Why Bachelor of Music?
Develop your creativity and musical talent and communicate with audiences at the deepest level.
Be part of an enduring and powerful art form by studying a Bachelor of Music majoring in Classical Performance. Inspire and be inspired. Broaden your horizons by learning to play in ensembles and strengthen your collaborative skills and versatility as a musician.
Overview
Prepare for a career in the music industry with a Bachelor of Music. Develop your performance skills, expand your musical knowledge and build an awareness of professional standards.
With a specialisation in Classical Performance, advance your technical skills with an instrument or your own voice. Hone your craft during workshops, rehearsals, masterclasses and one-on-one tuition. Sharpen your collaboration skills in different musical settings including orchestras, wind ensembles, chamber ensembles and choirs. Deepen your aural, theoretical and historical knowledge in classical music. Become culturally and socially sensitive, preparing for the collaborative role of a musician in society. Graduate ready to work as a musician.
Instrument options for this degree include:
- Classical voice
- Classical brass (trumpet, trombone, tuba, french horn, euphonium)
- Classical keyboard (piano, organ, harpsichord)
- Classical percussion
- Classical strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, harp)
- Classical woodwind (flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, recorder)
- Variety of Baroque instruments.
Key features
Complete classes in technique and repertoire. - Strengthen your collaboration skills by participating in ensembles.
- Enhance your aural, theoretical and historical knowledge in classical music.
- Perform weekly and receive feedback from staff.
- Receive intensive one-to-one tuition with faculty and eminent visiting musicians.
- Be part of an internationally renowned music institution, the Elder Conservatorium of Music.
- Work in historically informed performance practice with dedicated staff.
What you'll learn
Your music degree will focus on professional development, classical performance and musicianship.
In your classical performance courses, receive one-on-one tuition to develop your technical and performance skills. You’ll present, perform and discuss your repertoire with your peers.
In your professional development courses, you’ll rehearse and perform in ensembles chosen for your individual instrument or voice. Work with professional ensemble directors and learn about professional etiquette and standards.
In musicianship classes, trace the history, culture and new directions of classical music. Listen to works and analyse compositions from various time periods.
Majors
The Bachelor of Music is also available with majors in the following:
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 6 units for all Core courses, and
- 96 to 114 units for one Major from Majors, and
- 24 to 42 units for Electives
Complete 6 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
Life in Music
|
Course code
MUSI1036
|
Units
6
|
Complete 96 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Musicianship 1A
|
Course code
MUSI1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Musicianship 1B
|
Course code
MUSI1009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Classical Performance 1A
|
Course code
MUSI1027
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Classical Performance 1B
|
Course code
MUSI1028
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Professional Development 1A
|
Course code
MUSI1029
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Professional Development 1B
|
Course code
MUSI1031
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Musicianship 2A
|
Course code
MUSI2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Musicianship 2B
|
Course code
MUSI2007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Classical Performance 2A
|
Course code
MUSI2025
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Classical Performance 2B
|
Course code
MUSI2026
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Professional Development 2A
|
Course code
MUSI2027
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Professional Development 2B
|
Course code
MUSI2029
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Classical Performance 3A
|
Course code
MUSI3027
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Classical Performance 3B
|
Course code
MUSI3028
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Professional Development 3A
|
Course code
MUSI3029
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Professional Development 3B
|
Course code
MUSI3031
|
Units
6
|
Complete 24 to 42 units comprising:
- 24 to 42 units from Program electives - closed
- 24 to 42 units for all Program electives - open, and
- 24 to 42 units from Program selectives, and
- 24 units from Year 2 selectives
- 24 units from Year 3 selectives
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Music Technology Foundations
|
Course code
MUSI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music & Sound Fundamentals 1A
|
Course code
MUSI1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music & Sound Fundamentals 1B
|
Course code
MUSI1008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Musics of the World I
|
Course code
MUSI1013
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Orchestration 1
|
Course code
MUSI1019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations of Music Education 1A
|
Course code
MUSI1021
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations of Music Education 1B
|
Course code
MUSI1023
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Song Writing & Performance 1A
|
Course code
MUSI1030
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Song Writing & Performance 1B
|
Course code
MUSI1032
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sound Engineering
|
Course code
MUSI1033
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sonic Arts
|
Course code
MUSI1034
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
From Elvis to YouTube II
|
Course code
MUSI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music, Media & Contemporary Society II
|
Course code
MUSI2009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Musics of the World II
|
Course code
MUSI2011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations of Conducting
|
Course code
MUSI2015
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Orchestration 2
|
Course code
MUSI2017
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Analysis 2
|
Course code
MUSI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Education in Theory and Practice 2A
|
Course code
MUSI2020
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Education in Theory and Practice 2B
|
Course code
MUSI2022
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Song Writing & Performance 2A
|
Course code
MUSI2028
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Song Writing & Performance 2B
|
Course code
MUSI2030
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sonic Arts in Practice 2
|
Course code
MUSI2031
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Computer Music Composition 2
|
Course code
MUSI2032
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sound Engineering Live
|
Course code
MUSI2033
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sound Design for Film II
|
Course code
MUSI2034
