Are you a Lover of Music and you are searching for music schools in Australia? Do you intend to study Music in Australia? Then this article is for you!
Australia is an intriguing place to learn music as the Aboriginals place priority on music, especially Folk music.
Music is a vital aspect of Australian culture. Australia gives a warm embrace to different Genres of music, moreover, music cannot be separated in Indigenous tribes because it is part of unbroken traditions that date back thousands of years.
In Australia, you find music in ceremonies and in community activities in all Aboriginal cultures.
Music can be studied in universities, however, there are institutions in Australia that deals solely with music. Such schools teach music alone.
In some universities in Australia, you can obtain Bachelor’s degree in Music and before we look at music schools in Australia, let us look at why people study music at a University.
Why study music at University?
A bachelor’s degree in music gives students the opportunity to advance their passion for music in the most straightforward ways, for instance, by improving their technical abilities and repertoire skills as a performer.
Alongside this, students are also trained to learn music more completely in its social and historical context and to critique and reflect upon the music they make and hear in new ways.
Studying music is also very important for a successful career in music for a musician to be an informed and articulate advocate for the art form.
Potential Careers in Music
Before stepping into any of the music schools in Australia, it is important to know careers you can choose from.
- Music Educator
- Music Festival Director
- DJ, Songwriter
- Sound Artist
- Sound Engineer
- Vocal Coach
- Vocalist
- Instrumental Teacher
- Accompanist
- Jazz Musician
- Band Musician
- Music Journalist / Music Critic
- Music Teacher
- Music Technologist
- Music Theory Teacher
- Music Tutor
- Musical Theatre Performer
- Musician
- Musician / Singer
- Musicologist
- Opera Singer
- Arranger
- Artist manager
- Audio engineer
- Band leader or director
- Composer
- Conductor
- Digital media
- Film & television composer
- Music historian
- Music journalist
- Orchestral or ensemble player
- Promotor
- Radio programming
- Recording engineer
- Session musician
- Sound designer
The Majors of Bachelor of Music
The Bachelor of Music provides advanced music training in five specializations that develop technically advanced and experienced musicians through a practical and immersive curriculum with core studies. The areas of specialization include:
- Bachelor of Music (Composition): The composition can refer to an original piece of music, either a song or an instrumental music piece, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating or writing a new song or piece of music.
- Bachelor of Music (Interactive Composition): Interactive composition has to do with an intensive, collaborative program that will give students the skills to create music and sound for a range of contemporary media contexts.
- Bachelor of Music (Jazz and Improvisation): Jazz and improvisation is a program that is known for balancing skills with creativity in order to encourage the development of the personal voice and advanced technical skills through contemporary performance practice and the creation of the original composition.
- Bachelor of Music (Music Performance): Here you will experience many performance opportunities in the weekly instrument classes and the concert practice classes that always occur throughout the semester.
- Bachelor of Music (Musicology/Ethnomusicology): This major asks questions about music.
It examines music and music-making within its social and cultural environment.
- Bachelor of Music (Audio): This major is designed to help you master the foundations of recording and mixing, live sound production, media post-production, and The digital Studio.
Alternative Beside Bachelor of Music
If you do not want to study bachelor of music, you can go for any of the following.
- Diploma of Music
- Bachelor of Performance
- Bachelor of Entertainment Management
- Bachelor of Creative Industries
- Master of Music (Music Therapy)
The List of Music schools in Australia
- ANU School of Music
- Australian Guild of Music
- Australian Institute of Music
- Australian National Academy of Music
- Australian Youth Orchestra
- Elder Conservatorium of Music
- Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne
- Lisa Gasteen National Opera School
- Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music
- Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
- National Theatre, Melbourne
- Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
- Simply Music
- Sydney Conservatorium of Music
- Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music
- UWA Conservatorium of Music
- Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School
- Wollongong Conservatorium of Music
Read on to see details of these music schools in Australia.
