Program overview

Why choose this program?

Education and training in popular music at tertiary level is a very recent phenomenon and the establishment of a degree in popular music at the Queensland Conservatorium is unique in both its content focus and its teaching and learning environment.

The emphasis is on the musical innovation and creativity necessary for success in a wide range of popular music industry vocations. It incorporates the learning, approaches commonly found in popular music cultures by focusing on contemporary popular music practices, emergent technologies and skills in sound engineering and production along with up-to-date research in popular music history and analysis.

The program will enable you to develop transferable skills including creativity and imagination, self-assessment ability, selfdirected learning and information literacy, problem-solving and decision-making, critical thinking and analytical ability, writing skills, oral delivery, numeracy, information and communication technologies, teamwork, planning and project management.

You will have 24/7 access to extensive recording studio facilities so you can record your songs and improvisations and develop your ideas through a cycle of recording, listening, modifying and re-recording. As an integral part of this process, you will undertake both theoretical and practical training in popular music with particular emphasis given to the development of creativity in music technology, production, performance, songwriting and the business of music.

This unique program combines the traditions of popular music production with the advances of modern technology within an academic environment that fosters skills in creativity and innovation.

The program contains four streams of study:

• The major study focuses on the development of original musical product through innovative creative practices and processes. In collaboration with other students you will spend a considerable amount of time working in the recording studios to create, rehearse, record and produce original musical product.You will be required to submit a recorded portfolio of this work and a project journal each semester for assessment. The recorded portfolio usually takes the form of a CD (with graphics you design yourself to appropriately signify the musical style) but might also take the form of a DVD or VCD with original music composed to accompany a short film, animation, theatrical production or music video clip. Vocal and instrumental master classes, music business seminars and recording project workshops help you to develop the musical and associated skills required not only for completion of the major study recorded portfolio but for a successful career in the music industry.
• Supporting studies include courses to enable you to develop skills in information technology software, basic acoustics and sound engineering and production.
• Popular Music Resource studies comprise courses associated with creative music technologies, rhythmic awareness, composition/ songwriting and music business.
• The Music Literature and Culture studies contains six semesters of courses that focus on popular music history with a substantial focus on the development and impact of popular music styles and cultures. A historical survey from 1930s country and blues styles to recent popular music styles provides a forum for students to focus on a wide variety of popular music repertoire. This sequence of popular music history and analysis courses is important to developing your creative practice. As with most musicians working in the popular music industry, familiarity and engagement with a wide range of popular music styles provides a basis for experimentation in songwriting, performance, recording and production techniques.

Attendance

The Bachelor of Popular Music Program is offered full-time on campus at the Gold Coast campus.

As a full-time student you will generally attend 10-15 hours of scheduled classes per week throughout the semester. Classes may be scheduled during the day and evening throughout the week.

Students may take a reduced study load. You will be classed as a part-time student if you enrol in less than 30 credit points per semester. This may affect entitlement to Centrelink benefits.

International students must maintain a full-time study load.

The program's on-campus recording facilities are available to students 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and most students use these facilities extensively to complete the recorded work associated with the program. This self-directed work is additional to scheduled class time.

Career opportunities

The Bachelor of Popular Music program will provide you with the theoretical and practical training required for a career in many sectors of popular music and the related industries. You will find employment opportunities in large music organisations and the entertainment industry as well as the education sector. Many graduates establish their own businesses such as recording studios, teaching studios, music distribution and artist and repertoire companies. This program also serves as a first step for those wishing to develop careers in music research and higher education.