Develop your performing potential.
Our music performance programmes develop a student’s performing potential through lessons and workshops under expert staff guidance.
Performance at Otago
There are performance pathways in Classical Performance (piano, strings, woodwind, brass and classical singing), and Contemporary (pop/rock) Performance (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals). There is also a World Music Performance pathway (Highland piping and drumming, Taonga Puoro, Gamelan and Taiko ensembles) that is available within any degree.
The performance programme offers a supportive and inspiring environment in which instrumental or vocal technique and musical awareness are fostered and promoted. Many performance students have achieved outstanding national and international success, based upon the foundations obtained from their Otago training.
There are regular performance opportunities both within the University’s public music programmes and in the community.
Performance is an endorsement (specialisation) option for the Bachelor of Music (MusB).
Auditions
An audition is required for students seeking to enrol in the following papers: MUSI 140, MUSI 141, MUSI 146, MUSI 241, MUSI 246, MUSI 341, MUSI 346.
Audition information for Music and Bachelor of Performing Arts programmes.
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 | 2022 | Materials of Music 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI103 | 2022 | Popular Music | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI104 | 2022 | World Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI105 | 2022 | Music Matters | 18 points | Not offered in 2022 |
| MUSI131 | 2022 | Composition 1 | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI132 | 2022 | Music Production 1 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| MUSI135 | 2022 | Songwriting | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI140 | 2022 | Performance Studies 1 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI141 | 2022 | Performance 1 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI146 | 2022 | Contemporary Music Performance 1 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI191 | 2022 | Introduction to Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI201 | 2022 | Materials of Music 2 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI223 | 2022 | Classical Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI232 | 2022 | Music Production 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI233 | 2022 | Electronic Music Production | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI234 | 2022 | Contemporary Composition | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI240 | 2022 | Performance Studies 2 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI241 | 2022 | Performance 2 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI246 | 2022 | Contemporary Music Performance 2 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI249 | 2022 | Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice | 18 points | Not offered in 2022 |
| MUSI259 | 2022 | Special Topic: Practical Conducting | 18 points | Summer School |
| MUSI260 | 2022 | Special Topic: Vocal Performance & Recording | 18 points | Not offered in 2022 |
| MUSI261 | 2022 | Music and Visual Culture | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI265 | 2022 | Music and Theatre | 18 points | Not offered in 2022 |
| MUSI266 | 2022 | Film Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI267 | 2022 | Music in New Zealand | 18 points | Not offered in 2022 |
| MUSI268 | 2022 | Performance in Asia and the Pacific | 18 points | Not offered in 2022 |
| MUSI269 | 2022 | Popular Music 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI270 | 2022 | David Bowie | 18 points | Not offered in 2022 |
| MUSI301 | 2022 | Materials of Music | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI323 | 2022 | Classical Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI331 | 2022 | Composition Projects | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI332 | 2022 | Music Production 3 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI333 | 2022 | Electronic Music Production (Advanced) | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI334 | 2022 | Music Production Projects | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI340 | 2022 | Performance Studies 3 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI341 | 2022 | Performance 3 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI346 | 2022 | Contemporary Music Performance 3 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI349 | 2022 | Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice | 18 points | Not offered in 2022 |
| MUSI361 | 2022 | Music and Visual Culture | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI365 | 2022 | Music and Theatre | 18 points | Not offered in 2022 |
| MUSI366 | 2022 | Film Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI367 | 2022 | Music in New Zealand (Advanced) | 18 points | Not offered in 2022 |
| MUSI368 | 2022 | Performance in Asia and the Pacific | 18 points | Not offered in 2022 |
| MUSI369 | 2022 | Popular Music 3 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI371 | 2022 | Research Methods and Approaches | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI375 | 2022 | Studio Teaching Pedagogy | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI386 | 2022 | Community Project | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI401 | 2022 | Materials of Music (Advanced) | 20 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI407 | 2022 | Radical Works | 20 points | Not offered in 2022 |
| MUSI431 | 2022 | Composition Portfolio | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI432 | 2022 | Studio Production | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI441 | 2022 | Performance 4 | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI442 | 2022 | Repertoire Studies | 20 points | Full Year |
| MUSI446 | 2022 | Contemporary Music Practice 4 | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI471 | 2022 | Research Methods and Approaches (Advanced) | 20 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI475 | 2022 | Studio Teaching Pedagogy (Advanced) | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI486 | 2022 | Community Project (Advanced) | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI490 | 2022 | Dissertation | 40 points | Full Year |
| MUSI590 | 2022 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period, 2nd Non standard period |
Key information for students
Contact us
School of Performing Arts
Email spa@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/performing-arts
