The Bachelor of Contemporary Music offers an industry-focused programme designed to prepare students for a professional career in contemporary music.
Students learn a variety of practical skills including performance, composition, arranging, songwriting, as well as learning industry standard recording and production software.
Three years full-time
2023: 13 February to 17 November
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme
International Fees can be found here
Students are further prepared for a professional career through classes in music and audio industry studies, music education, tour planning and concert promotion.Students also have access to world-class recording equipment and studios at SIT sound in collaboration with audio production students.
SIT also offers students the opportunity to complete a double degree in the Bachelor of Audio Production and Bachelor of Contemporary Music after four years' full-time study. Graduates from this pathway of study will be well rounded musicians and sound engineers. They will be well versed in high quality studio recording and live sound work, as well as having skills to pursue a career as performers, composers, or specialised instrumental teachers.
Features of the programme include:
Students are given the opportunity to plan, prepare, and implement a group tour to selected venues in the South Island of New Zealand.
Year One
BCM501 Music Theory and Aural 1
Develops students’ understanding in the main concepts of music theory and aural. In music theory the focus will be on common rhythmic values and groupings, scale types, intervals, modes, and chords. Students will develop a musical vocabulary to discuss notated music. The development of aural skills in melodic, rhythmic, interval and chord recognition will be enriched by basic keyboard skills in chord and scale construction.
BCM502 Music Technology 1
Provides students with the skills required to operate standard music technology equipment, including sound reinforcement systems, recording software and hardware, and other music computer applications. There will be an emphasis on integrating theoretical knowledge with applied practical skills. This paper is intended to equip students with a wide base of practical and applied theoretical knowledge of audio and music technology as they relate to the music industry.
BCM503 Contemporary Composition Studies 1
Provides students with an overview of musical composition and arranging methods by examining a variety of creative processes and concepts. Students will present their arrangements and compositions using industry standard recording, production and notation software. The creative processes will be documented and examined.
BCM504 Practical Studies 1 Develops skills in performing and reading notation in a contemporary music context in relation to an instrumental major (including voice). Students will receive weekly individual lessons on their instrument and perform in ensembles daily. Students will also perform at regular concerts in front of a live audience.
BCM505 Practical Studies 2
Provides the opportunity for students to develop skills in particular genres as contemporary musicians within their chosen instrumental major (including voice). There will be consolidation of the knowledge and techniques introduced in Practical Studies 1 in performance, technical extension, theory applications and musicianship. Students will learn to write musical scores for their instrumental major and work on developing musical professionalism through group work and performances. Students will receive weekly individual lessons on their instrument and perform in ensembles daily. Students will also perform at regular concerts in front of a live audience.
CON501 Contextual Studies 1 Develops knowledge and skills in academic writing and presenting in the context of music and audio creative arts. The students will develop these skills by examining historical, technological, and socio-cultural influences in the development of popular music.
MAI501 Music and Audio Industry Studies
Students will be introduced to the music, audio and related industries internationally and in New Zealand. This paper will examine different roles and how they function within the industries (locally, nationally, and internationally). Students will gain an awareness of the supporting societies and organisations within these industries in New Zealand. Students will learn the basic principles of small business management and self-employment skills pertinent to practitioners in the music and audio industry, along with relevant marketing and promotional skills.
Year Two
BCM601 Music Theory and Aural 2
This paper aims to further develop students’ understanding and applications of music theory and analysis. This paper builds on level 5 with advancing concepts in music theory in order to evaluate and apply them to read and write music to a complex level. The advancing concepts of music theory will be supported by analysis and practical application of musicological elements.
BCM603 Contemporary Composition Studies 2
This paper aims to develop students’ composition and arranging skills by examining a variety of creative processes and concepts, including composing music for visual media. Students will present their arrangements and compositions using industry standard recording, production and notation software. The creative processes will be documented and examined.
BCM604 Practical Studies 3
This paper aims to provide the opportunity for students to develop skills in particular genres as contemporary musicians within their chosen instrumental major (including voice). There will be consolidation of the knowledge and techniques introduced in Practical Studies 1 and 2 in performance, technical extension, theory applications and musicianship skills applicable to the chosen instrumental major. Students will learn to write musical scores for their instrumental major and work on developing musical professionalism through group work and performances.
BCM605 Practical Studies 4
This paper aims to provide the opportunity for students to develop skills in particular genres as contemporary musicians within their chosen instrumental major (including voice). There will be consolidation of the knowledge and techniques introduced in Practical Studies 1, 2, and 3 in performance, technical extension, theory applications and musicianship skills applicable to the chosen instrumental major. Students will further develop their ability to write musical scores for their instrumental major and work on further developing musical professionalism through group work and performances.
