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BACHELOR OF MUSIC

Handbook 2021

Our Vision & Values

Our Vision & Values

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Our Vision

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To deliver world class music performance tuition through innovation, new technologies, and strong traditions

Our Values​

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  • Embrace individuality and offer unparalleled flexibility of course design

  • Foster a culture of mutual respect and artistic excellence

  • Balance cutting-edge technologies, best practice methodologies, and proven traditions  

  • Facilitate wide-ranging, industry ready, transferable skills: with real world application

  • Promote a culturally sensitive, vibrant learning environment which encourages individuality as well as joint ventures

About the Guild

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The Australian Guild of Music is a specialist provider of music education, from Beginner Levels to the internationally recognised Licentiates, Fellowships and Degrees. The Guild was founded in 1969 when its parent organisation, the London College of Music ceased operations in Australia.  Gordon Blake, the representative of the LCM, supported by a group of like-minded individuals, created a centre of excellence that could deliver music education and examinations to all Australians, regardless of geographic location. In the intervening fifty-two years, the Guild has expanded its work from a Public Exam Board, to an Education Centre, a Higher Education Provider and a Registered Charity.  

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Public Music Examinations are conducted in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, and China - in person and online. The Higher Education Department is based in Melbourne, Victoria, with staff in Australia, Europe, Asia and North America and students in locations as diverse as Botswana, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand. Degree students can work with instrumental tutors in person in their own region or with Guild experts online, located anywhere in the world.  

 

The Bachelor of Music Degree was approved In 2002 by the Victorian Minister of Education.  In 2006, the Guild was awarded official status as a Higher Education Provider and is regulated by TEQSA, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and ASQA, the Australian Skills and Quality Authority.  

 

In 2020, the degree moved to a fully online model of delivery and opened the course to International Students to study from their home countries.  At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was making Education and  International Education difficult for many, the Guild adapted its skills as Australia’s most experienced and oldest provider of online music education and opened the market.  Fees were lowered, students accepted from anywhere in the world and a COVID scholarship system was introduced for those wanting to study through a period of other limitations.  Partnerships were also established to provide Guild Degree students with access to a number of courses from renowned universities around the world. 

 

The Guild is focused on continual improvement through best practice methodologies and strives to maintain its position as a leader in higher education in music. The flexible nature of the course equips graduates with a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning and music-making regardless of geographical location. 

 

The Guild’s Higher Education operations are governed by the Higher Education Committee and an independent Academic Board.  These committees comprise Higher Education leaders and disciplinary experts with significant sector experience across the university and the private sectors.
 

About the Bachelor of Music

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The Bachelor of Music equips musicians to become educators, performers, composers, artist managers, and emerging proactive arts leaders in their profession. Graduates will be fully prepared for further study or an exciting array of employment possibilities.

 

The Guild has the resources, staff expertise and facilities to foster an exciting, vibrant learning experience that is both innovative and engaging. The Guild is primarily concerned with developing talent and preparing graduates with the general and specific skills needed to survive in an increasingly competitive arts marketplace.

 

Our graduates demonstrate the following attributes:

 

  • Deep disciplinary knowledge

  • Artistic integrity with industry ready, transferable skills

  • The ability to apply knowledge and skills in innovative ways

  • A commitment to lifelong learning

  • Effective communication skills for diverse contexts

  • The capacity to work independently and collaboratively

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About the Bachelor of Music

General Course Information

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Location

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The Australian Guild of Music Education Headquarters are  located at 451 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong Victoria Australia 3144.

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The Degree is delivered Online with LIVE-Online or In-Person Instrumental Tuition.

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Duration of the course

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The Bachelor of Music can be studied Full-Time or Part-Time.   

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Full-Time, it is a three year degree following the Australian University system of six, fifteen week Study Terms.   

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By adding a third Term in the year, the Guild provides the opportunity for Full-Time students to progress faster through the course if they so choose, however only two terms a year are required for Full-Time study.   

