A Guide for Prospective Candidates - Master of Arts (Music Composition)
Course Overview
The Master of Arts (Music Composition) by 100% research is designed to enable composers to develop a distinctive compositional voice and to research and acquire a range of compositional techniques. Students create a folio of original compositions that demonstrates their ability to work in various media, including traditional, electro-acoustic, and contemporary solo and chamber combinations. They also write a critical commentary that demonstrates their capacity for research into compositional approaches and musical aesthetics in the context of contemporary music. Through regular work in the studios, students acquire a knowledge of music technology and an understanding of music technology as a compositional tool.
Entry Requirements
The minimum qualifications for admission to 100% research masters candidature are:
- a four year Australian or New Zealand bachelors degree with an overall result of H2A or above (normally with a research component in the fourth year) or
- an Australian or New Zealand masters preliminary qualification with a significant research component and with an overall result of H2A or above or
- an Australian or New Zealand coursework masters degree with a significant research component graded at Distinction or above, and an overall result of Distinction or above or
- an Australian or New Zealand research masters degree with an overall result of H2A or above or
- a qualification considered equivalent to one of the above (a minimum of a Bachelors degree with substantial professional experience in the field in the form of publications, performances and collaborations that may be evaluated by a group of peers who are experts in their respective fields).
Note: If applicants have obtained the above minimum qualifications without having undertaken composition units at either honours or masters qualifying levels, students need to demonstrate their ability to compose through the submission of at least two original musical works to the satisfaction of the school's coordinator of composition.
Applying
All applicants must submit evidence of practical work in the field in a porftolio which will include the following:
(1) a representative selection of the candidate's music performance work/music composition work in the style in which the candidate proposes to work (i.e. classical, contemporary classical, jazz, popular music, world music, computer music),
(2) a research proposal of 2-3 pages addressing the following headings: research question, background to the research, aims of the research, methodologies of the research, examples of comparative practice as research and associated literature, propsoed structure of the performance project.
(3) A covering letter explaining the candidate's interest in the degree and a CV outlining the candidate's professional interests, previous performance projects, and publication if any.
Applications are accepted at any time of the year.