Course details

Summary

The Music Arts degree programme will equip you with the skills and attributes required to enjoy a rewarding career as a practitioner in the music industry.

Learning from experienced and accomplished music industry professionals, you'll develop your skills with practical and theoretical courses in a variety of topics including music performance, composition, songwriting, arranging, improvisation, music technology, marketing and music industry studies.

The programme offers a choice of pathways in jazz or contemporary music (instrumental, percussion, electronic music or vocal), studio production, songwriting and music industry, integrating skills in performance, composition, production and marketing.

Programme structure

To complete this Degree you are required to complete a minimum total of 360 credits. To be a full time student you need to maintain a workload of 120 credits per year. We recommend you talk with us to ensure you choose electives to benefit your future career.

Career Opportunities

The opportunities for professional musicians are as varied as music itself. Diverse opportunities exist within the creative industries, education, music management and production, and encompass everything from composing film scores and performing in bands to being a theatre sound designer, music therapist, artist manager or music entrepreneur. The programme is designed to prepare you as either a specialist in the music industry, or a self-managed performing musician or producer with a wide range of skills suited to a variety of styles and scenes.

Study Pathways

A Bachelor of Music Arts degree will prepare you for postgraduate studies as a music specialist/researcher at honors or masters level with one of our many tertiary partners including WINTEC and UC.

Entry criteria

NCEA Level 3 (60 credits at Level 3 and 20 credits at Level 2 or higher) which must include 14 credits at Level 3 in each of three approved* subjects and

• Literacy* - 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of 5 credits in reading, 5 credits in writing and
• Numeracy* - 10 credits at Level 1 or above (specified achievement standards, or unit standards 26623, 26626, 26627)

Alternative requirements

Skills for tertiary study (including literacy and numeracy) may be acquired through study, work and/or life experience. Students who can demonstrate these skills may be approved for alternative entry. Literacy and numeracy assessments are available.

English language requirements:

IELTS 6.0 Academic (no lower than 5.5 in any band); TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) Score of Score of 60 or higher (with a writing score of 18); TOEFL Paper-based test (pBT) score of 550 (with an essay score of 5 TWE); University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations - FCE or FCE for schools or CAE or CPE with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill; NZ Certificate in English Language (NZCEL) - Level 4 with the Academic endorsement; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PToE (Academic) score of 50; City and Guilds IESOL: B2 Communicator with a score of 66.