Undergraduate study in Creative Practice: Popular Music

What can you study in the Creative Practice: Popular Music specialisation?

In the first year you will compose, perform and record songs on a weekly basis, have one-on-one instrumental lessons, study music technology and production, arranging, performance and music notation, theory and history. In the second year you will continue to add to your skills with the goal of establishing your own distinctive creative process and style. The third year offers an opportunity to concentrate on advancing either your music technology and music production skills, or your performance skills, while still composing and performing as a songwriter. Each student finishes their degree with the creation of a significant portfolio of their final creative work and a major concert.

All School of Music students have access to auxiliary performance studies. You will also study other topics of interest to you, including music education, pedagogy, music technology, conducting, music studies, musicians’ health and various industry-related topics.

The core courses of the BMus degree include music theory and other music studies subjects. You will also take two General Education courses offered by other faculties from across the University to acquire a broader range of skills and understanding, and be exposed to cross-disciplinary research.

How to apply

First you must complete your Application for Admission.
Once you have completed your Application for Admission, you will be asked to upload your audition portfolio via the SlideRoom portal. Read the audition guidelines to prepare your audition portfolio.
An online interview may also be required. If so, the School of Music will contact you.

If you have any queries, please contact the Student Hubs.

Read the audition guidelines

Conjoints

You may choose to combine your BMus with another discipline. Find out more about our conjoint degree options:

Structuring your undergraduate programme

Comprises:

4 x core courses
3 x specialised theory and musicianship courses
9 x creative practice courses
6 x elective courses
2 x General Education courses

Bachelor of Music – Creative Practice: Popular Music degree requirements:

60 points from: MUS 104, 143, 243, 343
30 points from: MUS 284, 287
135 points from: MUS 180, 181, 196, 280, 281, 282, 283, 380, 381
75 points from: MUS 103 – 188, 206 – 296, 306 – 396
a futher 30 points from: ANTHRO 103, 106, 202, 217, 234, 301, 327, 329, 357, MĀORI 190, MUS 103–397, PACIFIC 110
30 points of General Education

You can also find degree structure information in the University Calendar.

Courses

Discover the courses available within the Bachelor of Music, including those for Creative Practice: Popular Music.

Browse our music courses

Help and advice

For queries about how to apply, admission, and enrolment, please visit Student Hubs or contact us online.