Bachelor of Music (Creative Practice)
Ignite your sound
Want to take your talent to its fullest potential? Enhance your creative voice with a comprehensive program offering opportunities in music composition, song writing, recording and production.
Become a dynamic and versatile artist. Leave your mark on an expanding global industry.
What will you do?
Our Creative Practice degree equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel as a music industry professional. You will:
- produce your own original music and gain industry experience with regular recording and performance
- have 24/7 access to cutting-edge facilities, including production studios, recording rooms and digital audio laboratories
- learn an extensive range of stylistic approaches throughout arts history and contemporary sound
- explore your interests in creating music for film, computer game audio, sound engineering, and live sound design
- build a strong, adaptable range of skills in musical structure, theory and composition
- receive mentorship and business coaching from industry professionals.
Where could it take you?
You might compose award-winning scores for film or computer games. You could fill the audiences for prestigious concert halls, original musical theatre, or major music festivals. Perhaps you’ll work behind the scenes, recording and producing with an exciting line-up of fresh artists.
Entry Requirements
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions
information for this program.
I am a:
Before applying make sure you understand the eligibility and entry requirements for your chosen degree.
Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.
Domestic applicants
| SATAC Code | 354641 |
|---|---|
| Deferment | No |
| Intake | February and July |
| Assumed Knowledge | Year 12 Solo Performance or AMEB Practical Grade 6-7, plus Year 12 Musicianship or AMEB Grade 5 Theory |
| Additional Entry Requirements | All prospective students applying to the Elder Conservatorium of Music are required to attend an audition/interview for each area of specialisation, regardless of the number or type of music programs they are applying for. The audition/interview will assess each applicant's current skill level and potential for future studies and offers will be made on the basis of the audition/interview score, academic achievement and the musicianship test. The Musicianship test aims to assess the applicant's general level of musicianship, which involves the ability to identify and recognise musical concepts within aural, written and theoretical contexts. The test comprises: aural questions covering rhythm, tonality, melody and harmony; score interpretation questions about a given short piano extract; theoretical questions such as keys, major and minor scales, intervals and chords. For details regarding the audition rounds and the application process, please visit the Elder Conservatorium of Music (https://able.adelaide.edu.au/music/study/auditions). |
Selection Criteria
| Recent Secondary Education | Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You must also undertake an audition/interview including an aural/theory test. You compete for a place based on your audition score. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information. |
|---|---|
| Higher Education Study | You must have completed at least six months full time equivalent higher education study (the number of courses and units will vary depending on your prior institution however at the University of Adelaide, this equates to 4 courses / 12 units). A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You must also undertake an audition/interview including an aural/theory test. You compete for a place based on your audition score. Your best GPA is used in the case of a tie-breaker. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information. |
| Vocational Education and Training (VET) study | You must have completed an AQF Certificate IV or above from a Registered Training Organisation. You must also undertake an audition/interview including an aural/theory test. You compete for a place based on your audition score. Further ranking according to the level of TAFE award is undertaken in the case of a tie-breaker. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information. |
| Work and life experience | To be eligible to sit the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2025. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2025 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2024 or 2023), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2023). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components. You must also undertake an audition/interview including an aural/theory test. You compete for a place based on your audition score. Your STAT result is used in the case of a tie-breaker. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information. |
| Other Entry Pathways | |
2024 Admissions Data for school leavers
| ATAR (raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors) |
Lowest ATAR to receive an offer | * |
|---|---|---|
| Median ATAR to receive an offer | * | |
| Highest ATAR to receive an offer | * | |
| Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) |
Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer | * |
| Median Selection Rank to receive an offer | * | |
| Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer | * | |
| Minimum eligibility score | n/a | |
| Additional criteria considered | Audition required | |
-
Admissions Transparency Data
Student Profile
Applicant background Semester one/Full year intake 2024 Number of students Percentage of all students (A) Higher Education study
(includes a bridging or enabling course)N/A N/A (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study N/A N/A (C) Work and life experience
(admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)N/A N/A (D) Recent secondary education: - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
(regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
N/A N/A - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
(e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
81 98.8% - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
(e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
N/A N/A International students <5 N/A All students 82 100.0% - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
Ready to Apply?
Find out more about the application process and start your studies at the University of Adelaide.
Be sure to check the critical dates to avoid missing application deadlines.
ApplyFees and Scholarships
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant fees and scholarships information for this program.
I am a:
Domestic applicants
| Indicative annual tuition fees |
Commonwealth-supported place: $9,730
|
Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.
More information on Student Contribution Amounts.
Scholarships
Scholarships are not only for high achievers—they are also available to provide students with an equal opportunity to study at university, no matter where they live or what their financial situation might be.
Scholarships are available to both new and continuing students. We encourage students to apply for any scholarships for which they may be eligible.
To browse scholarships offered by the University, visit: University Scholarships
To explore scholarships offered by organisations external to the University, visit: External Scholarships
Careers
Potential careers
Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:
Music Coordinator; Music Educator; Music Historian; Music Journalist / Music Critic; Music Librarian; Music Producer; Music Researcher; Music Technologist; Music Theory Teacher; Music Tutor ...