 

Part-Time students are able to better pace their subjects across the three Study Terms (45 weeks) in a year according to their other time commitments, rather than only two Study Terms (30 weeks), but have the option to only enrol in two Terms if they so choose.

 

The time commitment as a full-time student in hours is technically 40 hours per week which includes instrumental practice, lectures, tutorials, rehearsals and independent study time.

 

Part-Time commitment is different for each student and will vary from Term to Term, depending on the units of study being undertaken at the time.  Subjects such as Performance have more credits, a larger workload and greater time commitment, while Music History has fewer.

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Course structure​

General Course Information
About the Guild

Course Structure & Content

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Credit Points

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Candidates are required to complete 300 Credit Points to be eligible to graduate and be awarded the Degree. 

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A Full-Time study-load is 50 Credit Points a Term.  

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Units of Study credit points range from 5 credit points for a mini subject through to 20 credit points for Capstone subjects.

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Terms

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There are three Terms and student intakes a year. Each term is fifteen weeks and commences with an Orientation Week.  Students may start the degree in any Term of the year and must enrol for at least two Terms per year for Full-Time Study

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Term Start Dates 2021​

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  • 1 February 2021

  • 17 May 2021

  • 30 August 2021

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Disciplines

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The degree program is arranged into the Four Core Disciplines of Musical Study.  These disciplines underpin the practise of being a working musician. 

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  1. Musicianship equips the student with the fundamentals of musical construction in the western canon.
     

  2. Performance & Teaching prepare the student to communicate music effectively and to pass on the knowledge and practise of music.
     

  3. Music as Culture places music(s) in perspective, exploring past and present musical development and interactions with the world around them.
     

  4. Modern Music Creation equips students with the fundamentals of technologies used in the 21st Century to create music and pass on musical knowledge and provides the tools for their own compositional expression and exploration.

 

Majors, in the form of Capstone Subjects in the final two terms of study, may be done in Performance & Teaching or Modern Music Creation.  Business management is also taught in the final two semesters as a necessary skill for many working musicians. 

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Discipline 1: Musicianship

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  • Theory

  • Aural

  • Harmony

  • Composition

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Discipline 2: Performance & Teaching

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  • Instrumental Performance

  • Theory of Performance

  • Teaching

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Discipline 3: Music as Culture

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  • Music History

  • Collaborative Music Studies

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Discipline 4: Modern Music Creation

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  • Music Technology

  • Composition

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General Overview of Study

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The degree consists of six terms of study.  These are usually studied over a three year period full-time, students enrolling in two Terms/Year.  This can be accelerated by enrolling for three terms a year or extended for up to 10 years through part-time study.

 

In the first two terms, the degree provides a broad level of knowledge and awareness across the Disciplines. Terms 3 and 4 build an advanced framework of learning and at times specialised knowledge and skills.

 

In the final two terms (5 and 6) students choose a specialisation that will assist them to prepare for the professional workforce or further study.  A Capstone Project (40 credits), or “specialisation” is chosen in either Discipline 2 or in  Discipline 4.  This can be designed with the students’ particular interest in mind and in the case of instrumental performance requires a major recital to be completed.  

 

Business Management is also added to the program during this time.  This is a mini, five credit course, to equip students with the basics of financial and managerial knowledge required as a musician.   Students may complete additional Business Management courses through additional electives if they so choose.

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The course content of the Degree emphasises the simultaneous acquisition of practical, applied and theoretical knowledge and understanding of music performance. Additionally, the course has been designed to develop higher order analytical, communication and problem-solving skills that can be transferable to a range of professional and academic contexts.

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Electives

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Through international partnerships, the Guild offers Degree students a range of electives from leading institutions and academics. 