ANU School of Music
This is one of the fastest-growing music schools in Australia. They offer flexibility to study performance, composition, and music technology at the same time within any major.
Students have access to a world-class recording studio, 2 multimedia/mastering suites, 2 ensemble tracking studios, and a music technology lab.
Developing Musicians Program Fee per semester:
- Theory/Aural: $60
- Choir: $85
- Chamber Ensembles: $135
Girls Jazz Ensembles: $135
Contemporary Music Mondays: $135
Australian Guild of Music
Australian Guild of Music offers industry-leading courses that cover 4 majors of the London College of Music.
They offer disciplines that are needed for a successful music career. Their classes are held either online or offline. There are short courses also.
Australian Institute of Music
Australian Institute of Music is one of the music schools in Australia that offers degrees and courses in music performance, classical music, entertainment management, music theatre, audio engineering, production and composition.
Their courses are designed to provide graduates with the versatile skillset and industry connections that is required to excel in the music and entertainment industries. Find out more about their courses and fees.
Australian National Academy of Music
The Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) is one of a few pre-professional performance-based training institutions in the world and is known for its innovation, energy and adventurous programming.
ANAM engages the world’s best international and national performers and pedagogues with whom musicians collaborate in a year-long program that encompasses a multitude of styles and performance situations.
Australian Youth Orchestra
The AYO training pathway has been created to nurture the musical development of Australia’s finest young musicians; from the emerging, gifted, school-aged student, to those on the verge of a professional career.
They offer tailored training and performance programs for aspiring musicians, composers, arts administrators and music journalists aged 12 to 30 years.
Elder Conservatorium of Music
With a long and distinguished history dating back to 1883, the Elder Conservatorium is the oldest tertiary music school in Australia and widely respected as one of the country’s leading music institutions.
From jazz, classical and voice, to composition, popular music and sonic arts, The Elder Conservatorium of Music offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
This comprehensive suite of programs – including degrees, postgraduate diplomas and masters programs – is designed to meet the needs and aspirations of a wide variety of music students.
Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne
Here you can pursue the mastery of your discipline. This faculty is dedicated to:
- composition
- conducting
- dance
- design
- production
- ethnomusicology
- film and television
- interactive composition
- jazz and improvisation
- musicology
- music performance
- music psychology
- music theatre
- music therapy
- theatre and visual arts
Studying at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music offers you the chance to explore and engage with ideas, leaders and experts across artistic disciplines at the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Get more details.
Lisa Gasteen National Opera School
Lisa Gasteen National Opera School was founded in the year 2011.
Since then it offers developing Australian classical singers and repetiteurs training and career development, preparing them to be competitive when studying or working abroad.
This is one of the few music schools in Australia where successful applicants receive a full scholarship to attend the Program.
Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music
Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music is one of the music schools in Australia that ensure that young Australian opera singers and repetiteurs with exceptional promise are supported financially during a crucial phase of their development, namely postgraduate training as the bridge to becoming polished professionals on the opera world stage.
There are help singers to develop essential skills which enable them to become well-rounded operatic artists.
Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
Melbourne Conservatorium of Music is Australia’s oldest and most prestigious music institution.
As the largest community of music students and academics in Australia, reflecting many dimensions of musical creativity and experience, they work to sustain the vitality of music in society and to shape the future of our art form. You can study in the following areas:
- Composition
- Creative Arts and Music Therapy
- Design and Production
- Ethnomusicology
- Jazz and Improvisation
- Music Performance
- Music Psychology
- Music Theatre
- Musicology
- Writing
- Performance Teaching
- Acting and Theatre
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
Queensland Conservatorium is one of Australia’s leading music and performing arts schools, offering a wide variety of specialist degrees, from classical music, jazz, opera, popular music to musical theatre, acting, music technology and music education.
Study music and performing arts at Griffith, and you’ll learn in an environment that will enable you to flourish.
Their award-winning teachers are dedicated to producing polished music professionals of the highest calibre.
Relevant, cutting-edge courses allow students to tailor their studies to suit their interests and aspirations.
