Course details

Summary

Want to turn your love of music into a career? Expand your knowledge of musical techniques and technologies, and gain practical experience in composing and performing, as well as an understanding of the music industry.

Programme overview

Perhaps you're a school leaver with some musical ability, a working musician or sound artist who wants to formalise their musical education, or a music teacher who wants to update their expertise. The Diploma in Contemporary Music develops your musical and professional strengths, including collaborative performance, creative and cross-disciplinary skills, music fundamentals and techniques, and technology-based and music industry skills.

Highlights

• Working on band or ensemble performances, composing new music and learning about music production and collaboration
• Emphasis on developing a broad, genre-inclusive understanding of contemporary performance and recording, and an understanding of the contexts of music and culture in Aotearoa New Zealand
• An opportunity to try your hand at a variety of musical styles, from hip-hop, jazz and experimental to Maori and Pacific music
• Lecturers who are well-known and highly regarded in the music industry
• Visits from well-known music practitioners – your chance to find out what a career in the music industry is really like
• Drop-in computer labs and dedicated rehearsal space

Career Options

• Composer
• DJ
• Music journalist
• Sound or multimedia designer
• Musician
• Singer/songwriter

Entry criteria

For this programme, you will need the following:

1. A total of 48 credits at NCEA Level 2 from four different subjects

2. 12 credits at NCEA Level 1 in English

3. Be at least 16 years old by the time the programme begins

4. Completed Unitec’s Certificate in Music (Introductory) with a grade of P or M in all four courses or demonstrate your competence in aural and musical abilities by attending an audition/interview

English Language Requirements

• Have achieved NCEA Level 3 and New Zealand University entrance
• NZCEL (Academic) (Level 4)
• IELTS score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5.0
• TOEFL (pBT) Paper-based test score of 550 (essay 5 TWE)
• TOEFL (iBT) Internet-based test score of 46 (writing 18)
• FCE or FCE for schools with a score of 162. No less than 154 in each skill. OET at Grade C in all sub-tests
• Pearson Test of English (PToE) Academic with a score of 42 with no score lower than 36