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Methods in Music Research
|
Course code
MUSI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Research 3
|
Course code
MUSI3006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Jazz Arranging
|
Course code
MUSI3013
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music, Health and Wellbeing
|
Course code
MUSI3014
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations of Conducting
|
Course code
MUSI3015
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music, Media & Contemporary Society III
|
Course code
MUSI3016
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Conducting: Choral & Instrumental Techniques
|
Course code
MUSI3017
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Orchestration 3
|
Course code
MUSI3020
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Analysis 3
|
Course code
MUSI3023
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Education in Theory and Practice 3
|
Course code
MUSI3024
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Song Writing & Performance 3
|
Course code
MUSI3030
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
International Study Tour: Music
|
Course code
MUSI3035
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Internship
|
Course code
MUSI3900
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Elective 1
|
Course code
AUXX1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Elective 2
|
Course code
AUXX1012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Elective 3
|
Course code
AUXX1013
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Elective 4
|
Course code
AUXX1014
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Circuit Bending and Hardware Hacking
|
Course code
MUSI2035
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Methods in Music Research
|
Course code
MUSI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Sound Engineering 3
|
Course code
MUSI3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music, Health and Wellbeing
|
Course code
MUSI3014
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music, Media & Contemporary Society III
|
Course code
MUSI3016
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Interaction Design and the Sonic Arts 3
|
Course code
MUSI3018
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
The Sampled Source
|
Course code
MUSI3019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sonic Arts in Practice 3
|
Course code
MUSI3032
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Computer Music Composition 3
|
Course code
MUSI3033
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sound Design for Games III
|
Course code
MUSI3034
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Technology Foundations
|
Course code
MUSI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
From Elvis to YouTube I
|
Course code
MUSI1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Musics of the World I
|
Course code
MUSI1013
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sound & Media
|
Course code
MUSI1018
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sonic Arts in Practice 1
|
Course code
MUSI1035
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
From Elvis to YouTube II
|
Course code
MUSI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music, Media & Contemporary Society II
|
Course code
MUSI2009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Musics of the World II
|
Course code
MUSI2011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sonic Arts in Practice 2
|
Course code
MUSI2031
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sound Design for Film II
|
Course code
MUSI2034
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Composition 1A
|
Course code
MUSI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Composition 1B
|
Course code
MUSI1006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Orchestration 1
|
Course code
MUSI1019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Song Writing & Performance 1A
|
Course code
MUSI1030
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Song Writing & Performance 1B
|
Course code
MUSI1032
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sound Engineering
|
Course code
MUSI1033
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sonic Arts
|
Course code
MUSI1034
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Composition 2A
|
Course code
MUSI2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Composition 2B
|
Course code
MUSI2005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Orchestration 2
|
Course code
MUSI2017
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Contemporary Music in Practice 2
|
Course code
MUSI2018
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Analysis 2
|
Course code
MUSI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Song Writing & Performance 2A
|
Course code
MUSI2028
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Song Writing & Performance 2B
|
Course code
MUSI2030
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sonic Arts in Practice 2
|
Course code
MUSI2031
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Computer Music Composition 2
|
Course code
MUSI2032
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sound Engineering Live
|
Course code
MUSI2033
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sound Design for Film II
|
Course code
MUSI2034
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Circuit Bending and Hardware Hacking
|
Course code
MUSI2035
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Composition 3A
|
Course code
MUSI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Sound Engineering 3
|
Course code
MUSI3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Composition 3B
|
Course code
MUSI3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Interaction Design and the Sonic Arts 3
|
Course code
MUSI3018
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
The Sampled Source
|
Course code
MUSI3019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Orchestration 3
|
Course code
MUSI3020
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Music Analysis 3
|
Course code
MUSI3023
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Song Writing & Performance 3
|
Course code
MUSI3030
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Computer Music Composition 3
|
Course code
MUSI3033
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sound Design for Games III
|
Course code
MUSI3034
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
Careers in classical music require dedication and passion. Connect with audiences all over the world as a classical performer with orchestras, chamber ensembles and choirs. With a Bachelor of Music majoring in Classical Performance, you can launch a career on any stage.
You might pursue the following careers:
- Performer
- Music coordinator
- Music director
- Music educator
- Music tutor.
Industry trends
Despite its early origins, classical music continues to transcend time. Its emotion, elegance and tranquillity are harnessed across diverse industries spanning film, performing arts, advertising, events, hospitality and music therapy. With the rise of social media, it’s also much easier to grow a global fan base and advertise your music in cost-effective ways (Forbes, 2023). Take advantage of the many modern applications of classical performance when you study music.
Ready to apply?
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
