Bachelor of Music (Classical)

The Bachelor of Music (Classical) at The Australian Institute of Music is a three-year performance degree for musicians who want to make classical music their working life. You study your principal instrument or voice one-to-one with a teacher, and that weekly lesson sits at the centre of the degree. Around it you take musicianship, music theory and aural training, music history and style studies, ensemble work, and keyboard or second-study skills. Performance is assessed constantly, recitals, juries, masterclasses, chamber groups, orchestra and choir, so you graduate having played in front of people many times, not just in an exam room once a year.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are normally three years of full-time study, and that is what this one is. Teaching runs across semesters, with each semester made up of units of study that carry credit points. You accumulate credit points as you pass units, and you need a set total to graduate. The early part of the degree builds technique and theory; the later part gives you more choice, including electives and repertoire that suits your instrument. Most classical performance degrees finish with a substantial final recital or capstone performance project in the last year, where you prepare a full programme and present it publicly. Confirm the current unit list, credit-point totals and recital requirements on the official course page, because these details are set by the institution and can change.

What you actually learn

You finish with a professional performance standard on your instrument or voice, and the supporting skills that make it usable: reading, ear training, stylistic awareness across periods, rehearsal technique, ensemble blend and intonation, and the ability to prepare repertoire on a deadline. You also learn how to talk about music, programme notes, spoken introductions, working with other musicians and directors. Some students add teaching skills, arranging or music technology through electives. The Australian music sector is small and interconnected, and the institute sits inside it: staff are working performers, and the performance calendar puts students in front of audiences in Sydney and beyond.

Who it suits, and the practical side

This degree suits school leavers with solid classical training, and also mature students returning to music after other study or work. You will need to pass an audition and interview as well as meet academic entry requirements. International applicants need to show English proficiency, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common undergraduate standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institute's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. While studying in Australia on a student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work after you finish. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 075439D. Check the official page for fees, intake dates and audition requirements before you apply.

• Orchestral musician with state symphony and chamber orchestras
• Solo and chamber recitalist
• Private instrumental or vocal teacher, or peripatetic teacher in schools
• Ensemble and session player for recording, film and television work
• Accompanist or repetiteur
• Arts administration and concert programming roles with arts organisations, festivals and venues
• Music director or conductor for community and youth ensembles
• Church musician or liturgical music leader
• Instrument repair, retail and luthier work in the music industry
• Further study, honours, then a master's or doctorate in performance or research