2010 International Undergraduate Prospectus nts. u.au

Professional and international
degree recognition
Graduates of the VCA contribute their skills,
energy and creativity through individual
endeavour and collaborative enterprise
within arts organisations and companies
throughout the world.
The VCA enjoys wide recognition among
the international arts community. It is
a member of the European League of
Institutes of the Arts (ELIA), the International
Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD), and is
an international affiliate of the Association of
Independent Colleges of Art and Design.
Depth
Developing your specialisation
The Bachelor of Music Performance is a
three-year, full-time degree course that
provides specialist training for students who
wish to prepare for careers as professional
musicians. The subjects within the course
are all semester-based and conducted
within two semesters per year.
You will undertake study from the following
streams:
>>Repertoire: this is a ‘classical’ music
performance course offered in Guitar,
Keyboard, Orchestral Instruments (String,
Brass, Woodwind, Percussion) and Voice
>>Improvisation: this course covers a wide
selection of musical styles including jazz,
Latin American, free form improvisation,
crossover music, inter-media concepts,
Australian improvised music and
Indigenous Australian music
>>Practical Composition: this course
concentrates on the making of music
in contemporary Australian society as
applied to the composer, performer,
director, audience relationship and to
the more recent role of the composer as
explorer and practitioner within cross-art
and multimedia.
The Bachelor of Music Performance is
divided into three components:
>>Core Subjects which develop
students’ musical skills to their highest
possible level in combination with an
understanding of music in a variety of
historical, social and cultural contexts.
The central focus is on the understanding
of music-making and its essential
components: the materials, the performer,
the presentation, the audience and the
context
>>Module Options (in third year only) are a
variety of performance-and tutorial-based
modules. You have the opportunity to
choose modules that will enhance your
individual areas of musical interest
>>Common Curriculum through the VCA
Centre for Ideas. The integration of
intensive specialist artistic training with
cross-disciplinary critical studies reflects
the VCA’s commitment to training artists
who are not only highly skilled but also
culturally and technologically literate.
The core subjects in the Bachelor of Music
Performance are Principal Study, Specialist
Related Studies, Ensemble, Aural Studies
(Years 1 and 2), Languages of Music (Years
1 and 2).
In the third year Module Options subjects
may change from year to year. In 2009
modules included:
>>Latin American Percussion, Composition
for Film, 18th/19th Century Music,
Orchestration.
This course may be followed by a fulltime
fourth year for selected students to
complete an Honours degree. The Honours
degree allows you to pursue a range of
studies to expand your music practice and
focus on establishing a professional career.
For subject details, see: www.vca.unimelb.
edu.au
Breadth
Knowledge across disciplines
In this multi-disciplinary arts environment,
students in the Bachelor of Music
Performance will undertake subjects
through the Centre for Ideas. The common
curriculum is a cross-disciplinary sequence
of subjects examining the interaction
between artistic practice and wider
social, political and cultural contexts. The
integration of intensive specialist dance
training with critical studies aims to produce
artists who are not only highly technically
and artistically skilled but also culturally and
technologically literate.
Knowledge transfer
Connecting with other students,
industry and the community
You are given regular opportunities to
perform both within the VCA environment
and externally. A wide range of public
concerts by students, staff, distinguished
artists and artists-in-residence are
programmed each year.
As the name suggests, the Bachelor of
Music Performance has a practical focus,
with the provision of individual instrumental
or vocal tuition, small and large ensemble
tuition and performance-related studies
which include aural, analysis, music
technology, performance criticism,
aesthetics and musical contexts.
You gain vital experience and networks
through the VCA’s active links with local
and international artists and creative
organisations.
Working alongside professional artists
in symphony orchestras, choirs, theatre
ensembles and dance companies, and
with local and international directors,
conductors, producers and stage
managers, is an integral part of the VCA
learning experience.
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Bachelor of Music Performance
Year 1 Semester 1 Principal Study Specialist Related Studies Ensemble Aural Studies Languages of Music The Artist in the World 1A
Semester 2 Principal Study Specialist Related Studies Ensemble Aural Studies Languages of Music The Artist in the World 1B
Year 2 Semester 1 Principal Study Specialist Related Studies Ensemble Aural Studies Languages of Music The World in the Artist 2A
Semester 2 Principal Study Specialist Related Studies Ensemble Aural Studies Languages of Music The World in the Artist 2B
Year 3 Semester 1 Principal Study Specialist Related Studies Ensemble Elective Elective Collaborative Contract
Semester 2 Principal Study Specialist Related Studies Ensemble Elective Elective Professional Development
Elective subjects Compulsory subjects