Simply Music
Simply Music is the global pioneer in playing-based music education.
Their underlying philosophy is that every human being is profoundly musical.
As such, their programs are designed to impact populations of people.
This is one of the music schools in Australia whose focus is on using music as a platform to cause breakthroughs in creativity, and contribute to a world where everyone plays. What does it cost?
- Foundation Program (levels 1-9) – $35 per level
- Special Programs – $15 to $35 per level
- Development Program (levels 10-18) – $8 to $12 per level
- Supplemental Programs – $10 to $25 per level
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
From Haydn to hip-hop, film scores and jazz, you can enjoy a breadth of musical study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music that prepares you for a broad range of careers. Find out more.
Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music
Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music’s programs provide diverse performance, recording and creative opportunities, combined with the mentor-style tuition and personal attention made possible by the institution’s smaller size.
Here can study music creation, performance, songwriting or music technology, and take subjects from other university areas to increase your versatility and career opportunities.
UWA Conservatorium of Music
As one of Australia’s leading music schools in one of the world’s leading universities, the UWA Conservatorium of Music transforms individuals to release their full creative potential.
Each year, they present a vibrant program of concerts and events that showcase their young emerging artists and the finest musical talent locally, nationally and internationally.
Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School
Young dancers and musicians study at Victorian College from year 7 through to year 12.
They also deliver a visual arts program and theatre arts program for year 11 and 12 students.
Each program is led by an industry professional within purpose-built spaces designed to enhance student learning. Check out their programs.
Wollongong Conservatorium of Music
This is one of the music schools in Australia that offers music lessons to all ages on every instrument, small group music lessons for kids to older adults, music therapy for wellness, community ensembles to connect and choirs, orchestras and bands to educate and animate.
They bring Wollongong to life with concerts throughout the year, exhibiting our broad tastes – from Classical to Jazz, from World to Contemporary.
Top Universities to study Bachelor of Music in New South Wales (Sydney)
The Australian International Conservatorium of Music:
- Bachelor of Music
- Course Fee Per Year: AUD24,160
Macquarie University:
- Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music
- Course Fee Per Year: AUD30,570
Newcastle Conservatorium of Music (UON):
- Bachelor of Music
- Course Fee Per Year: AUD31,670
University of New South Wales (UNSW):
- Bachelor of Music
- Course Fee Per Year: AUD33,840
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS):
- Bachelor of Music and Sound Design
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD36,560
University of Western Sydney (UWS):
- Bachelor of Music
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD25,480
University of Sydney (USYD):
- Bachelor of Music
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD37,000
Wesley Institute:
- Bachelor of Music
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD20,975
Top Universities to study Bachelor of Music in Victoria (Melbourne)
University of Melbourne: Melbourne Conservatorium of Music:
- Bachelor of Music
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD30844
Monash University School of Music:
- Bachelor of Music
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD30,400
Victoria University:
- Bachelor of Music
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD21,600
Top Universities to study Bachelor of Music in Queensland (Brisbane)
Griffith University:
- Bachelor of Music
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD29,500
Queensland University of Technology (QUT):
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music)
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD30,100
University of Queensland (UQ):
- Bachelor of Music
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD32,992
University of Southern Queensland (USQ):
- Bachelor of Creative Arts (Music)
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD23,200
Top Universities to study Bachelor of Music in Tasmania and Canberra
University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music (UTAS):
- Bachelor of Music
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD29,000
The Australian National University School of Music:
- Bachelor of Music
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD35,904
University of Canberra:
- Bachelor of Contemporary Music Practice
- Estimated Fee Per Year: AUD24,050
The programs and estimated fees are based on information available on the internet. There might be changes in fees without notice. Please do well to connect to these schools to find out their most recent programs and fees.
In Conclusion:
A career in music can take you all over the world: performing in orchestras, conducting operas, teaching music in a school, playing in a rock band or composing film scores. What are your thoughts about these music schools in Australia?