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, recorder, viola da gamba, baroque trumpet
- Musicology
- Organ
- Percussion
- Piano
- Strings: cello, double bass, guitar, harp, viola, violin
- Voice: classical or jazz
- Woodwind: bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone.
Core requirements
Students must successfully complete 144 credit points and reach the minimum levels of achievement in each core area of their specialisation as outlined in the degree resolutions.
Typical enrolment patterns
A typical program in the Bachelor of Music Studies, together with the credit point value, is set out in the following tables.
Bachelor of Music Studies (Composition Principal Study)
Semester 1 |
|
Semester 2 |
|
Semester 3 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMPN1601 Composition 1 |
6 |
CMPN1602 Composition 2 |
6 |
CMPN2603 Composition 3 |
6 |
MCGY1008 Harmony and Analysis 1 |
3 |
MCGY1009 Harmony and Analysis 2 |
3 |
MCGY2010 Harmony and Analysis 3 |
3 |
MCGY1000 Aural Perception 1 |
3 |
MCGY1003 Aural Perception 2 |
3 |
MCGY2004 Aural Perception 3 |
3 |
CMPN1611 Instrumentation and Orchestration |
6 |
CMPN1612 New Music, New Thinking |
6 |
CMPN2613 Comp Techniques: Number & Process |
6 |
CMPN1000 Comp Through Impro 1/Ensemble/CMPN2000 Performance for Composers: Percussion 1 |
3 |
CMPN1003 Comp Through Impro 2/Ensemble/CMPN2001 Performance for Composers: Percussion 2 |
3 |
CMPN1631 Electroacoustic Music 1 |
6 |
CMPN2006 Sound Recording Fundamentals |
3 |
MUED1002 Creative Music Technology |
3 |
|
|
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Semester 4 |
|
Semester 5 |
|
Semester 6 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMPN2604 Composition 4 |
6 |
CMPN3605 Composition 5 |
6 |
CMPN3606 Composition 6 |
6 |
Analysis, history and culture studies (Foundation) |
6 |
Analysis, history and culture studies (Foundation) |
6 |
Analysis, history and culture studies |
6 |
CMPN1632 Electroacoustic Music 2 |
6 |
CMPN3000 Composer Performer Workshop 1 |
3 |
Composition elective or free choice |
12 |
CMPN2614 Comp Techniques: Tonality & Process |
6 |
Composition elective or free choice |
9 |
|
|
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Bachelor of Music Studies (Musicology Principal Study)
Semester 1 |
|
Semester 2 |
|
Semester 3 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MCGY1601 Musicology 1 |
6 |
MCGY1602 Musicology 2 |
6 |
MCGY2603 Musicology 3 |
6 |
MCGY1000 Aural Perception 1 |
3 |
MCGY1003 Aural Perception 2 |
3 |
MCGY2004 Aural Perception 3 |
3 |
MCGY1008 Harmony and Analysis 1 |
3 |
MCGY1009 Harmony and Analysis 2 |
3 |
MCGY2010 Harmony and Analysis 3 |
3 |
Analysis, history and culture studies (Foundation) |
6 |
Analysis, history and culture studies (Foundation) |
6 |
Analysis, history and culture studies (Foundation) |
6 |
Teaching Music/Pedagogy |
3 |
Free Choice |
3 |
MCGY1019 Musicology Workshop 1 |
3 |
Ensemble |
3 |
Ensemble |
3 |
Ensemble |
3 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Semester 4 |
Semester 5 |
Semester 6 |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MCGY2604 Musicology 4 |
6 |
MCGY3605 Musicology 5 |
6 |
MCGY3606 Musicology 6 |
6 |
MCGY2005 Aural Perception 4 |
3 |
Analysis, history and culture studies |
12 |
Analysis, history and culture studies |
6 |
MCGY2011 Harmony and Analysis 4 |
3 |
MCGY2018 Musicology Workshop 3 |
3 |
MCGY2019 Musicology Workshop 4 |
3 |
Analysis, history and culture studies (Foundation) |
6 |
Free Choice |
3 |
Free Choice |
9 |
MCGY1020 Musicology Workshop 2 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Ensemble |
3 |
||||
24 |
24 |
24 |
Bachelor of Music Studies (Classical Voice Principal Study)
Semester 1 |
|
Semester 2 |
|
Semester 3 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSAO1611 Voice 1 |
6 |
VSAO1612 Voice 2 |
6 |
VSAO2613 Voice 3 |
6 |
MCGY1000 Aural Perception 1 |
3 |
MCGY1003 Aural Perception 2 |
3 |
MCGY2004 Aural Perception 3 |
3 |
MCGY1008 Harmony and Analysis 1 |
3 |
MCGY1009 Harmony and Analysis 2 |
3 |
MCGY2010 Harmony and Analysis 3 |
3 |
Analysis, history and culture studies (Foundation) |
6 |
Analysis, history and culture studies (Foundation) |
6 |
Analysis, history and culture studies |
3 |
Diction 1 |
3 |
Diction 2 |
3 |
Diction 3 |
6 |
Teaching Music/Pedagogy |
3 |
Free Choice |
3 |
VSAO1017 Vocal Performance Class 1 |
3 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Semester 4 |
|
Semester 5 |
|
Semester 6 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSAO2614 Voice 4 |
6 |
VSAO3215 Voice 5 |
6 |
VSAO3216 Voice 6 |
6 |
MCGY2005 Aural Perception 4 |
3 |
VSAO2037 Vocal Performance Class 3 |