Course Structure & Content

Subjects, Units of Study & Electives

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Discipline 1: MUSICIANSHIP

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Musicianship 101

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Musicianship 101 brings music alive by unlocking the foundations upon which our music system is built.  This course focuses on Music in Contemporary practice and will explore foundations of harmony, writing contemporary songs, varieties of chord symbols and other matters as commonly encountered in a musical life. Musicianship is studied in every term. 

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Musicianship 102

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Musicianship 102 focuses on foundations for melody and part writing by exploring historical counterpoint and applying those ideas to modern music writing.  By the end of the course students will be writing 2-part contemporary styled melodies demonstrating clear harmonic outlines and modulations.

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Musicianship 201

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Musicianship 201 extends your creative possibility by introducing intermediate harmonic concepts of chromatic harmony.  Students will apply their skills to craft compelling ‘complex’ melodic lines demonstrating an advanced harmonic, melodic and rhythmic skills.

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Musicianship 202

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Musicianship 202 extends the part-writing skills of 102 to include advanced counterpoint skills, introduction to fugue writing and then combining these ‘historic’ skills to craft modern multi-part works.

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Musicianship 301

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Musicianship 301 dives deeply into chromatic harmony and complex rhythms including how to use the Augmented 6th chords, Neapolitan chord, Tritone Substitution, flat 6 substitutions, complex time signature and advanced modulations. Delivery is through online self-study lectures and tutorials.

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Musicianship 302

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Musicianship 302 explores the world of 20th Century developments in harmony and the move away from ‘tonal’ and ‘diatonic’ music.  Topics include introduction to Jazz concepts, pitch sets, serialism, resultant rhythms and harmonies, intervallic harmonies, split-third chords and other techniques. The course also explores the use of some of these techniques in popular and award winning music.

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Discipline 2: PERFORMANCE & TEACHING

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Performance 101, 102, 201, 202

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Performance consists of Instrumental Tuition, Performance of Pieces, and theoretical study about performance and teaching of the instrument. 

 

All Students have twelve instrumental lessons per term and prepare an instrumental program which is performed and marked as an examination.  Students also submit pieces or parts there-of during the term for feedback and are required to comment constructively on the performances of other students under instruction of what to listen for in the music and performance. 

 

Theoretical Study takes the form of lectures.

 

Performance 301 & 302 (Capstone Subject - Choice)

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Performance 301 and 302 are an optional capstone subject.  This is essentially a major.  It can consist of Performance Recital, Performance accompaniment or where more suitable, a written research project. 

 

PERFORMANCE ELECTIVES

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Educational/Teaching Focus

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  • Developing Music Skills in Young Pianists: Ideas from Music Learning Theory
    Piano Pedagogy, Teaching Beginning Piano, Early Childhood Musical Development

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  • Teaching Jazz at the Piano
    Practical pedagogy around five elements of teaching jazz: Articulation, Chord Symbols, Listening, Comping, and Improvisation.

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  • Teaching Piano Skills Technique, Piano Scales

 

  • Harnessing the Power of the Team: Teacher, Child, and Parent in Beginning Piano Study 
    Piano Pedagogy, Role of Teacher, Role of Parent, How Children Learn

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  • Lesson Planning Essentials: Tools for Student Success
    Piano Pedagogy, Lesson Planning, Preparing Students for Successful Practice. Teaching Beginning Piano

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  • Teaching Exemplary Performance 
    Piano, Piano Pedagogy, Position and Posture at the Piano, Elementary performance, duet repertoire for beginners

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  • Teaching Music Concepts
    Piano Pedagogy, Conceptual Learning, Teaching Beginning Piano

 

  • Teaching Artists, Audiences and Communities
    Teaching Artistry, Community Groups, Community Artists

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  • Teaching Elementary Technique and Music Reading at the Piano 
    Piano technique, music reading, piano pedagogy, teaching beginning piano

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  • Inclusive Teaching at the Piano
    Teaching students with special needs. Topics include tone, language, reading, non-verbal communication, and teaching students with visual impairments.

