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 | 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 future students
Contact us
Email spa@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/performing-arts
