Courses_
Bachelor of Music (Performance)
Odysseus Live
Overview
If you can see yourself as a professional performer (in an orchestra, opera or jazz ensemble), you can specialise in this widely recognised, four-year degree.
Begin your professional career in music performance through individual and ensemble tuition from our industry experts, many of whom also perform as soloists and chamber musicians in highly regarded orchestras and jazz ensembles around the world.
We offer world-class venues and superb facilities, including more than 100 practice rooms, extensive library resources and the latest in music technology. As a performer, you will find various opportunities for international tours with professional orchestras, bands and chamber music groups.
Subject areas
Shared pool
Your fee
Your funding & scholarships
How to apply
What you'll study
You will combine your chosen principal study with orchestral studies and chamber music, or other relevant ensemble studies. Other core studies will be in music skills, analysis, history and culture.
Principal study areas:
Guitar, organ, piano (non-orchestral)
Brass (orchestral)
Drum set (non-orchestral)
Non-western music (non-orchestral)
Sample study plan
Bachelor of Music (Performance)
| Year | Sem | Unit of study | |||
| 1 | 1 | Principal Study 1 | Music Theory and Aural Skills units | Orchestral Studies 1 | This is Music |
| 2 | Principal Study 2 | Music Theory and Aural Skills units | Orchestral Studies 2 | Analysis, History and Culture Studies foundation unit | |
| 2 | 1 | Principal Study 3 (extended) | Music Theory and Aural Skills units | Orchestral Studies 3 | Analysis, History and Culture Studies foundation unit |
| 2 | Principal Study 4 (extended) | Music Theory and Aural Skills units | Orchestral Studies 4 | Analysis, History and Culture Studies foundation unit | |
| 3 | 1 | Principal Study 5 (extended) | Orchestral Studies 5 | Chamber Music 1 | Teaching Music/Pedagogy |
| 2 | Principal Study 6 (extended) | Orchestral Studies 6 | Chamber Music 2 | Recital Preparation or free choice elective | |
| 4 | 1 | Principal Study 7 | Orchestral Studies 7 | Music Specialist Project or ICPU | |
| 2 | Principal Study 8 | Orchestral Studies 8 | Music Specialist Project or ICPU | ||
Assumed knowledge
HSC Music 2 or equivalent
Applying for honours
Please visit the Bachelor of Music Studies (Honours) course page to apply.
The Bachelor of Music (Performance) Honours is designed to allow students with superior performance ability and potential to extend their knowledge and skill bases and to develop artistic autonomy in the area of their principal study. Honours students will have demonstrated superior performance ability in recital and the capacity to develop and carry out a specialised research project.
Honours provides opportunities for students to:
- extend their pass degree work and gain excellence in performance and performance-based research in a specific area relevant to their own professional and musical interests and needs
- develop performance, research and writing skills essential to a level suitable for entry qualification for quality postgraduate programs; obtain an extra professional qualification that may assist employment prospects
- work closely with performance and academic staff of the Conservatorium.
Admission criteria
To gain entry, applicants will need:
- An Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 70 or an IB of 25 or equivalent
- To make a course application to UAC (or direct to USyd for certain international students), and
- Register for an audition
- Refer to the UAC website and the Sydney Conservatorium website for closing application dates
Applicants without an ATAR from the NSW Higher School Certificate may be granted admission on the basis of:
- A recognised secondary school level qualification (including overseas qualifications)
- or having successfully undertaken tertiary studies in music at or above Diploma level to the equivalent of at least one year of study
- or in a special admission category such as mature age entry
Prospective international students: You may also need to fulfil English language requirements where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English.
Current students applying to transfer, make an internal course application, then visit the Con website to register your portfolio and schedule an interview.
Credit for previous study
If you’ve already completed university-level or equivalent subjects, you may be able to apply for credit for previous study.
Course opportunities
All students at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music participate in masterclasses with visiting artists, public recitals and performances in world class venues. Students may participate in international performance tours each year and may undertake exchange study at an overseas university as an integral part of their course.Career Pathways
- Performing soloist
- Chamber musician
- Orchestral/ensemble player
- Artist agent
- Arts administrator
- Audio engineer
- Chamber/orchestral musician
- Composer
- Concert manager
- Concert soloist
- Conductor
- Contemporary musician
- Digital music composer
- Ethnomusicologist
- Event producer
- Festival or venue manager
- Film score composer
- Interactive music designer
- Jazz musician
- Music journalist
- Music producer
- Musicologist
- Opera singer
- Orchestra manager
- Piano accompanist
- Private studio teacher
- School music teacher
The world is changing, and university education needs to change too
Domestic students
Indicative Undergraduate Student Contribution Amount
The student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the calendar year in which you undertake your study in the course, and the specific units of study in which you enrol. For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Tuition Fees website.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs
Please note that for some courses there are additional costs in addition to the student contribution. Some of these additional costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protective clothing, and equipment. Please consult the University's web page for more information: https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html.
Visa/MasterCard/American Express/JCB surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or JCB. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
International students
Indicative International Tuition Fees for Undergraduate Students
The tuition fee for international undergraduate students is an indication of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount. For further information about how to calculate your specific total tuition fees, please refer to the University's Tuition Fees website
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs and health insurance
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the tuition fees. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protective clothing, and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html. In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through a government approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government. Further information is available from https://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/living-costs/health-insurance.html.
Visa/MasterCard/American Express/JCB surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or JCB. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
