Bachelor of Music (BMus)

Overview

The Bachelor of Music offers you the opportunity to gain a broad knowledge of music techniques and styles.

You can choose one of the following five majors:

• Classical Performance: Specialise in performance of classical music on your chosen instrument: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon or saxophone; guitar or harp; percussion; piano, fortepiano, harpsichord or organ; trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba or euphonium; violin, viola, cello or double bass; voice; or early music. You will participate in chamber music and other ensembles such as choirs and orchestras, with opportunities to perform in public on a regular basis.
• Composition: Learn the theory and skills you will need to become a composer, arranger, recording supervisor, sound artist, critic, editor or radio producer. You will be taught by highly skilled staff who specialise in contemporary composition.
• Jazz Performance: Get extensive training in, and practice of, performance techniques, musicianship, arranging, improvisation and working in an ensemble. Learn from some of New Zealand's leading names in jazz, and have a lot of fun along the way. Student and staff jazz evenings are a regular feature of campus life.
• Musicology: Gain a broad knowledge of music in its cultural context, music writing analysis skills and/or music teaching and learning. Courses cover the history of Western music from the earliest times, with particular emphasis on the 18th and 20th centuries.
• Popular Music: Develop your songwriting, arranging and performance skills, working alongside other songwriters and musicians in a creative environment where you can share ideas and get together to perform each others' work.

Highlights

• High calibre teaching from a committed team of professionally active staff.
• Enhanced learning and performance opportunities with many music groups.
• Meet and learn from international musicians through our extensive visiting artists programme.
• Exciting cross-disciplinary learning opportunities.
• Specialist Music and Dance Library on site.
• Excellent practice and performance opportunities.

What you'll be studying

In the first year you will develop essential musical skills, and start study in your major. This is an example of first-year courses in the Popular Music major that were offered in 2012:

In the second year and beyond you will develop advanced techniques and skills in your major and broaden your knowledge of its historical and cultural underpinnings. You will also study other topics of interest to you, such as electronic music and sonic arts, music education, conducting, advanced music industry studies and advanced improvisation. You will complete your degree with two courses from the General Education schedule.

You can download a degree planner below, which outlines course content and programme structure in more detail. You can also find course prescriptions in the University Calendar, held in the University Library; or you can purchase one from the University Bookshop or view online.

BMus degree planners
BMus Composition major Degree Planner 2012 (56 KB PDF)
BMus Jazz Performance major Degree Planner 2012 (54 KB PDF)
BMus Classical Performance major Degree Planner 2012 (55 KB PDF)
BMus Popular Music major Degree Planner 2012 (55 KB PDF)
BMus Musicology major Degree Planner 2012 (87 KB PDF)

BMus/BSc Conjoint Planners
BMus/BSc Degree Planner (164.8 KB PDF)
BMus/BSc Classical Performance Conjoint Degree Planner 2012 (107 KB PDF)
BMus/BSc Composition major Conjoint Degree Planner 2012 (109 KB PDF)
BMus/BSc Jazz Performance major Conjoint Degree Planner 2012 (107 KB PDF)
BMus/BSc Musicology major Conjoint Degree Planner 2012 (106 KB PDF)
BMus/BSc Popular Music major Conjoint Degree Planner 2012 (157 KB PDF)

BA/BMus Planners
BA/BMus Classical Performance Planner 2012 (138.1 KB PDF)
BA/BMus Composition Planner 2012 (95.3 KB PDF)
BA/BMus Jazz Performance Planner 2012 (95.3 KB PDF)
BA/BMus Musicology Planner 2012 (95.4 KB PDF)
BA/BMus Popular Music Planner 2012(149.5 KB PDF)

BCom/BMus Planners
BCom/BMus Classical Performance Planner 2012 (139 KB PDF)
BCom/BMus Composition Planner 2012 (96 KB PDF)
BCom/BMus Jazz Performance Planner 2012 (96 KB PDF)
BCom/BMus Musicology Planner 2012 (96 KB PDF)
BCom/BMus Popular Music Planner 2012 (148 KB PDF)

University Calendar
General Education

Specialist facilities and resources

The 155-seat Music Theatre, which has excellent acoustics and a sophisticated lighting system, is used as a performance space for dramatic productions, music lectures, concerts and rehearsals. The Theatre is linked to our electronic facilities for editing and mastering recorded performances and lectures.

Additional studios, practice spaces and recording facilities are located at the Kenneth Myers Centre (KMC) on Shortland Street. KMC is used for the teaching and learning of jazz, popular music, sound and dance, and also houses the Gus Fisher Gallery, creating exciting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Music and Dance Library, located in the main School of Music building, houses New Zealand's leading collection of music resources in multiple formats, including CDs, DVDs, books, periodicals, scores and electronic resources.

Career opportunities

The University of Auckland's School of Music is widely considered to be one of New Zealand's foremost music training institutions. As a graduate you will have the skills and expertise for a wide range of career opportunities in New Zealand and overseas: arranging, composing, conducting, education, entertainment law, music journalism, music therapy, performance, radio/TV and the recording insdustry.

Further study

Research programmes

Master of Creative and Performing Arts (MCPA) – Sound Recording and Design
Master of Music (MMus)
Doctor of Music (DMus)
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Taught programmes

Bachelor of Music (Honours) (BMus(Hons))
Postgraduate Diploma in Creative and Performing Arts (PGDipCPA) - Sound Recording and Design
Postgraduate Diploma in Music (PGDipMus)
Graduate Diploma in Music (GradDipMus)

Applying for admission

How to apply
Scholarship opportunities
Important dates

More information