake a combination of core and elective subjects. Core subjects (mostly 12.5 points) are compulsory for all students, and provide a comprehensive grounding in practical and academic branches of music. Elective subjects (mostly 6.25 points) allow for some specialisation and provide an opportunity for students to gain skills they may lack in music computing, technology, or (for international students) English language.

In third and fourth years, all students undertake a specialisation in one of performance, composition, musicology, instrumental teaching, music therapy, or music administration, or transfer to the combined BMus/BTeach course to specialise in school music teaching.

Each specialisation involves a greater concentration on one of the areas covered by the core subjects.

Music administration

Music administration students combine the core subjects with suitable studies in business, accounting, marketing and similar skills, chosen from other faculties. In their final year they undertake a work placement in a music organisation.

Music education

Students wishing to prepare to teach in schools transfer no later than year 3 into the combined BMus/BTeach program. In years 1 and 2 they are encouraged to take the group music resources electives, which are required in their specialisation.

4.7. Core years

The first two years of the course are divided into core subjects and electives. Students undertake one elective per semester. A maximum of 4 Group B electives may be taken during the course.

International students may take an Advanced ESL subject in place of two electives in Year 1 as directed.

4.8. The specialisation years: third and fourth years

The pattern of specialisation enrolment is as follows:

4.8.1. Composition specialisation

Composition students take composition instead of practical study from year 2. They undertake a series of composition tasks throughout the course, with a mix of class and individual tuition, culminating in the submission of a final composition folio in their final year.

Students should take 740-356 Introduction to Electro-acoustic Music as an elective in their first year of composition.

4.8.2. Instrumental/vocal teaching specialisation

Instrumental teaching students take practical study for at least three years, which they combine with the instrumental teaching subjects. They receive 24 45-minute lessons of individual tuition throughout the year. In their final year, they may undertake a work placement as a private instrumental teacher.

4.8.3. Music therapy specialisation

This specialisation prepares a student for a career as a music therapist, working with patients/clients in a variety of settings, including special schools, hospitals, nursing homes, community centres and clinics. Clinical training placements form a major component of the course. Selection into the specialisation is made at the end of Year 2; students are encouraged to prepare for this by observing music therapists in a variety of settings during the year. A list of appropriate facilities can be obtained from the coordinator, Associate Professor Denise Grocke.

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

4.8.4. Musicology/ethnomusicology specialisation

Musicology and ethnomusicology students take an array of academic electives, especially those marked 'research'. In their third year, students take research methods subjects and in their final year submit a dissertation under individual supervision.

4.8.5. Performance specialisation

The performance specialisation is for students displaying outstanding promise as performers. They will receive 36 1-hour weekly lessons and undertake a number of other concert and performance-related subjects. Performance students play a concerto and give a final solo recital.

4.8.6. Third and fourth-year electives

4.9. Bachelor of Music (Honours)

There is no special subject or course for honours in the BMus. The degree is awarded with honours on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners on the basis of a student's performance in the music subjects in the third and fourth year of the course.

An overall result for third and fourth year is calculated as follows:

• the mark for each subject is weighted according to its point value in the course;

• fourth-year marks are weighted 2:1 against third-year marks;

• students who achieve an average result of 80 per cent or above will be awarded the degree with honours.

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