Degree Structure
The Bachelor of Music provides the intensive professional training required for employment in the music industry. It seeks to provide a challenging and stimulating learning environment in which all students may achieve their full potential in their chosen major. It aims to develop educated, flexible and imaginative graduates who possess the knowledge and skills required to function effectively in a wide range of professional contexts. The program provides students with the option to undertake a major in either Classical Performance, Jazz Performance, Music Education or Creative Practice (a broad area of study that includes courses in music composition, popular music and sonic arts).
The Bachelor of Music is an AQF Level 7 qualification with a standard full-time duration of 3 years.
Academic Program Rules
The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.
To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Music (Creative Practice), the student must complete satisfactorily a program of study consisting of the following requirements with a combined total of not less than 72 units comprising:
- Level I courses not exceeding 30 units including MUSGEN 1301 Life in Music (3 units)
- Level III courses to the value of at least 24 units
- Sufficient courses at Level II to make the total of 72 units
- Chosen major - Creative Practice
- A minimum of 12 units at Level I before undertaking courses at Level II
- A minimum of 6 units at Level II before undertaking courses at Level III.
Areas of Specialisation
Creative Practice major
Example Study Plan
Core Courses:
MUSGEN 1301 Life in Music 3 units
Major:
To satisfy the requirements for Creative Practice Major students must complete courses to the value of 54 units.
Level I
All of the following courses must be completed:
MUSONIC 1000 Music Technology Foundations 3 units
plus
Subject to academic advice received by each student following audition, students will enrol in either Composition, Popular Music or Sonic Arts Level I courses as follows:
All of the following courses must be completed:
COMPOSITION
| MUSCOMP 1001 | Composition 1A | 3 units |
| MUSCOMP 1001 | Composition 1B | 3 units |
| MUSCOMP 1100 | Orchestration 1 | 3 units |
| MUSSUPST 2001 | Musicianship 1A | 3 units |
| MUSSUPST 2002 | Musicianship 1B | 3 units |
or
All of the following courses must be completed:
POPULAR MUSIC
| MUSPOP 1003 | Contemporary Musicianship 1A | 3 units |
| MUSPOP 1004 | Contemporary Musicianship 1B | 3 units |
| MUSPOP 1100 | Contemporary Music in Practice 1 | 3 units |
| MUSPOP 1201 | Song Writing & Performance 1A | 3 units |
| MUSPOP 1202 | Song Writing & Performance 1A | 3 units |
or
All of the following courses must be completed:
SONIC ARTS
| MUSONIC 1001 | Music & Sound Fundamentals 1A | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 1002 | Music & Sound Fundamentals 1B | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 1210 | Sound Engineering | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 1220 | Sonic Arts | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 1300 | Sonic Arts in Practice 1 | 3 units |
Level II
All of the following courses must be completed:
MUSSUPST 2001 Musicianship 2A 3 units
MUSSUPST 2002 Musicianship 2B 3 units
or
All of the following courses must be completed:
MUSGEN 2001 From Elvis to YouTube II 3 units
MUSGEN 2003 Music, Media & Contemporary Society II 3 units
and
Courses to the value of 12 units from the following:
Students are not permitted to cross-count courses already presented in Level I.
| MUSCOMP 1001 | Composition 1A | 3 units |
| MUSCOMP 1001 | Composition 1B | 3 units |
| MUSCOMP 1100 | Orchestration 1 | 3 units |
| MUSCOMP 2001 | Composition 2A | 3 units |
| MUSCOMP 2002 | Composition 2B | 3 units |
| MUSCOMP 2100 | Orchestration 2 | 3 units |
| MUSCOMP 2101 | Music Analysis 2 | 3 units |
| MUSPOP 1201 | Song Writing & Performance 1A | 3 units |
| MUSPOP 1201 | Song Writing & Performance 1B | 3 units |
| MUSPOP 2100 | Contemporary Music in Practice 2 | 3 units |
| MUSPOP 2201 | Song Writing & Performance 2B | 3 units |
| MUSPOP 2202 | Song Writing & Performance 2B | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 1210 | Sound Engineering | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 1220 | Sonic Arts | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 2300 | Sonic Arts in Practice 2 | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 2310 | Computer Music Composition 2 | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 2610 | Sound Engineering Live | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 2820 | Sound Design for Film II | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 2905 | Circuit Bending and Hardware Hacking | 3 units |
Level III
All of the following courses must be completed:
Capstone
MUSPOP 3100 Contemporary Music in Practice 3 6 units
and
Courses to the value of 12 units from the following:
| MUSPOP 3201 | Song Writing & Performance 3 | 3 units |
| MUSCOMP 3001 | Composition 3A | 3 units |
| MUSCOMP 3002 | Composition 3B | 3 units |
| MUSCOMP 3100 | Orchestration 3 | 3 units |
| MUSCOMP 3101 | Music Analysis 3 | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 3001 | Advanced Sound Engineering 3 | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 3020 | Interaction Design and the Sonic Arts | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 3030 | The Sampled Source | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 3310 | Computer Music Composition 3 | 3 units |
| MUSONIC 3720 | Sound Design for Games III | 3 units |
Electives:
To satisfy the requirements for Electives, students must complete up to 21 units of closed and/or open electives:
Creative Practice (15 units)
Level I - 3 units
Level II - 6 units
Level III - 6 units
Related Degrees
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Last updated: Thursday, 12 Sep 2024
