Do you see a future in composition or performance? Are you passionate about music technology or drawn to exploring the nature of music as culture? Then the Bachelor of Music is for you. In this course you’ll develop new skills, knowledge and understandings of how to work with music and the performing arts in an increasingly digital world. You’ll study with accomplished teaching staff, access a curriculum full of performance opportunities and build your international networks. Upon graduating you’ll be ready to work in a wide range of roles across the music industry and beyond.

What is a Bachelor of Music?

The Bachelor of Music enables you to master technical and performance skills and develop specialised knowledge in your chosen practice. During your studies, you’ll learn and collaborate with the world’s leading musicians and be supported by our network of world-renowned academics at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance. Engaging with the historical, creative, technical and cultural aspects of music, you’ll broaden your perspectives on music in the world and lay the foundations for a rewarding career in music.

Why choose Music at Monash?

As one of the world’s top 1% universities and Australia’s largest international university, Monash is the perfect foundation for your music degree. Consistently ranked among the best music schools in Australia, the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance at Monash University has connected people with music for more than 50 years. It continues to produce dynamic and creative national and international soloists, ensemble performers, composers, songwriters, teachers, creative music technology specialists and music researchers.

Choice of three specialisations

Choose a specialisation based on your career goals and interests:

• Composition and Music Technology: Establish skills for acoustic and electronic instruments, songwriting and music for other media such as film and video games.
• Music Performance (Classical or Jazz and Improvisation): Develop professional performance skills in solo and collaborative instrumental/vocal performance through individually tailored one-to-one tuition with renowned performers, small ensembles, creative workshops and performance opportunities.
• Popular Music: Acquire practical performance skills and stagecraft and learn how to apply songwriting and music production skills to a variety of performance styles and contexts representative of the popular music industry.

Double degrees

A double degree takes two years less to complete than if you studied the courses separately, so not only do you save time, but you also diversify your skillset, create variety in your studies, broaden your networks, open up more job opportunities, and meet a wide range of people.

You can combine the Bachelor of Music with another degree (double degree) such as Arts, Commerce, Education, Law, or Science. Our Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Music gives you Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration in only four years, allowing you to teach straight away. See our full range of Bachelor of Music double degrees.

Diverse performance opportunities

Monash is renowned for its performance opportunities and we have a diverse range of small and large ensembles, including piano ensembles, choral groups (music theatre, contemporary and classical), electronic laptop, new music, chamber orchestra, big band, funk, pop, Latin jazz, as well as the Monash Art Ensemble and the Monash Academy Orchestra .

Tailored teaching from leading industry professionals

All our teaching staff are accomplished and experienced performers across a range of contexts in the music and performing arts industries, so they will give you the tailored, individualised feedback and guidance to develop essential performance skills for your career. Find out more about Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance teachers.

Global music industry connections

The Monash Bachelor of Music connects you with the world’s leading musicians including studying with international visiting artists and researchers. For example in 2021 students worked with Canadian jazz trumpeter Ingrid Jensen and India-based Grammy-award winning environmentalist, composer and performer Ricky Kej as part of the Global Prestige Artist series. Students have also participated in workshops with some of the world’s leading composers including Vanessa Perica, Nico Muhly and Ross Edwards. In 2019, our students also had the opportunity to perform with Afghanistan’s all-female Zohra Orchestra and the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Afghanistan.

Global education

As a Bachelor of Music student, you’ll have access to the award-winning Global Immersion Guarantee - an opportunity to spend two weeks studying in India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia or the Pacific Islands. There are also opportunities to travel to Prato, Italy, to explore the ways Arts leads to social and cultural change and addresses the global challenges of our times including climate change, geo-political insecurity and thriving communities. You may also undertake ‘On Country’ experiences in Australia for immersive music performance programs or be part of our extensive overseas study programs.

Internships and work experience

Our partnership with Melbourne Fringe provides opportunities for internships, performance productions and one-to-one career guidance. With an ongoing focus on industry and professional career development, you’ll also have opportunities to engage with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Yamaha Music Australia, Women’s Jazz Festival, Music Aviva, and the Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio. Learn more about Arts Work Integrated Learning.

World-class Digital Hub

The Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance holds state-of-the-art technology housed in the Monash University Music Digital Hub. The Digital Hub is a creative, multi-functional learning facility that gives students access to the latest recording and production technology as well as industry leading equipment and software. The Hub enables audio-visual streaming with influential artists from around the world, globalising your learning experience.

Scholarships and grants

Monash is committed to educating and empowering music leaders who will generate social or cultural change. We have a number of scholarships and funding opportunities that are designed to support you throughout your studies. See the full list of music scholarships and prizes.

Jobs with a Music degree?

The Bachelor of Music gives you the opportunity of having very fulfilling and culturally enriching careers in the future. On completion of the course, you’ll be ready to work in an exciting range of professions and fields, including: performing, composing, music writing, music journalism, festival management, marketing, artist management, producing, publishing, editing, audio engineering, conducting, music therapy, radio presenting, and much more.
Our graduates go on to a vast range of careers in music. Take a look at some of our Bachelor of Music alumni journeys.

Connect with us

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