MUSIC STUDIES AT THE NZSM

Music Studies is a flexible and dynamic programme that embraces a range of musics and encourages students to think about them from a variety of perspectives. The NZSM offers papers in subjects from the music of Beethoven to popular music, film music, jazz history, and Maori waiata. The diversity of the programme reflects the cultural diversity and vibrancy of Wellington, home to Te Papa, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music New Zealand, the National Library and Archives New Zealand. The NZSM itself is known for its active Javanese and Balinese gamelan ensembles (the percussion orchestras of Southeast Asia), while additional resources available to Music Studies students include both instrument and sound recording collections and connections with Te Herenga Waka Marae at Victoria University.     

Although music studies complements the composition and performance programmes, music studies also exists as a separate major, and students can take many music studies papers without any prior formal training in music.

Music Studies combines well with many papers in other departments, such as Maori, Pacific, and Asian Studies, History, Art History, English, Theatre and Film, Culture and Media Studies, and Anthropology. Students may include courses from these programmes in the Music Studies major. Alternatively, students interested in Music Studies may also include Music Studies papers as part of a BA. 

The flexibility of the music studies programme allows students to form their own combinations of papers to reflect the diversity of their individual interests, completing a music studies major ‘Without Specialisation’

Alternatively, students may also opt to follow one of the following specialisations, each of which provides a distinct pathway to the more focussed specialisation of postgraduate study:

Musicology
the musicology specialisation at the NZSM allows students to focus on a wide range of European art musics from the middle ages to contemporary art music, approached from a range of historical, critical, sociological, philosophical, and analytical perspectives. Students are encouraged to consider the factors contributing to the creation of this music, its significance in its own time, as well as the ways in which this music functions in our world today.

Ethnomusicology
the study of music in cultural contexts from global and local perspectives and as an integral component of human life. Ethnomusicology at the NZSM offers study and practical experience in New Zealand, Maori and Pacific Island, Indonesian and Asian musics.  The Ethnomusicology specialisation will prepare you for understanding and researching the music of different cultures through performance and analysis, recording and documenting, and critical theory. 

Jazz studies
The study of jazz as a style of music and as an art form. Topics currently covered at the NZSM include Free Jazz, Jazz Rock Fusion, and New Zealand Jazz. Classes examine the music in its social and cultural context as well as developing students’ theoretical and analytical understanding of jazz idioms.

BMus in Music Studies (without specialisation)

Requirements for major (compulsory papers)

Music studies: music viewed from a range of cultural, historical, analytical and/or critical perspectives
MUSC 105
One of MUSC 120-159 and one of MUSC 120-174
Two of MUSC 220-259
One of MUSC 320-359

Paper in music theory
Either MUSC 164 or MUSC 166

Paper in performance or composition
One paper from MUSC 151, 210 or any PERF or CMPO paper
Plus
40 further pts taken at 200 level from MUSC, PERF or CMPO papers
At least 55 further pts taken at 300 level from MUSC, PERF or CMPO papers

Elective papers:
Sufficient to complete the 360 pts needed for the degree.
NOTE: at least 180 points in the degree must be taken at 200 or 300 level, including at least 72 points taken at 300 level.

BMus in Music Studies (Musicology)

Requirements for major (compulsory papers)

Music studies
music viewed from a range of cultural, historical, analytical and/or critical perspectives

MUSC 105 , and one of MUSC 130-139
Two of MUSC 230-239, and one of MUSC 220-259
Three of MUSC 320-359

Papers in music theory

MUSC 166, 167, 266

Paper in performance or composition

One paper from MUSC 151, 210 or any PERF or CMPO paper
Plus
15 or 20 PERF, CMPO or further MUSC pts at 300 level
Elective papers:
Sufficient to complete the 360 pts needed for the degree.

Typical Degree Plan (120 points per year)

Year 1
Required papers:

MUSC 105,125, 130, 151 (20 pts each)
MUSC 166 (20 pts), MUSC 167 (20 pts)
 

Year 2
Required papers:

Two of MUSC 220-259 and one of MUSC 220-259 (20 pts each)

Elective papers:

To the value of 60 pts, including at least 45 taken at 200 level.

