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
| Paper code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSI101 | 2023 | Materials of Music 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI103 | 2023 | Popular Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI104 | 2023 | World Music | 18 points | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2025 |
| MUSI105 | 2023 | Music Matters | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI131 | 2023 | Composition 1 | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI132 | 2023 | Music Production 1 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| MUSI135 | 2023 | Songwriting | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI140 | 2023 | Performance Studies 1 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI141 | 2023 | Performance 1 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI146 | 2023 | Contemporary Music Performance 1 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI191 | 2023 | Introduction to Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI201 | 2023 | Materials of Music 2 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI223 | 2023 | Classical Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI232 | 2023 | Music Production 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI233 | 2023 | Electronic Music Production | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI234 | 2023 | Contemporary Composition | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI240 | 2023 | Performance Studies 2 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI241 | 2023 | Performance 2 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI246 | 2023 | Contemporary Music Performance 2 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI249 | 2023 | Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI259 | 2023 | Special Topic: Practical Conducting | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI260 | 2023 | Special Topic: Vocal Performance & Recording | 18 points | Summer School |
| MUSI261 | 2023 | Music and Visual Culture | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI265 | 2023 | Music and Theatre | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI266 | 2023 | Film Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI267 | 2023 | Music in Aotearoa | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI268 | 2023 | Performance in Asia and the Pacific | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI269 | 2023 | Popular Music 2 | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI270 | 2023 | David Bowie | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI301 | 2023 | Materials of Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI323 | 2023 | Classical Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI331 | 2023 | Composition Projects | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI332 | 2023 | Music Production 3 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI333 | 2023 | Electronic Music Production (Advanced) | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI334 | 2023 | Music Production Projects | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI340 | 2023 | Performance Studies 3 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI341 | 2023 | Performance 3 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI346 | 2023 | Contemporary Music Performance 3 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI349 | 2023 | Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI361 | 2023 | Music and Visual Culture | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI365 | 2023 | Music and Theatre | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI366 | 2023 | Film Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI367 | 2023 | Music in Aotearoa (Advanced) | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI368 | 2023 | Performance in Asia and the Pacific | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI369 | 2023 | Popular Music 3 | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI371 | 2023 | Research Methods and Approaches | 18 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI375 | 2023 | Music Performance Pedagogy | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI386 | 2023 | Community Project | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI401 | 2023 | Materials of Music (Advanced) | 20 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI407 | 2023 | Radical Works | 20 points | Full Year |
| MUSI431 | 2023 | Composition Portfolio | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI432 | 2023 | Studio Production | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI441 | 2023 | Performance 4 | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI442 | 2023 | Repertoire Studies | 20 points | Full Year |
| MUSI446 | 2023 | Contemporary Music Practice 4 | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI471 | 2023 | Research Methods and Approaches (Advanced) | 20 points | Not offered in 2023 |
| MUSI475 | 2023 | Music Performance Pedagogy (Advanced) | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI486 | 2023 | Community Project (Advanced) | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI490 | 2023 | Dissertation | 40 points | Full Year |
| MUSI590 | 2023 | 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