CON601 Contextual Studies 2
This paper aims to prepare students for professional practice by presenting research as a uniting strategy for practice, theory and scholarship. Students will learn critical, analytical, and reflective approaches to assess current knowledge, and will be introduced to various research methodologies with a focus on research in the creative arts.
Plus 15 Credits selected from
BCM602 Songwriting
This paper aims to develop students’ songwriting skills by examining a variety of creative processes and concepts. Students will present their songs using industry standard recording, production and notation software. The creative processes will be documented and examined.
BCM606 Music Education Studies 1
This paper aims to introduce students to music education in Aotearoa/New Zealand. It will examine the skills and techniques related to different ages and contexts of teaching practice. Students will have the opportunity to observe and reflect upon music teaching in a variety of contexts, as well as plan and execute a lesson designed for a particular context. It will also examine the history of music education in New Zealand and current perspectives, as well as exploring other aspects relating to music education, such as multicultural music education and music therapy. It will also provide students with the opportunity to develop a business plan for a small business that is related to music teaching.
CIB601 Creative Industries Business and Legal
Small business management is essential for anyone intending to, or finding themselves, running their own enterprise within the creative industry sectors such as music, sound engineering and audio production, post production and other related creative industries. Students therefore will learn to manage their own professional business practice, professional development and industry knowledge to develop employment opportunities. They will research and analyse material and contexts for application to a creative industry business.
Elective 1 Any paper Level 5 and above to be approved by the Programme Manager
Year Three
BCM701 Music Theory and Aural 3
This paper aims to further develop students’ understanding and applications of music theory and aural skills. This paper builds on level 6 with advancing concepts in music theory in order to evaluate and apply them to read and write music to a complex level. The advanced concepts of music theory will be supported by analysis and practical application of skills.
BCM702 Professional Project
This paper aims to provide students with the opportunity to pursue an area of interest that aligns with their musical aspirations. This includes, but is not limited to, performance, composition, education, and/or research. By the conclusion of the paper, students will produce a substantial portfolio of work that demonstrates their musical and academic abilities.
BCM704 Practical Studies 5
This paper aims to provide the opportunity for students to plan, prepare, and implement a group tour to selected venues in the South Island of New Zealand. There will be further consolidation of the knowledge and techniques introduced in Practical Studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 in performance, technical extension, theory applications and musicianship skills applicable to the chosen instrumental major. Students will further develop their ability to write musical scores and work on further developing musical professionalism through group work and performances.
BCM706 Music Education Studies 2
This paper aims to critically examine philosophical, historical, and social issues relating to music and music education. The paper will examine specific pedagogies in music education, such as Orff, Suzuki, and Kodály. A further element of this paper will be reflection on the student’s own experiences of music education and evaluation and examination of a current music education practitioner.
Students will be equipped with skills to embark on a career as a performer, songwriter, composer for film, television, and theatre, and music arranger. Students will also have the necessary skills for a career as a music educator or music writer, and also pursue further study in music therapy, music education, and music research.
The qualification aims to produce graduates who have a wide range of professional skills and are industry-ready.
School Leavers
University Entrance - NCEA Level 3, three subjects at Level 3, made up of:
Mature Applicants
Mature entry applicants will be the age of 20 by March 1 of the first year of enrolment in the programme, and have provided evidence of relevant prior learning and experience.
Special Admission
An applicant who does not meet academic criteria, may be provisionally admitted to enrol in one or more Year One papers, provided he or she meets the requirements above. Upon successful completion of the papers, the student may apply for special admission or admission by mature entry.
Notwithstanding the above admissions categories, in exceptional circumstances, an applicant below the age of 20 who can show evidence of ability to succeed in the programme may be considered for admission, provided the applicant has successfully completed an approved course or programme which is deemed to prepare graduates for the required academic standard for entry e.g. Certificate in Contemporary Music.
Additional Criteria
In addition, the following requirements apply to applicants in all admissions categories:
All applicants are required to attend a live audition, or to provide a high quality CD or provide links to an audition performance on a shared platform such as Youtube or Dropbox. Once an application is received, applicants will be sent details regarding audition material
Applicants are required to provide two confidential references from people who are able to affirm that the applicant is of good character and reputation
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment
Certificate or Diploma at Level 6 / Diploma or Degree at Level 7 / Graduate Certificate or Diploma at Level 7
In order to be awarded the Bachelor of Contemporary Music, the student will have been credited with all required papers and electives as specified in the schedule of papers (360 credits). The student completing the Bachelor of Contemporary Music will normally be expected to complete the three year programme (full time equivalent) within five years. The Head of Faculty with the approval and recommendation of the Board of Studies, may allow a student a longer period to complete the programme.
Classes are held Monday to Friday, 9.00am-4.00pm at SIT's Te Rau o Te Huia (Creative Centre).