Bachelor of Music Studies
The Bachelor of Music Studies is a degree for students seeking a broad musical education and its structure facilitates creative interdisciplinary links within music disciplines and between music and other subject areas in the University of Sydney.
The course develops broadly educated musicians who are able to apply their knowledge, skills and attitudes creatively and flexibly in a variety of music and music-related professions.
The goals of the Bachelor of Music Studies are:
- to develop general musical abilities in the areas of performance, musicology, composition and music education,
- to develop students ability to see themselves, their musical art and their educational activities in a wide cultural perspective, and
- to develop the generic attributes of graduates of the University of Sydney.
Course structure
The degree is structured to allow students flexibility in their choice of units so they may pursue their own combinations of musical and non-musical disciplines, and students may choose units of study taught at another faculty of the University of Sydney up to a maximum of 28 credit points.
All students take a Principal Study in an instrument, voice, composition or musicology, core units in music skills, music pedagogy and music history and other units of their own choice.
Principal study is available in the following areas:
- Brass: french horn, trombone, trumpet, tuba
- Composition: instrumental/vocal and electroacoustic
- Early Music Performance: baroque flute, harpsichord, lute, organ, recorder, viola da gamba, baroque trumpet
- Musicology
- Percussion
- Piano
- Strings: cello, double bass, guitar, harp, viola, violin
- Voice: classical or jazz
- Woodwind: bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone.
Core requirements
Students should complete at least the minimum number of credit points in each area throughout their course, and reach the minimum levels of achievement as set out in the Faculty Resolutions.
Typical enrolment patterns
A typical program in the Bachelor of Music Studies, together with the credit point value, is set out in following tables. The course structure is designed to allow considerable choice in the units of study taken and flexibility over when units are taken.
Bachelor of Music Studies with Performance Principal Study
Semester 1 |
|
Semester 2 |
|
Semester 3 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Principal Study 1 |
6 |
Principal Study 2 |
6 |
Principal Study 3 |
6 |
Aural Perception 1 |
3 |
Aural Perception 2 |
3 |
Aural Perception 3 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 1 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 2 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 3 |
3 |
Musical Worlds of Today or Music in the Classical and Romantic Eras |
6 |
Music in Modern Times or Music from the Middle Ages to the Baroque |
6 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
6 |
Music Technology or Free Choice |
3 |
Ensemble |
3 |
Teaching Music/Pedagogy |
3 |
Ensemble |
3 |
Free Choice |
3 |
Ensemble |
3 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Semester 4 |
|
Semester 5 |
|
Semester 6 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Principal Study 4 |
6 |
Principal Study 5 |
6 |
Principal Study 6 |
6 |
Aural Perception 4 |
3 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
6 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
6 |
Harmony and Analysis 4 |
3 |
Free Choice |
6 |
Free Choice |
6 |
Ensemble |
3 |
Free Choice |
6 |
Free Choice |
6 |
Free Choice |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Bachelor of Music Studies with Classical Voice Principal Study
Semester 1 |
|
Semester 2 |
|
Semester 3 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Voice 1 |
6 |
Voice 2 |
6 |
Voice 3 |
6 |
Aural Perception 1 |
3 |
Aural Perception 2 |
3 |
Aural Perception 3 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 1 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 2 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 3 |
3 |
Musical Worlds of Today or Music in the Classical and Romantic Eras |
6 |
Music in Modern Times or Music from the Middle Ages to the Baroque |
6 |
Vocal Performance Class 1 |
3 |
Diction 1 |
3 |
Diction 2 |
3 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
6 |
Music Technology or Free Choice |
3 |
Teaching Music/Pedagogy |
3 |
Diction 3 |
3 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Semester 4 |
|
Semester 5 |
|
Semester 6 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Voice 4 |
6 |
Voice 5 |
6 |
Voice 6 |
6 |
Aural Perception 4 |
3 |
Vocal Performance Class 3 |
3 |
Vocal Performance Class 4 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 4 |
3 |
Diction 5 |
3 |
Diction 6 |
3 |
Diction 4 |
3 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
6 |
Free Choice |
6 |
Vocal Performance Class 2 |
3 |
Free Choice |
6 |
Free Choice |
6 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Bachelor of Music Studies with Jazz Voice Principal Study
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
Semester 3 |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jazz Vocal 1 |
6 |
Jazz Vocal 2 |
6 |
Jazz Vocal 3 |
6 |
Jazz Music Skills 1 |
6 |
Jazz Music Skills 2 |
6 |
Jazz Music Skills 3 |
6 |
Jazz History 1 |
3 |
Jazz History 2 |
3 |
Jazz History 3 |
3 |
Free Choice |
3 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
6 |
Jazz Vocal Workshop 1 |
3 |
Music Technology and/or Free Choice |
6 |
Jazz Pedagogy |
3 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
6 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
Semester 4 |
Semester 5 |
Semester 6 |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jazz Vocal 4 |
