Is music for you?

If you’ve been performing or creating music, then studying music at university level is an excellent way to continue your studies and prepare you for a career as a professional musician or in a music-related field. Read more ...

Hands-on

Students have many opportunities to perform in and create for a diverse array of ensembles and bands such as jazz, symphonic and wind orchestras, chamber and large choirs, small, medium and hybrid groups. Read more ...

Careers

The Bachelor of Music offers opportunities for a career as a professional musician or in a music-related field. Read more ...

Achiever profiles

Why would you do this degree? Find out from graduates, students and academics. Discover how their future is taking shape, and learn first-hand what it's like to study at uni. Read profiles ...

Is music for you?

If you’ve been performing or creating music, then studying music at university level is an excellent way to continue your studies and prepare you for a career as a professional musician or in a music-related field.

Develop your skills

The Bachelor of Music prepares students for a musical career at a professional standard. The degree is conducted over three years of full-time study or part-time equivalent, all of which is undertaken at The Conservatorium, located in the Civic Centre precinct of Newcastle.

The degree aims to musical develop skills by providing every opportunity to develop individual creativity while receiving high quality training in music.

What is involved?

You will receive individual and group tuition in the area of your principal study, attend classes in essential core academic curricula, and have the opportunity to study a variety of music courses. You may specialise in performance (instrumental/voice), composition, creative music production, or perhaps undertake a combination of these areas in a double major.

The Conservatorium is also able to offer a variety of musical experiences including opportunity to attend concerts by a diverse range of world class musicians who regularly visit The Conservatorium.

Combined degrees

If you are interested in the Bachelor of Music, you can also look at combining this degree with the Bachelor of Arts. You will be able to complete two degrees in just four years, when studying full-time.

Hands-on

Students have many opportunities to perform in and create for a diverse array of ensembles and bands such as jazz, symphonic and wind orchestras, chamber and large choirs, small, medium and hybrid groups. Improvisation is also an important activity. Lap top orchestras and MIDI based ensembles are also on offer. Music production skills are crucial to the modern musician, and all students have the opportunity to develop skills in this area.

Get involved

We have many active music ensembles involving staff, students and interested members of the community. You can be involved in small instrumental and vocal ensembles, bands and orchestras. These ensembles normally rehearse weekly during semester time and often give concerts in the Conservatorium Concert Hall as well as at local, national and (occasionally) international venues.

State-of-the-art facilities

The Creative Production Laboratory at the University of Newcastle Conservatorium boasts state of the art Music Technology facilities. It includes twenty seven individual workstations each equipped with Apple computers, Didgidesign  MBox, Roland MIDI keyboards and headphones. Each workstation has a suite of music software. The recording studios are linked to recording acoustic in the concert hall as well equipped to record amplified music. The Harold Lobb Concert Hall is widely regarded as one of the finest acoustic venues in Australia.

Real-world experience

As well as offering a wide variety of performance experiences within the degree, an important experience we are proud of are the many opportunities students have in working and performing in the community and region. These can be performances in opera, jazz and popular venues, community events or the numerous concerts held in the area.

Careers

The Bachelor of Music offers opportunities for a career as a professional musician or in a music-related field.

Careers include:

• freelance musician
• professional orchestral player
• music producer
• musical arranger
• musical instrument maker or repairer
• musical director
• DJ
• studio teacher
• recording session musician
• member of a defence forces band
• computer music maker 
• composer
• music publishing and journalism
• conductor/musical director
• music editor
• member of an opera company
• community or private music teacher
• university lecturer
• member of a Defence Forces band
• computer music maker
• music researcher.

With additional study, graduates can also undertake careers as:

• music therapists
• arts administrators
• public relations officers
• librarians in music resources
• business managers for orchestras, bands or ensembles
• public relations staff in the arts
• secondary school teachers.

Achiever profiles

Additional entry requirements

As well as submitting a UAC application and meeting the University minimum academic entry requirement you must apply directly to the Conservatorium for an audition.

Audition dates

Early Round: 1 - 12 October 2012 - Applications to be submitted by 3 September 2012

Second Round: 26 November - 14 December 2012 - Applications submitted by 29 October 2012.

Applications are available from the Faculty of Education and Arts or by calling (02) 4921 8900. A satisfactory audition/interview is a requirement of admission, together with an acceptable level of attainment in year 12 or equivalent. Auditions are held in May-June (for mid-year entry) and October-December each year. At the audition you are required to perform three pieces of music in contrasting styles or genres, providing your own accompaniment or CD backing where required. A list of local accompanists is also available from the Conservatorium. Composers are required to submit a portfolio of three compositions or soundworks displaying contrasting forms or diversity. Applicants also sit aural and theory tests, which include basic music theory, music notation, listening, rhythmic and pitch perception. If you do not undertake the audition, you will not be eligible for an offer.