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 143, MUSI 144.
Students who have not studied Performance Music at Otago previously will need to audition before being admitted to 200- or 300-level Performance papers.
Audition information for Music and Bachelor of Performing Arts programmes.
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Undergraduate qualifications
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Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
MUSI papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSI101 | 2025 | Materials of Music 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI103 | 2025 | Popular Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI104 | 2025 | World Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI105 | 2025 | Music Matters in Human Life | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI131 | 2025 | Composition 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI132 | 2025 | Music Production 1 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| MUSI135 | 2025 | Songwriting | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI140 | 2025 | Performance Studies 1 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI143 | 2025 | Instrumental or Vocal Performance 1 | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI144 | 2025 | Music Ensemble 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI191 | 2025 | Introduction to Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI201 | 2025 | Materials of Music 2 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI207 | 2025 | Radical Works | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI232 | 2025 | Music Production 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI233 | 2025 | Electronic Music Production | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI234 | 2025 | Contemporary Composition | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI240 | 2025 | Performance Studies 2 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI243 | 2025 | Instrumental or Vocal Performance 2 | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI244 | 2025 | Music Ensemble 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI249 | 2025 | Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI259 | 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI260 | 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI266 | 2025 | Film Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI267 | 2025 | Music in Aotearoa | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI268 | 2025 | Performance in Asia and the Pacific | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI269 | 2025 | Popular Music 2 | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI307 | 2025 | Radical Works (Advanced) | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI310 | 2025 | Materials of Music 3 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI331 | 2025 | Composition Projects | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI332 | 2025 | Music Production 3 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI333 | 2025 | Electronic Music Production (Advanced) | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI334 | 2025 | Music Production Projects | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI340 | 2025 | Performance Studies 3 | 18 points | Semester 1, Full Year |
| MUSI343 | 2025 | Instrumental or Vocal Performance 3 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI344 | 2025 | Music Ensemble 3 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI349 | 2025 | Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI366 | 2025 | Film Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI367 | 2025 | Music in Aotearoa (Advanced) | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI368 | 2025 | Performance in Asia and the Pacific | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI369 | 2025 | Popular Music 3 | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI371 | 2025 | Research Methods and Approaches | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI375 | 2025 | Music Performance Pedagogy | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI379 | 2025 | Performance, Health and Well-being | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI386 | 2025 | Community Project | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI440 | 2025 | Performance Studies 4 | 30 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI443 | 2025 | Creative Project | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI471 | 2025 | Research Methods and Approaches (Advanced) | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI475 | 2025 | Music Performance Pedagogy (Advanced) | 30 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI479 | 2025 | Performance, Health and Well-being (Advanced) | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI486 | 2025 | Community Project (Advanced) | 30 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI487 | 2025 | Creative Practice | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI490 | 2025 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI590 | 2025 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (28 February 2025 - 21 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (11 July 2025 - 3 July 2026) |
More information
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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