Excelsia College > Study > School of Creative and Performing Arts > Bachelor of Music
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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: $11,340 semester/$68,040 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: $11,340 semester/$45,360 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


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.


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.


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
Bachelor of Music Alumnus


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
Semester 1 – 2


Semester 1
Performance I
Large Ensemble Studies I
Small Ensemble Studies I
Harmony & Aural I
Functional Keyboard
Contemporary and Popular Music History
Formation I


Semester 2
Performance II
Large Ensemble Studies II
Harmony and Aural II
Production and Live Audio
Early Music History
Formation II
Semester 3 – 4


Semester 3
Performance III
Romantics and Modernists
Digital Music Production
Harmony and Aural III
Large Ensemble III


Semester 4
Performance IV/Composition I
Harmony and Aural IV
Formation III
Large Ensemble Studies IV or small ensemble studies II
Elective I
Elective units


Elective units
Song Writing
Business in the Performing Arts
Second Instrument Study I
Second Instrument Study II
Second Instrument Study III
Small Ensemble Study III
Small Ensemble Study IV
Large Ensemble V
Large Ensemble VI
Semester 5 – 6 (for bachelor degree only)


Semester 5
Performance V/Composition II/Music Industry Placement I
Musical Direction I
Advanced Harmony
Ethnomusicology
Elective II
Music Pedagogy


Semester 6
Performance VI/Composition III/Music Industry Placement II
Musical Direction II
Small Ensemble Studies ll or
Small Ensemble Studies llI
Formation IV (Designing My Creative Career)
Elective III
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
Admission to the degree
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.
Applicants with 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.
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.
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% |