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  • Teaching Improvisation and Composition 
    Composition, Piano Pedagogy, Teaching Beginners, Improvisation

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University of Sydney

  • The Place of Music in 21st Century Education
    Music education, student-centred learning, music in the 21st century, music and meaning, pedagogy

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  • Romantic Piano Masters: Schumann, Chopin, Liszt
    Music and lives of Robert Schumann, Frederic Chopin, and Franz Liszt.

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Instrumental/Performer

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Princeton University

  • Reinventing the Piano
    Composition, Prepared Piano, Tuning, Temperament, Piano Design, Digital Instrument Building

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  • Guitar for Beginners - a second instrument study for the beginner
    Music, Technique, Performance, Guitar

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  • Classical Sonatinas and Sonatas at the Piano
    Technique, style, and character of Classical music from pre-sonatina works through the music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

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  • Performance Anxiety Management: How to Prepare for your Best Performance
    How to Calm the Mind and Body for your Best Performance - insights into mindfulness, stage fright, and positive self-talk.

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Curtis Institute of Music

  • The World of the String Quartet
    Music history, string quartet repertoire, string quartet performance, Western Art Music

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Discipline 3: MUSIC AS CULTURE

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Music History 101, 201, 301

 

Collaborative Music Studies 101, 201, 301

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Music as Culture explores music through the ages and in the now as well as the interactions between music and society.  There are 12 lectures and tutorials per term.

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MUSIC AS CULTURE ELECTIVES

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Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona) and RagaSphere

  • North Indian Classical Music: Fundamental Elements
    Hindustani Classical Music, Raga, Rhythm, Tala

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University of the Arts The Hague

  • The Importance and Power of Music in our Society
    Music and Atmosphere, Music and Identity, Music and Politics, Music and Ethics

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  • Romantic Piano Masters: Schumann, Chopin, Liszt
    Music and lives of Robert Schumann, Frederic Chopin, and Franz Liszt.

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  • Gender, Race and Technology
    Gender Studies, Identity, Activism, Social Justice, Social Media, Feminism

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  • Classical Sonatinas and Sonatas at the Piano
    Technique, style, and character of Classical music from pre-sonatina works through the music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

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University of Rochester

  • The Music of the Beatles
    Beatles, music history, music business, recording industry

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University of Sydney

  • The Place of Music in 21st Century Education
    Music education, student-centred learning, music in the 21st century, music and meaning, pedagogy

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Curtis Institute of Music

  • The World of the String Quartet
    Music history, string quartet repertoire, string quartet performance, Western Art Music

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Yale

  • Music and Social Action
    What is a musician’s response to the condition of the world? Do musicians have an obligation and an opportunity to serve the needs of the world with their musicianship?

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University of Victoria (Canada)

  • Music Information Retrieval
    Music, Machine Learning, Music Information Retrieval, Audio Signal Processing, Feature Extraction

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  • Teaching Artists, Audiences and Communities
    Teaching Artistry, Community Groups, Community Artists

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  • Gender, Race and Technology
    Gender Studies, Identity, Activism, Social Justice, Social Media, Feminism

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  • Charting the Avant Garde: From Romanticism to Utopic Abstraction
    Modern Art, Postmodern Art, Painting, Sculpture, Photography

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  • The Modern Genius: Art and Culture in the 19th Century 
    Modernity, Realism, Post-Impressionism, 19th Century Modern Art, Artistic Genius

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  • Surrealism and its legacy
    Modern Art, Postmodern Art, Painting, Sculpture, Photography

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  • Foundations of Arts and Entertainment Technologies
    Interactive Artwork, Gaming, Robotics, Gifs, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Pop Culture

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  • Machine Learning for Musicians and Artists
    Machine Learning, Wekinator, Gaming Controllers, Interactive Art

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  • Online Jamming and Concert Technology
    Jacktrip, Musical Collaboration, Low latency, Concert Technology

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Discipline 4: MODERN MUSIC CREATION

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Music Technology 101

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Music Technology 101 unlocks the possibilities of digital recording and audio editing, a surprising counterpart to instrumental musicians. The course explores the history and bridges the gaps of knowledge between many music technology tools musicians all use, and equips students with the tools they never knew they needed to take their practice, recording and performance to new levels in today’s technological environment.

