Resources in Music
Music at Otago is rich in resources for music-making and music-learning.
- Music Venues and Resources
- Musical Instruments
- Gamelan, Renaissance and other instruments
- Practice rooms and instrument storage facilities
Music Venues and Resources
Marama Hall
Historic Marama Hall, on the university campus, is a fine concert hall seating 200, and is used for the performance of Classical Music. Within the same building are the teaching studios of most staff, together with practice rooms.
The Hall has the facility to sound-record and video-record all performances. Available for concerts in the Hall are two Steinway grand pianos, a Wolf fortepiano, a Hubbard Flemish harpsichord and a Rieger chamber organ. The acoustics of Marama Hall have long been widely praised.
Weekly public lunchtime concerts are given in Marama Hall during semesters, and occasional evening or afternoon concerts are also held, given by staff, guest performers and senior students. Marama Chamber Orchestra, comprising the Department’s string students, rehearses and performs in Marama Hall.
Albany Street Studios
Albany Street Studios began life as a recording studio for Radio New Zealand. Here you will find a large sound-proof recording studio, and our state-of-the art million-dollar sound recording desk.
Within the same building are teaching studios for contemporary music, the guitar lab, drum rooms and practice spaces. Regular live concerts are given in the studio.
The DeMU Technology Lab
The DeMU Technology Lab by the Archway is a high-tech studio for students in Design and Music, whose computers are loaded with specialist music programmes.
Department of Music Offices
Sale-Black House is where the academic staff have their offices. It includes a small lecture/seminar room and the Department administration.
University Central Library
The exciting University Library houses an extensive music collection, and its Audio-visual Study Centre gives access to a comprehensive collection of sound recordings and DVDs.
Performance Venues
Gigs happen all the time and in many venues in Dunedin. The Refuel Bar on campus is a favourite.
For gig and event information visit
Musical Instruments
- University Gamelan. The University Gamelan is housed in the Archway Building, and students may take gamelan studies for credit. There is also a community gamelan group.
- Renaissance and other instruments. The Department has a collection of Renaissance instruments (lutes, archlutes and so on), as well as African drums, Japanese koto instruments and Korean taiko drums, all of them giving opportunities for group music-making under expert direction.
Practice Rooms and Instrument Storage Facilities
- Practice rooms in Marama Hall and in Castle Street are provided with pianos, and there is a Disklavier in one of the Marama Hall rooms.
- Lockable storage for students’ own instruments is provided in Marama Hall.
- There is a limited number of lockable storage cupboards for students instruments in the Albany St Building