Objectives
The Bachelor of Music course provides a balanced training in practical and theoretical areas of music, leaving career options as open as possible. Alongside rigorous historical and theoretical studies, students are trained in practical skills preparing them for careers as professional musicians. Career options are left as open as possible and may include solo performance, accompaniment, vocal and keyboard teaching, conducting, choral training, arrangement/composition, and church music.
Course description
Graduates of the course may apply to undertake further studies at fourth–year (Honours) level, leading either to Master of Music or doctoral studies, or studies at postgraduate diploma level in Secondary Teaching (GradDipEd) at Australian Catholic University or at other universities. They may also proceed to studies at postgraduate diploma level at other institutions in such areas as Music Therapy or Arts and Entertainment Management.
1. Practical Studies include individual lessons, group teaching in specialised areas and participation in a Performance Practice class involving all students in the course. Practical Studies may be taken over the three years of the course, subject to satisfying minimum requirements at the end of the second year, and are available in voice or keyboard (piano, pipe organ or harpsichord). In the first year, students undertaking Practical Studies in keyboard are required to satisfy minimum requirements in vocal skills, and students undertaking Practical Studies in voice are required to satisfy minimum requirements in keyboard skills. The second and third years of Practical Studies include specialist components in advanced keyboard skills or solo vocal ensemble skills, and in keyboard or vocal pedagogy, as appropriate.
2. Choral Conducting and Campus Choir units provide a distinctive aspect of the course. Students are trained as choral directors for at least two years of the course, with the option of continuing this study in the third year. These units provide students with valuable ensemble performance skills that may be applied in school, community and church situations. Workshops with other students provide training in conducting skills and choral training techniques, and experience in choral singing is gained as a member of the Campus Choir. Students proceeding to the third year in Choral Training and Practicum gain practical experience in training a choir of their own.
3. The History of Music units include a full range of period studies covering the history of Western music, and units that are defined by geography or genre. By making a critical study of works by representative composers, and by examining the forces that have helped to shape music in the past, students are expected to come to an understanding of the development of musical style that should lead also to intelligent music performance.
4. The Techniques and Theory of Music units provide a study of the materials of music from the standpoint of compositional technique. The contents of the units Music Language 1–6 are period–based and relate to the period studies in the History of Music units. These units concentrate on aspects such as harmonics and contrapuntal analysis, and exercises in original composition using the styles and forms studied. They include associated training in aural skills, sight-singing techniques, keyboard musicianship, and a study of musical scoring and arranging making use of appropriate computer programs.
5. Units in Liturgy and Liturgical Music are designed to provide a context for studies in Choral Conducting and Campus Choir and particularly to cater for the needs of church musicians. These units focus on the repertoire and contextual use of liturgical music.
6. In addition to completing minimum requirements in each of the above five areas, students are able to undertake Elective Studies, which may be chosen from the same areas. These must include a third year of study in either Practical Studies or Choral Conducting and Campus Choir or both, thereby ensuring that graduates achieve an appropriate level of competence either as solo performers or as choral directors.
Practical Study Unit
A part-time student wishing to enrol in any Practical Study unit should normally be enrolled in the same year in other units equalling at least 20 cp, in addition to the Practical Studies unit, unless special circumstances are demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Course Co-ordinator.
Career Opportunities
* Solo performance
* Accompaniment
* Vocal or keyboard teaching
* Conducting
* Choral training
* Arrangement/composition
* Church music
