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. Practical study streams
    4.5. Course structure (Bachelor of Music)
    4.6. Core years: first and second years
    4.7. The specialisation years: third and fourth years
        4.7.1. Composition specialisation
        4.7.2. Instrumental/vocal teaching specialisation
        4.7.3. Music therapy specialisation
        4.7.4. Musicology/Ethnomusicology specialisation
        4.7.5. Performance specialisation
        4.7.6. Third and fourth-year electives
    4.8. Bachelor of Music (Honours)
    4.9. Summer Semester

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;

• be highly articulate and literate in their chosen specialisation;

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

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

• make critical, informed and sophisticated responses to new 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;

• provide leadership in international forums in their chosen specialisation in music;

• 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, BMus/LLB, BMus/BCom 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 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 www.music.unimelb.edu.au. 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 two 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 enrolled in ensemble subjects 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, musicology or ethnomusicology, or music therapy each undertake subjects essential to those fields; those studying music as a liberal art focus on academic subjects.

All candidates for the degree are strongly recommendedd to complete between 25 and 50 points of subjects in another faculty, as approved in advance by the Faculty of Music. The Faculty strongly recommends these subjects be chosen from the Arts Faculty.

4.4. Practical study streams

The Faculty offers two streams of practical study in music: Performance and Generalist.

Students will be placed in a practical study stream by the Faculty. Placement is based on the BMus entrance audition.

Stream enrolment remains provisional until confirmed at the new student interview 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.

Performance Stream

Most students enter the Performance Stream for which the entrance standard approximates to AMEB Grade 7, or Grade 5 for Voice. For students who demonstrate exceptional practical abilities, well beyond the Faculty's entrance requirements, and are judged to be of rare and unusual talent, tailored individual programs may also be arranged within the Performance Stream.

Generalist stream

This Stream is for students who have lower practical achievements than the Performance Stream, but a good academic ability and a general aptitude for a music-related career. Students in this stream often give their course a strong academic focus, specialising in musicology or ethnomusicology. Students who improve their practical ability to the standard of the Performance Stream may transfer after their first year of study.

4.5. 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, ethnomusicology, instrumental teaching or music therapy.

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

Music administration

There is no music administration specialisation within the BMus. However, both the BMus/BCom and BMus/BCA are excellent options for students wishing to pursue interests in this area. BMus students interested in music administration should choose appropriate subjects as part of their non-music subject requirements or make an appointment with the Degree Programs Manager to discuss study options.

4.6. Core years: first and second years

The first two years of the course are divided into Core subjects and Music Skills Electives.

Important Notes regarding electives:

Singers must take at least one of Language and Diction German, Italian, French and Spanish. Enrolment in these subjects for non-voice students is by special permission.

Pianists must take Art of Piano Teaching 1.

Singers and pianists must audition for a semester 2 Ensemble enrolment in the project-base Faculty Choir.

Group Music Skills electives are not available to first- year students.

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

4.7. The specialisation years: third and fourth years

The pattern of specialisation enrolment is as follows:

4.7.1. Composition specialisation

Composition students take Composition instead of Practical Study from year 2 and take the subject Introduction to Electro-acoustic Music concurrently with Composition 1-1, in place of two Music Skills Electives. 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.

4.7.2. 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.

4.7.3. 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, and is based on academic record, an audition and interview. 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, Assoc Prof Denise Grocke.

The specialisation is based on a two-year pattern of sequential study at each year level as per the structure below; mid-year entry to this specialisation is therefore not possible.

4.7.4. 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.

4.7.5. Performance specialisation

The performance specialisation is for students displaying outstanding promise as performers. They will receive 24 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.

4.7.6. Third and fourth-year electives

4.8. 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% or above will be awarded the degree with honours.

4.9. Summer Semester

The Faculty offers some teaching in the Summer Semester to students who wish to accelerate their courses. The Summer Semester lasts seven weeks, commencing 2 January; students may take a Practical Study subject and a Music Techniques subject, giving a total of 25 points.

Please note that these subjects are available on a fee-paying basis only. The fee for Australian students is approximately A$1950 per 12.5 point subject (pro rata for 6.25 subjects). The fee for international students remains unchanged.

Intensive classes

Because the semester is short, more intensive tuition arrangements apply.

Practical subjects will comprise a weekly 75-minute individual lesson, plus a weekly 2-hour combined class for seven weeks.

Music techniques subjects will comprise four hours of classes for each of the seven weeks.

Please note that not all practical teachers will be available over the Summer Semester; the Faculty will place each student with a suitable teacher who is available during that period.

Exams and assessment

To allow students sufficient time for exam preparation and practice, exams for the summer subjects are not held until the last week of March, five weeks after the semester ends.

Further enquiries

Enquiries about the Summer Semester should be directed to the Degree Programs Office.

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