UWA School of Music - Undergraduate Courses

Undergraduate Courses

In 2012, UWA adopted a new set of standard degrees, similar to other universities in Australia who have been examining the "Melbourne Model" This requires students to take at least one major, and other related areas. In line with this model, there are four modes of study for Music at UWA.

1. The First Major in Music gives students the ability to take Music Studies, including one-on-one tuition on their instrument (or composition) for a year. Normally, students will pick up another major (often Engineering Studies, Languages or Sciences) in other parts of the university.
2. The Dual Major in Music students must take Music Studies and Specialist Music Studies as their two majors. This is the performance intensive course for students who are passionate about music.
3. Students who take the Second Major in Music option are not required to audition. However, their music experience will be limited to the academic study of music (Music Language, Musicology and Enthnomusicology). They will not take lessons or be in any ensembles unless they undertake a broadening unit in music.
4. The Broadening units in Music are designed to give all students on campus a musical experience if they wish and are qualified to do so. Broadening units include performance options such as large ensemble in both auditioned (Orchestra, Wind Orchestra and WInthrop Singers) and non-auditioned (Show choir, Percussion ensemble) form. The non-auditioned ensembles give students who have no musical experience at all the opportunity to perform music. Also offered as Broadening units are academic studies such as History, Music Language, and Music and Science units.

The school has an enviable reputation in performance, evidenced by the list of alumni below that represent professional members of all major Australian orchestras (see below). In composition, there are large number of outstanding alumni. In 2011, James Ledger's (both an Alumni and member of the music faculty) work Chronicles was voted as a "Classical Masterpiece", and the best Australian Masterpiece since 2000.