Year 3
Required paper:

Three of MUSC 320-359 (20 pts each)
15 or 20 PERF or CMPO pts or further MUSC points at 300 level

Elective papers:

Sufficient to complete the 360 pts needed for the degree, taken at any level.
NOTE: at least 180 points in the degree must be taken at 200 or 300 level, including at least 72 points taken at 300 level.

BMus in Music Studies (Ethnomusicology)

Requirements for major (compulsory papers)

Music studies
music viewed from a range of cultural, historical, analytical and/or critical perspectives

MUSC 105, 150, 151
One of MUSC 248-259 and one of MUSC 220-269
One of MUSC 349-339, one of MUSC 330-349 and one of MUSC 320-359

Papers in music theory

Either MUSC 164 or MUSC 166
Either MUSC 264 or MUSC 266

Paper in performance or composition

One of PERF 250-259
Plus
60 further MUSC, PERF or CMPO pts at 200 level, and
at least 15 further MUSC, PERF of CMPO pts at 300 level

Elective papers:
Sufficient to complete the 360 pts needed for the degree.

Typical Degree Plan (120 points per year)

Year 1
Required papers:

MUSC 105,125, 151 (20 pts each)
Either MUSC 164 (20 pts) or MUSC 166 (20 pts)

Elective papers:

To the value of 40 pts, taken at 100 level

Year 2
Required papers:

One of MUSC 248-259 (20 pts) and one of MUSC 220-269 (20 pts)

Elective papers:

To the value of 60 pts, including at least 40 taken at 200 level.

Year 3
Required paper:

One of MUSC 349-339 (20 pts), one of MUSC 330-349 (20 pts) and one of MUSC 320-359 (20 pts)
At least 15 further MUSC, PERF of CMPO points at 300 level

Elective papers:

Sufficient to complete the 360 pts needed for the degree, including least 25 pts taken at 200 or 300 level.
NOTE: at least 180 points in the degree must be taken at 200 or 300 level, including at least 72 points taken at 300 level.

BMus in Music Studies (Jazz Studies )

Requirements for major (compulsory papers)

Paper in jazz performance

One of PERF120-129

Papers in jazz theory and composition

MUSC 164, 264, CMPO 235

Music studies
music viewed from a range of cultural, historical, analytical and/or critical perspectives

MUSC 105 and 125, one of MUSC 130-159, and one of MUSC 225-229
One of MUSC 325-329, and one of MUSC 320-324 or MUSC 330-359

Plus
25 further MUSC, PERF or CMPO pts at 200 level
15 further MUSC, PERF or CMPO pts at 300 level

Elective papers:
Sufficient to complete the 360 pts needed for the degree.

Typical Degree Plan (120 points per year)

Year 1
Required papers:

MUSC 105 (20 pts)
One of PERF120-129 (range: 10 to 30 pts)
MUSC 164 (20 pts), MUSC 264 (20 pts)
MUSC 125 (20 pts)

Elective papers:

Sufficient to complete 120 pts overall for the year.

Year 2
Required papers:

CMPO 235 (15 pts)
One of MUSC 130-159 (20 pts) and one of MUSC 225-229 (20 pts)
25 further MUSC, PERF or CMPO pts at 200 level

Elective papers:

To the value of 40 pts, taken at 100 or 200 level.

Year 3
Required papers:

One of MUSC 325-329, and one of MUSC 320-324 or MUSC 330-359
15 further MUSC, PERF or CMPO pts at 300 level

Elective papers:

To the value of 45 pts, to include 25 taken at 200 or 300 level (if not taken at 200 level in Year 2).

NOTE: at least 180 points in the degree must be taken at 200 or 300 level, including at least 72 points taken at 300 level.

Postgraduate degrees in Music Studies

Please see the Postgraduate Degrees page

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