Bachelor of Music (Musicology)

Map new musical territories

Musicology is the study of music in its cultural, social, historical and stylistic contexts.

It's about the way that music 'works'. And not just notes on a page or sounds in a recording. Music also affects individual actions, social behaviour and expression in both Western and non-Western societies.

Our Bachelor of Music (Musicology) takes your contextual knowledge of music to the next level. You will:

• explore different approaches to music research
• gain keen aural and analytical skills
• develop high-level understandings of music history and repertoire
• analyse live and recorded music
• build confidence in oral and written communication.

You can also pursue a wide range of studies in other areas. If you're interested in performance you can take ensemble classes subject to audition.

You could continue on in academia or pursue work in music and arts journalism. You might work for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of fame in Ohio or archive in the Australian Jazz Museum. Perhaps you'll publish a book about music and acculturation in First Nations communities.

• Understand how music is made, its history, and how it affects us
• Study at Australia's most distinguished tertiary music school
• Learn from world-leading academics

Musicology students are expected to have a background in basic music theory and will complete the same music theory and history supporting studies coursework undertaken by other Bachelor of Music students. Musicology students typically have some experience in classical, popular, jazz or other styles of music performance.

The Musicology major provides students with the following:

• Understanding of the way that music 'works', not only as notes on a page or sounds in a recording, but as the basis of individual actions, social behaviour and expression in both Western and non-Western societies.
• Understanding of the varied approaches to music research carried out by researchers in the co-disciplines of musicology/ethnomusicology and in related disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, and psychology.
• Development of aural and analytical skills through assessed work in written critiques and analyses of live and recorded music.
• Development of music-specific and general research skills related to planning essays as well as confidence in written and oral communication.