Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance)

Live your rhythm

Find your own musical dialect with our Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance).

Our staff and guest artists include some of the finest national and international jazz musicians and educators. Our graduates teach, perform, compose, arrange and record throughout Australia, Europe, Asia, the US, and more.

What will you do?

Our curriculum covers traditional and contemporary theory and method and is committed to the highest standards of professional performance. You’ll receive one-on-one tuition and attend masterclasses within your specialisation. Options include:

  • bass
  • drums
  • guitar
  • keyboard
  • trumpet
  • trombone
  • saxophone
  • voice.

You’ll also:

  • enjoy regular performances featuring Big Bands, Jazz Choirs, and Latin and Small Jazz Ensembles
  • take classes in theory, improvisation, arrangement and history
  • learn about looping and sampling
  • explore career paths, music business and world music
  • benefit from weekly performance opportunities with feedback from both staff and students.

Where could it take you?

You might follow your music to fame and stardom. You could develop a unique style that others yearn to master. Perhaps you’ll open a jazz club in New Orleans, with lines out the door as long as your solos on stage.

  • Learn from Australian and international jazz musicians and educators
  • Attend masterclasses and receive 1-1 tuition
  • University consistently ranked in the top 1% worldwide

Entry Requirements

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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

Admissions information

SATAC Code 354051
Deferment No
Intake February and July
Assumed Knowledge Year 12 Solo Performance or CPM Advancing Step 4, 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%

Ready to Apply?

Find out more about the application process and start your studies at the University of Adelaide.

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Fees and Scholarships

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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 Critic;  Music Educator;  Music Journalist / Music Critic;  Music Tutor;  Musician;  Performer

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 (Jazz Performance), 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:

  1. Level I courses not exceeding 30 units including MUSGEN 1301 Life in Music (3 units)
  2. Level III courses to the value of at least 24 units
  3. Sufficient courses at Level II to make the total of 72 units
  4. Chosen major - Jazz Performance
  5. A minimum of 12 units at Level I before undertaking courses at Level II
  6. A minimum of 6 units at Level II before undertaking courses at Level III.

Areas of Specialisation

Jazz Performance major

Example Study Plan

Core Courses:
MUSGEN 1301   Life in Music    3 units

Major:
To satisfy the requirements for Jazz Performance Major students must complete courses to the value of 57 units.

Level I
All of the following courses must be completed: 

MUSGEN 1201 Music Professional Development 1A 3 units
MUSGEN 1202 Music Professional Development 1B 3 units
MUSJAZZ 1001 Jazz Performance 1A 3 units
MUSJAZZ 1002 Jazz Performance 1B 3 units
MUSJAZZ 1010 Jazz History 3 units
MUSJAZZ 1101 Jazz Musicianship 1A 3 units
MUSJAZZ 1102 Jazz Musicianship 1B 3 units

Level II

All of the following courses must be completed:

MUSGEN 2201 Music Professional Development 2A 3 units
MUSGEN 2202 Music Professional Development 2B 3 units
MUSJAZZ 2001 Jazz Performance 2A 3 units
MUSJAZZ 2002 Jazz Performance 2B 3 units
MUSJAZZ 2101 Jazz Musicianship 2A 3 units
MUSJAZZ 2102 Jazz Musicianship 2B 3 units

 Level III

All of the following courses must be completed: 

MUSGEN 3201 Music Professional Development 3A 3 units
MUSJAZZ 3001 Jazz Performance 3A 3 units
MUSJAZZ 3101 Jazz Musicianship 3 3 units
MUSGEN 3007 Jazz Arranging 3 units

and

All of the following courses must be completed:
CAPSTONE

MUSJAZZ 3002    Jazz Performance 3B                              3 units
MUSGEN 3202     Music Professional Development 3B       3 units

Electives:
To satisfy the requirements for Electives, students must complete up to 21 units of  closed and/or open electives:
Jazz Performance (12 units)
Level II - 6 units
Level III - 6 units



Testimonial

The jazz course offers such a great opportunity to grow as a musician under the tutelage of professional working musicians. Connecting you to the Adelaide music scene and beyond.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Last updated: Thursday, 12 Sep 2024