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Music

Why study Music?

Sharpen your musical talent with the guidance of our internationally acclaimed music staff when you study a Bachelor of Music at Waikato. With numerous opportunities for public performance and access to a world-class performing arts venue, you’ll be learning among the best.

Access to world-class facilities.

Study music with leading professional performers and composers.

Exceptionally rich performance opportunities.

Study options

If music is your passion, then Waikato Music has a programme of study to suit. With the option to study from three different areas (Academic, Composition, Performance) the University of Waikato provides a combination of historical, analytical, creative and practical tuition to give a well-rounded learning experience.

Music can be taken as part of the Bachelor of Music degree or it can be taken as a major in the Bachelor of Arts degree. Contemporary music composition and production can be studied alongside design and media as a Major in Media Production in the Bachelor of Communication

Music papers can also be taken as part of any degree, allowing for flexibility of study options.

Tuition is available in a range of orchestral instruments including strings, winds, brass, percussion, piano and classical singing.

Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Communication

Big Band Jazz Ensemble available at Waikato from 2023!

Do you play trumpet, trombone, saxophone, drums, bass, piano or guitar? Or maybe you have an interest in singing Jazz? Do you love to collaborate with other musicians? If so, sign up for our MUSIC122 or MUSIC227 paper and keep up your passion alongside your other studies.

Available for all University of Waikato students who play a suitable big band instrument.

Learn more about MUSIC122 - Musical Collaborations
Learn more about MUSIC227 - Performance Ensemble
Tauranga Campus

New in Tauranga in 2023

100-Level and 200-Level MUSIC papers are available to be studied at the Tauranga campus. Please note that some travel to Hamilton may be required.

Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Arts in Music

The specialist degree

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 programme and build your technical skills and experience in the areas of music that interest you.

New in 2023: Te Pae Kōkako - The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio

Te Pae Kōkako - The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio (TANZOS) is a new, immersive MMus programme which will provide exceptionally promising young opera singers with international-level training and experience, from both national and visiting international tutors, as well as industry residencies in New Zealand and abroad.

It is the only one of its kind in Aotearoa and was open to six singers in its pilot year. It encompasses all the necessary elements required to give singers the best start on the global stage.

Learn more

Career pathways

  • Recording Artist
  • Performer
  • Composer
  • Digital Media Producer
  • Broadcaster
  • Teacher
  • Arts entrepreneur

What will I study?

Majors / Streams

The three Bachelor of Music (BMus) areas are:

  • Academic (music history and analysis)
  • Composition (all forms of musical creativity)
  • Performance (Students who wish to enrol in the BMus - Performance will be required to pass an audition before being awarded an offer). Learn more about entry auditions.

Degree planner — Bachelor of Music (BMus) Overview

Year 1

One from List A
(see BMus papers below)

MUSIC112
1000 years of Music

One of
MUSIC115, MUSIC116 or MUSIC140

One Of
MUSIC115, MUSIC116 or MUSIC140

One of
MUSIC115, MUSIC116 or MUSIC140

100 Level
Elective

100 Level
Elective

100 Level
Elective

Year 2

Any 200 Level
MUSIC paper

Any 200 Level
MUSIC paper

Any 200 Level
MUSIC paper

One from List B

MUSIC213
History and Analysis of Music: 1600-1800

200 Level
Elective

200 Level
Elective

200 Level
Elective

Year 3

Any 300 Level
MUSIC paper

Any 300 Level
MUSIC paper

Any 300 Level
MUSIC paper

One from List C

MUSIC314
History and Analysis of Music: 1800 to the Present

300 Level
Elective

300 Level
Elective

300 Level
Elective

  • Stream
  • Compulsory
  • Elective
This information is provisional and subject to change.

