Music Specialist Studies major
Note: this major is only available to re-enrolling students.
Music Specialist Studies is a stepping stone to a variety of careers in the music profession. This major provides you with a rigorous, high-quality tertiary music education and an intensive concentration in a chosen area of specialisation: performance, composition or musicology. These studies enable you, as an emerging musician or composer, to pursue postgraduate training at national and international centres of music excellence, postgraduate study to become an accredited music teacher, or advanced research training in various music sub-disciplines. This major must be taken in conjunction with the Music Studies major.
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) demonstrate a commanding instrumental or vocal technique, an awareness of relevant historical and stylistic conventions, an experimental and creative orientation, and a high level of musicianship and presentation in solo, small and/or large ensemble settings, and/or demonstrate a commanding compositional technique, an awareness of relevant historical and stylistic conventions, an experimental and creative orientation, and a high level of presentation and attention to detail that enables effective musical realisation; (2) identify, describe and apply advanced concepts and devices in music language (harmony, rhythm, melody, timbre, texture, dynamic) in aural and written analysis, and in compositional exercises; (3) demonstrate foundational knowledge of key issues relating to music and music education that include music psychology; musical memory; practice strategies; and music and communication; and (4) demonstrate specialised knowledge in a particular area through elective studies in music.
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 if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
Prerequisites
Successful audition
Specialist Music Studies can be taken as a second major, only in conjunction with the co-requisite Music Studies degree-specific major, in the following degrees:
Overview of unit sequence
The Music Specialist Studies second major is a single major comprising:
- four Level 2 units
- four Level 3 units
Key to availability of units: |
---|
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2 |
Level 2
Take all units (24 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S1 | MUSC2520 | Music Language 3 |
|
S2 | MUSC2525 | Music Language 4 |
|
S1, S2 | MUSC2541 | Principal Studies 3 | |
S1, S2 | MUSC2542 | Principal Studies 4 |
Level 3
Take all units (12 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S1, S2 | MUSC3541 | Principal Studies 5 |
|
S1 | MUSC3560 | Music Education in Research and Practice |
|
Take unit(s) to the value of 12 points:
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S2 | MUSC3335 | Music in the Sixties |
|
S2 | MUSC3336 | Music in Film, TV and Video Games |
|
S1, S2 | MUSC3542 | Principal Studies 6 | |
S1, S2 | MUSC3543 | Advanced Ensemble |
|
S2 | MUSC3544 | Topics in Performance Practice |
|
Choosing a second major
Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music
You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
This comprehensive degree does not allow you to choose a second major.
General degrees
The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you the option of including a second major. You have the choice to either nominate your second major when you first enrol in the course or delay it until your second year. For a major to be recorded on your academic record it must be nominated before the requirements of the course are completed.
To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.
The following example illustrates how Music Specialist Studies (taken in conjunction with the Music Studies major) can be included as second major in the Bachelor of Arts course.
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .