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
| 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 students
Contact us
School of Performing Arts
Email spa@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/performing-arts