Degree planner — BMus Academic Stream

Year 1

One from
List A

MUSIC115
or MUSIC140

Any 100-level paper
listed for Music

Any 100-level paper
listed for Music

Any Level 100
MUSIC paper

Any Level 100
MUSIC paper

100 Level
Elective

100 Level
Elective

Year 2

One from
List B

MUSIC213 History
and Analysis of Music 1600-1800: Monteverdi to Mozart

Any 200 Level
MUSIC paper

Any 200 Level
MUSIC paper

200 Level
Elective

200 Level
Elective

200 Level
Elective

200 Level
Elective

Year 3

One from
List C

MUSIC314
History and Analysis of Music 1800 to the Present:

Any 300 Level
MUSIC paper

Any 300 Level
MUSIC paper

Any 300 Level
MUSIC paper

300 Level
Elective

300 Level
Elective

300 Level
Elective

  • Stream
  • Compulsory
  • Elective
This information is provisional and subject to change.

Degree planner — BMus Academic Stream

Year 1

One from
List A

MUSIC115
or MUSIC140

Any 100-level paper
listed for Music

Any 100-level paper
listed for Music

Any Level 100
MUSIC paper

Any Level 100
MUSIC paper

100 Level
Elective

100 Level
Elective

Year 2

One from
List B

MUSIC213 History
and Analysis of Music 1600-1800: Monteverdi to Mozart

Any 200 Level
MUSIC paper

Any 200 Level
MUSIC paper

200 Level
Elective

200 Level
Elective

200 Level
Elective

200 Level
Elective

Year 3

One from
List C

MUSIC314
History and Analysis of Music 1800 to the Present:

Any 300 Level
MUSIC paper

Any 300 Level
MUSIC paper

Any 300 Level
MUSIC paper

300 Level
Elective

300 Level
Elective

300 Level
Elective

  • Stream
  • Compulsory
  • Elective
This information is provisional and subject to change.
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Degree planner — BMus Composition Stream

Year 1

One from List A

MUSIC112
1000 years of Music

MUSIC115
Composition 1

MUSIC116
Harmony, Counterpoint and Musicianship

MUSIC140
Audio Tech: Communication and Creativity

Any 100 level
MUSIC paper

Elective

Elective

Year 2

One from List B

MUSIC213
History and Analysis of Music 1800 to the Present:

MUSIC215
Composition 2

MUSIC219
Materials of Music 2

MUSIC222
Orchestration

MUSIC240
Creative Music Technology 2: Music and Visuals

Elective

Elective

Year 3

One from List C

MUSIC314
History and Analysis of Music: 1800 to present

MUSIC315
Composition 3

MUSIC323
Performance, Creative or Research Project

MUSIC340
Music Technology 3: Creative Project

Elective

Elective

Elective

  • Stream
  • Compulsory
  • Elective
This information is provisional and subject to change.

Degree planner — BMus Performance Stream

Year 1

One from List A

MUSIC112
1000 years of Music

MUSIC115
Composition 1

MUSIC116
Materials of Music: Harmony Counterpoint & Musicianship

MUSIC118
Performance Techniques 1

MUSIC120
Performance 1

MUSIC121
Classical Collaborations

Elective

Year 2

One from List B

MUSIC213
History and Analysis of Music 1800 to the Present

MUSIC218
Performance Techniques 2

MUSIC220
Performance 2

MUSIC221
Classical Collaborations 2

MUSIC227
Performance Ensemble: Choir/Orchestra

Elective

Elective

Year 3

One from List C

MUSIC314
or any other 300 level Music paper

MUSIC318
Performance Techniques 3

MUSIC320
Performance 3

MUSIC321
Classical Collaborations 3

MUSIC327
Performance Ensemble 2

Elective

Elective

  • Stream
  • Compulsory
  • Elective
This information is provisional and subject to change.

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Ready for the next level?

Once you have completed your degree, you can progress your study at Postgraduate Level.

Master of Arts
Master of Music
BMus(Hons)
Doctor of Musical Arts
Doctor of Philosophy

Student Success Stories