3 |
VSAO2038 Vocal Performance Class 4 |
3 |
MCGY2011 Harmony and Analysis 4 |
3 |
Diction 5 |
3 |
Diction 6 |
3 |
Diction 4 |
3 |
Analysis, history and culture studies |
6 |
Free Choice |
12 |
Analysis, history and culture studies |
6 |
Free Choice |
6 |
|
|
VSAO1018 Vocal Performance Class 2 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Bachelor of Music Studies (Instrumental Principal Study)
Semester 1 |
|
Semester 2 |
|
Semester 3 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Principal Study 1 |
6 |
Principal Study 2 |
6 |
Principal Study 3 |
6 |
MCGY1000 Aural Perception 1 |
3 |
MCGY1003 Aural Perception 2 |
3 |
MCGY2004 Aural Perception 3 |
3 |
MCGY1008 Harmony and Analysis 1 |
3 |
MCGY1009 Harmony and Analysis 2 |
3 |
MCGY2010 Harmony and Analysis 3 |
3 |
Analysis, history and culture studies (Foundation) |
6 |
Analysis, history and culture studies (Foundation) |
6 |
Analysis, history and culture studies |
6 |
Ensemble |
3 |
Ensemble |
3 |
Teaching Music/Pedagogy |
3 |
Free Choice |
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 |
MCGY2005 Aural Perception 4 |
3 |
Analysis, history and culture studies |
6 |
Analysis, history and culture studies |
6 |
MCGY2011 Harmony and Analysis 4 |
3 |
Free Choice |
12 |
Free Choice |
12 |
Ensemble |
3 |
|
|
||
Free Choice |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
24 |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Bachelor of Music Studies (Jazz Voice Principal Study)
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
Semester 3 |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
JAZZ1631 Jazz Vocal 1 |
6 |
JAZZ1632 Jazz Vocal 2 |
6 |
JAZZ2633 Jazz Vocal 3 |
6 |
JAZZ1621 Jazz Music Skills 1 |
6 |
JAZZ1622 Jazz Music Skills 2 |
6 |
JAZZ2623 Jazz Music Skills 3 |
6 |
JAZZ1021 Jazz History 1 |
3 |
JAZZ1022 Jazz History 2 |
3 |
JAZZ2018 Jazz History 3 |
3 |
JAZZ1029 Jazz Small Ensemble 1 |
3 |
JAZZ1030 Jazz Small Ensemble 2 |
3 |
JAZZ2026 Jazz Small Ensemble 3 |
3 |
JAZZ1661 Jazz Pedagogy |
3 |
JAZZ1026 Jazz Piano 2/Free Choice |
3 |
JAZZ2022 Jazz Piano 3/Free Choice |
3 |
JAZZ1025 Jazz Piano 1/Free Choice |
3 |
Free Choice |
3 |
Free Choice |
3 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
Semester 4 |
Semester 5 |
Semester 6 |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
JAZZ2634 Jazz Vocal 4 |
6 |
JAZZ3635 Jazz Vocal 5 |
6 |
JAZZ3636 Jazz Vocal 6 |
6 |
JAZZ2624 Jazz Music Skills 4 |
6 |
JAZZ3012 Jazz Small Ensemble 5 |
3 |
JAZZ3013 Jazz Small Ensemble 6 |
3 |
JAZZ2019 Jazz History 4 |
3 |
6 |
JAZZ3631 Music Business Skills |
6 |
|
JAZZ2027 Jazz Small Ensemble 4 |
3 |
Free Choice |
9 |
Free Choice |
9 |
JAZZ2023 Jazz Piano 4/Free Choice |
3 |
||||
Free Choice |
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 1-6 |
Composition |
36 |
Instrumentation & Orchestration; New Music, New Thinking; Electroacoustic Music 1 & 2; Composer Performer Workshop 1; plus a further 9 cps in Composition |
Performance |
6 |
6 cps in Ensemble or Composition Through Improvisation |
Music Skills |
24 |
18 cps in Harmony & Analysis & Aural Perception; Creative Music Technology; Sound Recording Fundamentals |
Analysis, History and Culture Studies |
30 |
At least 12 credit points from Foundation units; Comp Techniques: Number & Process; Comp Techniques: Tonality & Process |
Electives |
12 |
Area of Study |
Credit Points |
Minimum level of achievement |
---|---|---|
Principal Study |
36 |
Principal Study 1-6 |
Musicology |
12 |
Musicology Workshop 1-4 |
Analysis, History and Culture Studies |
42 |
At least 24 credit points from Foundation units |
Music Skills |
24 |
Harmony and Analysis 1-4; Aural Perception 1-4 |
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 1-6 |
Performance |
12 |
|
Music Skills |
24 |
Harmony and Analysis 1-4; Aural Perception 1-4; or Jazz Music Skills 1-4 |
Analysis, History and Culture Studies |
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 1-6 |
Performance |
30 |
Vocal Performance Class 1-4; and 18 credit points of Diction units |
Music Skills |
24 |
Harmony and Analysis 1-4; Aural Perception 1-4 |
Analysis, History and Culture Studies |
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 |
Area of Study |
Credit Points |
Minimum level of achievement |
---|---|---|
Principal Study |
36 |
Jazz Vocal 1-6 |
Performance |
18 |
Jazz Small Ensemble 1-6 |
Music Skills |
24 |
Jazz Music Skills 1-4 |
Analysis, history & culture studies |
24 |
Jazz History 1-4; Jazz Analysis: An Introduction or AHCS Equivalent; Music Business Skills |
Teaching Music |
3 |
Jazz Pedagogy |
Electives |
39 |
Jazz Piano 1-4 is highly recommended |