6 |
Jazz Vocal 5 |
6 |
Jazz Vocal 6 |
6 |
Jazz Music Skills 4 |
6 |
Jazz Ensemble 1 |
6 |
Jazz Ensemble 2 |
6 |
Jazz Vocal Workshop 2 |
3 |
Free Choice |
6 |
Free Choice |
6 |
Jazz History 4 |
3 |
Free Choice |
6 |
Free Choice |
6 |
Music Business Skills |
6 |
||||
24 |
24 |
24 |
Bachelor of Music Studies with Composition Principal Study
Semester 1 |
|
Semester 2 |
|
Semester 3 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Composition 1 |
6 |
Composition 2 |
6 |
Composition 3 |
6 |
Aural Perception 1 |
3 |
Aural Perception 2 |
3 |
Aural Perception 3 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 1 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 2 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 3 |
3 |
Musical Worlds of Today or Music in the Classical and Romantic Eras |
6 |
Music in Modern Times or Music from the Middle Ages to the Baroque |
6 |
Electroacoustic Music 1 |
6 |
Compositional Techniques and Analysis 1 |
6 |
Compositional Techniques and Analysis 2 |
6 |
Compositional Techniques and Analysis 3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Music Technology |
3 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Semester 4 |
|
Semester 5 |
|
Semester 6 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Composition 4 |
6 |
Composition 5 |
6 |
Composition 6 |
6 |
Aural Perception 4 |
3 |
Computer Music Fundamentals or Composer Performer Workshop 1 and Free Choice |
6 |
Composer Performer Workshop 2 or Free Choice |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 4 |
3 |
Composition Through Improvisation 1 |
3 |
Composition Through Improvisation 2 |
3 |
Electroacoustic Music 2 |
6 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
6 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
6 |
Compositional Techniques and Analysis 4 |
3 |
Free Choice |
3 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
6 |
Teaching music/pedagogy |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Bachelor of Music Studies with Musicology Principal Study
Semester 1 |
|
Semester 2 |
|
Semester 3 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Musicology 1 |
6 |
Musicology 2 |
6 |
Musicology 3 |
6 |
Aural Perception 1 |
3 |
Aural Perception 2 |
3 |
Aural Perception 3 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 1 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 2 |
3 |
Harmony and Analysis 3 |
3 |
Musical Worlds of Today |
6 |
Music from the Middle Ages to the Baroque |
6 |
Music in the Classical & Romantic Eras |
6 |
Teaching Music/Pedagogy |
3 |
Music Technology or Free Choice |
3 |
Musicology Workshop 1 |
3 |
Ensemble |
3 |
Ensemble |
3 |
Ensemble |
3 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Semester 4 |
Semester 5 |
Semester 6 |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Musicology 4 |
6 |
Musicology 5 |
6 |
Musicology 6 |
6 |
Aural Perception 4 |
3 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
12 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
6 |
Harmony and Analysis 4 |
3 |
Musicology Workshop 3 |
3 |
Musicology Workshop 4 |
3 |
Music in the Modern Times |
6 |
Free Choice |
3 |
Free Choice |
6 |
Musicology Workshop 2 |
3 |
|
|
Free Choice |
3 |
Ensemble |
3 |
||||
24 |
24 |
24 |
Course rules
Bachelor of Music Studies
These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Resolutions of the Faculty, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.
Course resolutions
1 Course codes
Code |
Course title |
---|---|
QH020 |
Bachelor of Music Studies |
QH030 |
Bachelor of Music Studies (Honours) |
2 Attendance pattern
3 Admission to candidature
4 Requirements for award
Area of Study |
Credit Points |
Minimum level of achievement |
---|---|---|
Principal Study |
36 |
Principal Study 6 |
Composition |
36 |
Compositional Techniques & Analysis 4; and Electroacoustic Music 2; and 6 credit points of Composer Performer Workshop or Electroacoustic Music |
Performance |
6 |
Composition Through Improvisation 2 |
Music Skills |
27 |
Harmony and Analysis 4 and Aural Perception 4; and Music Technology |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
30 |
At least 12 credit points from Foundation units |
Teaching Music |
3 |
Can be taken in studio pedagogy or music education units of study |
Electives |
6 |
Area of Study |
Credit Points |
Minimum level of achievement |
---|---|---|
Principal Study |
36 |
Principal Study 6 |
Musicology |
12 |
Musicology Workshop 4 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
42 |
At least 24 credit points from Foundation units |
Music Skills |
24 |
Harmony and Analysis 4 and Aural Perception 4 |
Performance |
12 |
|
Teaching Music |
3 |
Can be taken in studio pedagogy or music education units of study |
Electives |
15 |
Area of Study |
Credit Points |
Minimum level of achievement |
---|---|---|
Principal Study |
36 |
Principal Study 6 |
Performance |
12 |
|
Music Skills |
24 |
Harmony and Analysis 4 and Aural Perception 4; or Jazz Music Skills 4 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
30 |
At least 12 credit points from Foundation units |
Teaching Music |
3 |
Can be taken in studio pedagogy or music education units of study |
Electives |
39 |
Area of Study |
Credit Points |
Minimum level of achievement |
---|---|---|
Principal Study |
36 |
Principal Study 6 |
Performance |
30 |
Vocal Performance Class 4; and 18 credit points of Diction units |
Music Skills |
24 |
Harmony and Analysis 4 and Aural Perception 4 |
Studies in analysis, history and culture |
30 |
At least 12 credit points from Foundation units |
Teaching Music |
3 |
Can be taken in studio pedagogy or music education units of study |
Electives |
21 |