A comprehensive training in Composition (including Music Technology and Song-Writing) for students at all levels of study.
Broad-ranging in content, composition offers students training in many forms of musical creativity and music style.
In the first year of study, students may specialise in one area or mix different interests, such as Classical Music or Popular Music. In the following years, opportunities are made available for specialisation in writing for other media such as film, dance, television or theatre.
There are no minimum entry requirements for the first-year composition papers, although students with little or no music reading ability are strongly encouraged to up-skill in the first semester through the paper MUSI 191 Introduction to Music.
Students who complete the 36 point third-year paper MUSI 331 Composition Projects can choose to have their Bachelor of Music (MusB) degree endorsed in composition.
Qualifications
Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification page.
- Bachelor of Music (MusB)
Papers
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a selection of on-campus papers will be made available via distance and online learning for eligible students.
Find out which papers are available and how to apply on our COVID-19 website
| Paper code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSI101 | 2021 | Materials of Music 1 | 18 points | Second Semester |
| MUSI103 | 2021 | Popular Music | 18 points | First Semester |
| MUSI104 | 2021 | World Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI105 | 2021 | Music Matters | 18 points | Second Semester |
| MUSI131 | 2021 | Composition 1 | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI132 | 2021 | Music Production 1 | 18 points | First Semester, Second Semester |
| MUSI135 | 2021 | Songwriting | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI140 | 2021 | Performance Studies 1 | 18 points | First Semester, Second Semester, Full Year |
| MUSI141 | 2021 | Performance 1 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI146 | 2021 | Contemporary Music Performance 1 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI191 | 2021 | Introduction to Music | 18 points | First Semester |
| MUSI201 | 2021 | Materials of Music 2 | 18 points | First Semester |
| MUSI223 | 2021 | Classical Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI232 | 2021 | Music Production 2 | 18 points | Second Semester |
| MUSI233 | 2021 | Electronic Music Production | 18 points | First Semester |
| MUSI234 | 2021 | Contemporary Composition | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI240 | 2021 | Performance Studies 2 | 18 points | First Semester, Second Semester, Full Year |
| MUSI241 | 2021 | Performance 2 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI246 | 2021 | Contemporary Music Performance 2 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI249 | 2021 | Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI259 | 2021 | Special Topic: Practical Conducting | 18 points | Summer School |
| MUSI260 | 2021 | Special Topic: Vocal Performance & Recording | 18 points | Summer School |
| MUSI261 | 2021 | Music and Visual Culture | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI265 | 2021 | Music and Theatre | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI266 | 2021 | Film Music | 18 points | First Semester |
| MUSI267 | 2021 | Music in New Zealand | 18 points | Second Semester |
| MUSI268 | 2021 | Performance in Asia and the Pacific | 18 points | Second Semester |
| MUSI269 | 2021 | Popular Music 2 | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI270 | 2021 | David Bowie | 18 points | First Semester |
| MUSI301 | 2021 | Materials of Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI323 | 2021 | Classical Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI331 | 2021 | Composition Projects | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI332 | 2021 | Music Production 3 | 18 points | First Semester |
| MUSI333 | 2021 | Electronic Music Production (Advanced) | 18 points | First Semester |
| MUSI334 | 2021 | Music Production Projects | 18 points | Second Semester |
| MUSI340 | 2021 | Performance Studies 3 | 18 points | First Semester, Second Semester, Full Year |
| MUSI341 | 2021 | Performance 3 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI346 | 2021 | Contemporary Music Performance 3 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI349 | 2021 | Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI361 | 2021 | Music and Visual Culture | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI365 | 2021 | Music and Theatre | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI366 | 2021 | Film Music | 18 points | First Semester |
| MUSI367 | 2021 | Music in New Zealand (Advanced) | 18 points | Second Semester |
| MUSI368 | 2021 | Performance in Asia and the Pacific | 18 points | Second Semester |
| MUSI369 | 2021 | Popular Music 3 | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI371 | 2021 | Research Methods and Approaches | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI375 | 2021 | Studio Teaching Pedagogy | 18 points | First Semester |
| MUSI386 | 2021 | Community Project | 18 points | First Semester |
| MUSI401 | 2021 | Materials of Music (Advanced) | 20 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI407 | 2021 | Seminal Works | 20 points | Full Year |
| MUSI431 | 2021 | Composition Portfolio | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI432 | 2021 | Studio Production | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI441 | 2021 | Performance 4 | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI442 | 2021 | Repertoire Studies | 20 points | Full Year |
| MUSI446 | 2021 | Contemporary Music Practice 4 | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI471 | 2021 | Research Methods and Approaches (Advanced) | 20 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| MUSI475 | 2021 | Studio Teaching Pedagogy (Advanced) | 20 points | First Semester |
| MUSI486 | 2021 | Community Project (Advanced) | 20 points | First Semester |
| MUSI490 | 2021 | Dissertation | 40 points | Full Year |
| MUSI590 | 2021 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period, 2nd Non standard period |
Key information for future students
Contact us
Email spa@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/performing-arts
