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Bachelor of Music
Duration: 3 years full-time/6 years part-time
Credit Points: 144 credit points
Delivery: On campus
CRICOS Code: 057959G
Available to: Domestic (FEE-HELP) and International
English: IELTS 6.0 with no band less than 6.0
Tuition Fee for international students: $11,073.2 semester/$66,439 total tuition fee
AQF: Level 7
Associate Degree of Music
Duration: 2 years full-time/4 years part-time
Credit Points: 96 credit points
Delivery: On campus
CRICOS Code: 075645J
Available to: Domestic (FEE-HELP) and International
English: IELTS 6.0 with no band less than 6.0
Tuition Fee for International students: $11,073.2 semester/$44,292.67 total tuition fee
AQF: Level 6
Course overview
The Bachelor of Music provides you with the technical, artistic and analytical training required to become a professional musician. The course features private tuition for voice and instrument studies and extensive performance and studio experiences.
The course is offered with three strands of specialisation, allowing you to take classes unique to your chosen career path:
Three Strands
Classical
This strand provides musicians with the high-level training in performance, musicianship, ensemble work, musicality and breadth of musical knowledge required for a life in classical music. Students are exposed to a wide range of music across history as well as one-on-one tuition on their instrument with exceptional tutors. Students can continue their journey into the world of classical music.
Contemporary
This strand prepares musicians for a career in the ever-changing world of contemporary music. Artistic, technical, practical and musicianship skills are honed to create a well-rounded musician prepared for the diverse work lives led by industry professionals. Whether students want to pursue their dream as a singer/songwriter or start their own band, this strand will help to take them there.
Jazz
This strand offers multiple experiences in improvisation, ensemble work, arrangement, and performance designed to prepare students for the highly skilled world of jazz musicianship. Students are encouraged to partake in multiple performance opportunities and workshops to help them think on their feet and engage with the dynamics of the jazz ethos.
What do our students say?
‘Studying the Bachelor of Music at Excelsia College has taught me many things about myself as a person, artist and student. The classes allow me to expand my musical knowledge and to gain more experience and wisdom from the excellent tutors that help encourage and push me to the best of my abilities.
Studying music here has helped boost my confidence as a performer in the most humbling way, and also allows my faith as a Christian to not be compromised but encouraged to use it, to engage with my art.’
Janelle Magtibay
Music Student
Where this will take me
The Bachelor of Music is predicated on the understanding that professional musicians will commonly engage in ‘portfolio’ careers requiring versatile, flexible and adaptable skills including performing, composing, arranging, producing, directing, teaching, and researching. Using these skills (and, in some cases, with further study) our current graduates have secured, and future graduates are expected to secure, employment as:
- Performers (accompanists, chamber musicians, band members, session musicians)
- Composers and arrangers
- Conductors and musical directors (in school and church settings)
- Artist managers and agents
- Arts administrators, promoters, fundraisers and event planners
- Audio engineers (studio and live sound)
- Teachers (in both private and public school and non-school settings)
- Music critics, journalists and publicists
Course program
Year 1 units
Y1 Semester 1
Performance I
Large Ensemble Studies I
Small Ensemble Studies I
Harmony and Aural I
Contemporary and Popular Music History
Functional Keyboard
Formation I (Creative Arts)
Y1 Semester 2
Performance II
Large Ensemble Studies II
Harmony and Aural II
Early Music History
Production and Live Audio
Formation II (Creative Arts)
Year 2 units
Y2 Semester 1
Performance III
Harmony and Aural III
Romantics and Modernists
Digital Music Production
* Elective x 1
Y2 Semester 2
Performance IV
Large Ensemble Studies III
Harmony and Aural IV
Formation III (Creative Arts)
Year 3 units (for bachelor degree only)
Y3 Semester 1
Performance V
Large Ensemble Studies IV
Musical Direction I
Ethnomusicology
Advanced Harmony
* Elective x 1
Y3 Semester 2
Performance VI
Small Ensemble Studies II
Musical Direction II
Formation IV
* Elective x 1
Elective units
Elective units
Second Instrument Study
Song Writing
Small Ensemble Studies
Large Ensemble Studies
Business in the Performing Arts
Music Pedagogy
For detailed descriptions of course units, please download the Music brochure.
Academic staff for music
Lecturer, Large Ensemble (Choral), Musical Direction
Tutor, Conductor
Dr Sadaharu Muramatsu
Entry requirements
Artistic and academic skill assessment
Audition:
Applicant should prepare to present 2 pieces demonstrating their skill on their major instrument (including voice).
Interview:
Conducted concurrently with the audition. Applicants will discuss their previous musical experience, personal motivation and aspirations.
Musical knowledge:
In the audition students will be assessed on their current musical knowledge and this will determine whether they go into a beginner or advanced strand in theory units.
Australian applicants with recent secondary education (school leavers)
Educational Prerequisites
- NSW Higher School Certificate or its interstate or overseas equivalent, or
- Attainment of tertiary qualification, or satisfactory completion of at least one year’s full-time load in a tertiary course.
International students
In addition to meeting the educational, artistic and academic prerequisites above, international applicants who have not completed an educational qualification in English have to provide proof of proficiency in English through internationally recognised tests such as IELTS or TOEFL, or through satisfactory completion of an approved course at one of the College’s partner language colleges.
Overseas students applying for admission to Excelsia College courses must have reached the age of 18 years by the commencement of their studies. Excelsia College will not admit overseas students who have not yet reached 18 years of age.
Other applicants
Applicants with work and life experience
Applicants must demonstrate that they have been involved in some form of high level music making for at least 3 years. This could include professional music making, community music making, worship leading.
- Audition: Applicant should prepare to present (2) pieces demonstrating their skill on their major instrument (including voice).
- Interview: conducted concurrently with the audition. Applicants will discuss their previous musical experience, personal motivation and aspirations.
- Musical knowledge: In the audition students will be assessed on their current musical knowledge and this will determine whether they go into a beginner or advanced stream in theory units.
Applicants with higher education
- Audition: Applicant should prepare to present (2) pieces demonstrating their skill on their major instrument (including voice).
- Interview: conducted concurrently with the audition. Applicants will discuss their previous musical experience, personal motivation and aspirations.
- Musical knowledge: In the audition students will be assessed on their current musical knowledge and this will determine whether they go into a beginner or advanced stream in theory units.
Applicants with VET or TAFE studies
- Audition: Applicant should prepare to present (2) pieces demonstrating their skill on their major instrument (including voice).
- Interview: conducted concurrently with the audition. Applicants will discuss their previous musical experience, personal motivation and aspirations.
- Musical knowledge: In the audition students will be assessed on their current musical knowledge and this will determine whether they go into a beginner or advanced stream in theory units.
Credit and recognition of prior learning (RPL)
If the applicant is successful they will be issued an offer letter and a written agreement. Students will need to respond to the offer within 6 weeks. This is done online and a confirmation will be emailed back to the applicant. At this point, applicants are welcome to apply for Credit or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If you are eligible for credit or RPL, you may be exempt from completing some units and you may be able to finish your degree in a shorter amount of time.
Please refer to the Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy reference.
Download the Student Selection and Admission Policy and Procedure.
The Experience
| Applicant background | 2019 Semester 2 | |
| Number of Students | Percentage of all students | |
| (A) Past higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) | 13 | 32% |
| (B) Past vocational education and training (VET) study | 1 | 2% |
| (C) Work and life experience (Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) | 1 | 2% |
| (D) Recent secondary education:
| 0 | 0% |
| 0 | 0% |
| 7 | 17% |
| International students | 19 | 46% |
| All students | 41 | 100% |
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