UWA Handbook 2025

Major Overview

Description

The Contemporary Popular Music Major allows students to develop their artistry and knowledge to engage with the popular music industry. Within the Major, students gain experience and skills in contemporary performance and composition, songwriting, and digital creativity, as well as developing their entrepreneurial and networking skills. They will gain practical experience in artistic self-management, creativity and problem-solving, as well as digital skills in production, analytical and listening skills, and critical thinking. As well as being able to work independently, students will be given the opportunity to develop a portfolio via collaboration, in a way that aligns with the artistic practicalities of the music industry.

Students should be aware that this major does not provide a pathway to an Honours.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

1. demonstrate compositional and songwriting technique with respect to rhythm, harmony, form and lyrics, and identify relevant historical and stylistic conventions
2. demonstrate industry-level instrumental or compositional professional technique in contemporary popular music genres, both independently and in collaboration
3. articulate broad historical perspectives on the nature and contexts of popular music and its antecedents;
4. demonstrate an experimental and creative orientation in the production and presentation of original musical works
5. develop techniques in artistic self-management, entrepreneurship, and networking relevant to the popular music industry
6. develop specialised digital skills in music production
7. develop transferable skills in creative and critical thinking, research, project planning and collaboration.

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so and to pursue as many areas of interest as you can during your course of study. At the same time, we k now that many of you value the University's guidance and assistance in planning your enrolment throughout your course, so we offer the following suggestions for your consideration as possible avenues to broaden your degree. Do always remember, however, that there is no wrong way to broaden your studies as long as you complete at least four units not associated with your Degree Specific Major.
Suggested Minors to broaden you study area, are:
(1) Applied MNR-MUSCO Musicology
(2) Applied MNR-MUSAP Applied Music
(3) Digital MNR-DCREA Digital Creativity
Suggested units to broaden your study area, are:
N/A

Prerequisites

Successful audition with the Conservatorium of Music. Some students may be

permitted to enrol in MJD-MSTGM Music General Studies or BP008 Bachelor of

Music/MJD-MUSDM Music concurrently. As these will be exceptional

circumstances based upon audition and interview, this should always be

checked with the Head of the Conservatorium of Music.

Incompatibilities

MJD-MUSDM Music

Courses

Contemporary Popular Music can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

• BP001 Bachelor of Arts
• BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Units