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Bachelor of Music University of Waikato

Award Attendance Study Duration Start Domestic fees International fees
BMus On-Campus find out 3 years February, July $6786.00 year per $29470.00 year per

Course overview

The Bachelor of Music (BMus) is a specialist degree that will suit you if you have musical skill and ambition or just a sheer love of music. Choose an Academic or Performance based programme and learn different styles and techniques that build your skill-base in the areas of music that interest you.

Combining theory with practical tuition, you'll have access to our specialist teaching facilities, including the acclaimed Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber in the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts.

The two BMus streams are:

Academic Programme

  • Composition
  • Digital Music
  • Māori Musical Instruments in Traditional and Contemporary Contexts
  • Māori Song and Dance in Traditional and Contemporary Contexts
  • Western Music History

Performance Programme

  • Chamber Music
  • Performance
  • Performance Techniques
  • Western Music History

Tuition is available in voice, piano, cello, violin, classical guitar, and a range of orchestral instruments.

Soloist Specialisation

Within the BMus degree, we offer a soloist specialisation for exceptionally talented music students who have the potential to become successful international soloists. Every specialisation student has their own programme of study and we provide intensive one-to-one teaching to raise technical and interpretative skills, with a strong focus on performance skills. You'll develop your on-stage personalities through multiple opportunities to perform before live audiences, and participate in national and international competitions.

Admission to the soloist specialisation is at the discretion of the Convenor of Music. It is restricted to exceptional students who have:

  • been awarded a major prize at a recognised international or New Zealand competition;
  • performed a concerto with a professional orchestra, or a solo or chamber music concert at a major concert venue;
  • successfully completed the interview process.

The core undergraduate papers in the soloist specialisation are:

  • Soloist Studies 1 - MUSIC130
  • Soloist Performance - MUSIC131
  • Soloist Studies 2 - MUSIC230
  • Soloist Studies 3 - MUSI330

Student Achievements

Students from Waikato's Conservatorium of Music are renowned for standing out on the world stage. They have excelled nationally in New Zealand's major music competitions, such as the New Zealand National Concerto Competition, the National Woodwind Competition and the Lexus Aria Competition, as well as on the international stage, for example the Beijing International Cello Competition and the Johanssen International String Competition in Washington DC.

Career opportunities

  • Advertising Executive
  • Arts Administration
  • Broadcaster
  • Composer
  • Film Music Producer
  • Journalist
  • Music Blogger
  • Music Retailer
  • Performer
  • Recording Artist
  • Teacher

Entry requirements for this course

Contact University of Waikato to find course entry requirements.

View foundation and pathway programmes to help you meet academic and language entry requirements.

View all courses at University of Waikato

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