Music Subject regulations
Whether you have musical skill and ambition or just a sheer love of music, this subject allows you to sharpen your musical talent and appreciation with the guidance of our internationally acclaimed musicians and lecturers. By combining theory with practical tuition, you will learn different styles and techniques that build your skill-base in the areas of music and have countless opportunities for public performance and access to a world-class performing arts venue.
Music is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA). Music may also be taken as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.
To complete Music as a single major for the BA, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for Music, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level. Students must include MUSIC112, MUSIC213 and MUSIC314.
To complete Music as part of a double major for the BA or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for Music, including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level. Students must include MUSIC112, MUSIC213 and MUSIC314.
To complete a minor in Music, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Music major, including at least 30 points above 100 level.
Music is available in three different streams for the Bachelor of Music (BMus).
Candidates must complete the requirements of the specified programme in Music including MUSIC112, MUSIC115, MUSIC116, MUSIC213, and MUSIC314.
To complete a BMus (Academic), students must complete the required papers and a further 105 points from Music, and 135 points from elective papers.
To complete a BMus (Composition), students must complete MUSIC140 and a further 15 points at 100-level, MUSIC215, MUSIC219, MUSIC222, MUSIC240, MUSIC315, MUSIC323 and MUSIC340, and 105 points from elective papers.
To complete a BMus (Performance), students must complete MUSIC118, MUSIC120, MUSIC121 or MUSIC122, MUSIC218, MUSIC220, MUSIC221, MUSIC227, MUSIC318, MUSIC320, MUSIC321, MUSIC327 and 75 points from elective papers.
All BMus students enrolled in first year Music papers should have skills in reading and writing music to Grade 3 level (NZMEB, AMEB) or Grade 5 (Royal Schools, Trinity College). Students wishing to enter the Performance stream at any level will be required to audition. Candidates must gain at least 60 points at 100 level in any subject(s) before enrolling in Music papers above 100 level, and at least 90 points at 100 and 200 level before enrolling in Music papers above 200 level.
Students are encouraged to contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences for programme advice.
Failure to achieve a pass in any Performance, Performance Techniques or Chamber Music papers will result in the need to re-audition for entry to Performance or Chamber Music streams.
Other qualifications
Prescriptions for:
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GradCert(Mus) and GradDip(Mus) A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Music at an advanced level in their first degree. Each programme of study in Music must include MUSIC112 or equivalent.
For further details, contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.
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PGCert(Mus), PGDip(Mus), BA(Hons), BMus(Hons), MA and MMus A Postgraduate Diploma in Music is available in either Composition or Performance. Students must complete either MUSIC504 or MUSIC505.
To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the BMus(Hons), a student should normally hold a BMus degree and have at least a B average in their 300 level Music papers in the area of intended graduate specialisation or all their undergraduate Music papers.
To complete a BA(Hons) or BMus(Hons) in Music, students must gain 120 points at 500 level, including at least 30 points in research (normally MUSIC591) and at least 30 points from papers listed for Music.
Candidates for the MMus must have at least second class honours (second division) in their BMus(Hons) degrees. The MMus is taken in Composition, Opera or Performance. Students are required to take MUSIC514 or MUSIC524 or MUSIC525.
Candidates for the MA in Music must have completed either:
a) a BA with a major in Music (or equivalent) and have gained at least a B grade average across the 300 level papers, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
b) a BA(Hons) in Music (or equivalent) with at least second class honours (second division), or a PGDip in Music (or equivalent) with at least a B average, and
c) have satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree, at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board.
Acceptance into the MA is subject to the availability of a suitable supervisor and overall approval from the Programme Convenor.
Completion requirements for the MA in Music vary according to admission criteria:
Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including ALPSS500 and at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA.
Students admitted under b) above must complete 120 points from approved 500-level papers, including at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA.
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MPhil The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
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PhD and DMA The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
The [Doctor of Musical Arts](https://www.waikato.ac.nz/about/calendar/regulations/higher/dma/ is a research degree in which the research component is divided equally between research-based performance and a supporting thesis. The thesis will be conceptually related to the student's performance.
