Undergraduate study in Creative Practice: Popular Music

In the first year you will compose, perform and record songs on a weekly basis, have one-on-one instrumental lessons, study music technology and production, arranging, performance and music notation, theory and history. In the second year you will continue to add to your skills with the goal of establishing your own distinctive creative process and style. The third year offers an opportunity to concentrate on advancing either your music technology and music production skills, or your performance skills, while still composing and performing as a songwriter. Each student finishes their degree with the creation of a significant portfolio of their final creative work and a major concert.

All School of Music students have access to auxiliary performance studies. You will also study other topics of interest to you, including music education, pedagogy, music technology, conducting, music studies, musicians’ health and various industry-related topics.

The core courses of the BMus degree include music theory and other music studies subjects. You will also take a Waipapa Taumata Rau course and a General Education course.

1. First you must complete your Application for Admission.
2. Once you have completed your Application for Admission, you will be asked to upload your audition portfolio via the SlideRoom portal. Read the audition guidelines to prepare your audition portfolio.
3. An online interview may also be required. If so, the School of Music will contact you.

If you have any queries, please contact the Student Hubs.

You may choose to combine your BMus with another discipline. Find out more about our conjoint degree options:

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Music 
• Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Music
  
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Laws
  
• Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Science

Comprises:

• 4 x core courses
• 3 x specialised theory and musicianship courses
• 9 x creative practice courses
• 6 x elective courses
• 1 x Waipapa Taumata Rau course
• 1 x General Education course

Bachelor of Music – Creative Practice: Popular Music degree requirements:

• 60 points from: MUS 104, 143, 243, 343
• 30 points from: MUS 284, 287
• 135 points from: MUS 180, 181, 196, 280, 281, 282, 283, 380, 381
• 75 points from: MUS 103-188, 206-296, 306-396
• a futher 30 points from: ANTHRO 103, 106, 202, 217, 234, 301, 327, 329, 357, MĀORI 190, MUS 103–397, PACIFIC 110
• 15 points: Waipapa Taumata Rau course
• 15 points: General Education course

You can also find degree structure information in the University Calendar.

Discover the courses available within the Bachelor of Music, including those for Creative Practice: Popular Music.

For queries about how to apply, admission, and enrolment, please visit Student Hubs or contact us online.