Bachelor of Music

Students have the opportunity to undertake professional placements at major national and international venues and with music organisations. Public performances are a major part of the assessment process and students have opportunities to perform at North Coast entertainment venues or form bands, taking advantage of the rich music environment throughout the region.

There are eight streams:

• Performance (audition stream)
• Performance (non-audition stream)
• Songwriting/Composition (audition stream)
• Songwriting/Composition (non-audition stream)
• Music Education
• Sound Production
• New Media Arts
• Screen

The flexible course structure enables students to choose the pathway most suited to their interests. Students can combine elements from different streams to create their own pathway.

All students participate in collaborative practical music making activities throughout the degree. An extensive ensemble program includes small and large repertoire-focused groups and student-led project bands. Students write, arrange, rehearse, record and perform a wide range of music, and are encouraged to develop their own creative projects.

The Performance audition stream and the Songwriting/Composition audition stream offer students who are entering the course with high-level abilities the opportunity to work closely with staff and hone their skills in a specialist area. Students in these streams receive extensive one-on-one tuition and consultations.

Please note that students wishing to be considered for the performance or songwriting/composition audition streams must complete the audition process as part of their application to this course. Information about the audition process is available at scu.edu.au/music. 

Students who achieve at a high level in the performance non-audition stream, or songwriting/composition non-audition stream, can transfer into the audition stream in second year.

Students who complete the degree with the Music Education stream can then apply for a graduate education course (such as the Master of Teaching at SCU) to become a secondary school music teacher. The Bachelor of Music course structure enables them to also pick up a second teaching area by taking elective units in either English, history, maths or geography.

The Sound Production stream develops students skills in live and recording sound engineering. Students have access to state-of-the-art production facilities, including purpose built recording and performance spaces. They work closely with performers and songwriters in both live and recording environments.

Students in the New Media Arts stream and the Screen stream pursue design, film, video and emerging arts practices. There are opportunities for students to collaborate on projects with students studying the Bachelor of Digital Media and Communication and the Bachelor of Visual Arts.