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> Faculty of Education and Arts
Our Degrees
Bachelor of Music
See more degreesFast Facts
Duration
3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Locations
- Newcastle (City Precinct)
Delivery
On-campus
Faculty
Study Details
Student Intake
Domestic and International students
Student Intake
Domestic and International students
CRICOS
002546E
Recommended Studies
Music 1 or 2 at HSC level
Assumed Knowledge
Grade 6-8 AMEB or equivalent or portfolio (composition and creative production)
Special 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.
Special Requirements
International Students: Enquire Now
How to apply
Phone: +61 2 4921 6595
Email
Pathways
HSC, Open Foundation, Newstep, Yapug, TAFE, STAT
Why study music at UoN?
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.
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 music courses. Find out more
Extensive opportunity to perform
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. Find out more
Your future in music
The Bachelor of Music offers opportunities for a career as a professional musician or in a music-related field. Find out more
Additional entry requirements
As well as submitting a UAC application and meeting the University minimum academic entry requirement you must apply directly to the School of Creative Arts for an audition. Find out more
Meet our achievers
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. Find out more
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 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.
Find out more about the Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Arts
Extensive opportunity to perform
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.
Additional entry requirements
As well as submitting a UAC application and meeting the University minimum academic entry requirement you must apply directly to the School of Creative Arts for an audition.
Audition dates
Auditions for entry the following year are held September-December.
Auditions for mid-year entry are held May-June.
Find out more
To downland an application form and find out specific dates, go to the School of Creative Arts or call (02) 4921 8900. A satisfactory audition/interview is a requirement of admission, together with an acceptable level of attainment in year 12 or equivalent. 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.
Meet our achievers
Callum
Tom
Bachelor of Music
Tom grew up in country NSW and chose to study a Bachelor of Music at Newcastle University because it offered an international standard of music education in a friendly coastal location, where the cost of living was affordable.
Now based in London, Tom has his own record label, Remigrant Records, and is a professional composer and musician. He has performed piano improvisations as a support act to British rock act Pete Doherty at the Hackney Empire, and jazz improvisations on Beatles songs at the famous Abbey Road studios.
Tom also composed and produced U.S. jazz vocalist Sirena Riley’s debut album, has given solo recitals at the National Opera Studio in London, and has received critical acclaim from leading UK and international jazz journals for his skills as a composer, pianist and producer.
“Whilst studying at the Newcastle Conservatorium I was challenged to define my methods of writing and producing music, and encouraged to find the processes that best suited me as a musician and an individual, rather than just imitating other music. I learnt many valuable skills and foundations which I apply constantly in my day to day work.”