 

Composition 101

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Composition 101 introduces creative and practice ways to utilise musicianship and theoretical tools to create individual musical pieces. All musicians, without realising it, have the resources to compose music with a mix of their instrumental, theoretical, technological and musicianship tools, and this course excites students to practically apply these to create music that is personally theirs.

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Music Technology 201

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Music Technology 201 advances concepts of audio, recording, editing and production to expand the creative palette available to musicians. Students will explore more creative and unique approaches to composing and producing with only digital tools and instruments, dramatically enhancing their prospects and capabilities as contemporary musicians.

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Composition 201

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Composition 201 considers the rules and frameworks of traditional composition, and encourages students to casually ignore them, in favour of breaking rules and creating completely new works in the vein of 20th century and contemporary composition. Combined with Music Technology tools, students will find their composition prospects drastically opened up, limited only by their imagination.

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Music Technology 301 and 302: Capstone Option

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Music Technology 301 delves students headfirst into advanced recording and production concepts, focusing solely on the creation of music and sound editing using computers and devices. Students undertaking the Music Technology Capstone will come to view the computer and preferred software as their ‘instrument’, and will learn to apply expressive and performative qualities as they would as a traditional instrumentalist; albeit devising the sounds themselves.

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Music Technology 302 encourages students to investigate music production and recording in a wholly personal and expressive manner, exploring styles, software and techniques of interest at great depth to organically produce electronic and produced works and performances.

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Composition 301 and 302: Capstone Option

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Composition 301 provides students with interest in original and new music a creative canvas to fully realise the purpose of their musical, theoretical and technological knowledge thus far. By exploring works, composers, concepts and techniques, students will develop a creative vocabulary to encourage musical creation as a fundamental and essential personal method of expression.

 

Composition 302 encourages students to investigate their advancing compositional method by investigating styles and techniques, and exploring these in the creation of works large and small. Students may write works for others in the cohort to perform, and a focus is placed on professional and performance-ready scores and pieces which can leap immediately from the page to the stage.

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MODERN MUSIC CREATION ELECTIVES

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CALARTS

  • Foundations of Music Technology: Sound Production in Ableton Live for Musicians and Artists
    Ableton, Digital Audio Workstation, Sampling, Sound Design, Production, Mixing

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University of Victoria (Canada)

  • Music Information Retrieval
    Music, Machine Learning, Music Information Retrieval, Audio Signal Processing, Feature Extraction

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University College Cork

  • Loop: Repetition and Variation in Music
    Repetition, Ableton, Sampling, Analysis, Compositional Form

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  • Sound Essentials
    Sound Editing, Photography, Sound Design, Production, Recording Techniques

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  • Foundations of Arts and Entertainment Technologies
    Interactive Artwork, Gaming, Robotics, Gifs, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Pop Culture

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  • Machine Learning for Musicians and Artists
    Machine Learning, Wekinator, Gaming Controllers, Interactive Art

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  • Designing Synthesizer Sounds
    Synthesizers, composition, filters, oscillators, audio effects

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  • Online Jamming and Concert Technology
    Jacktrip, Musical Collaboration, Low latency, Concert Technology

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Princeton University

  • Reinventing the Piano
    Composition, Prepared Piano, Tuning, Temperament, Piano Design, Digital Instrument Building

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Berklee College of Music

  • Sound Design with Kontakt
    Composition, Native Instruments, Sampling, Kontakt, DAW

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Other: Business Management for Musicians

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Music Business 301

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Music Business 301 provides foundational business skills necessary for every musician who will at some time manage their own work.  The course explores basics such as business planning, budgeting and marketing, while also challenging the student about their place in the Arts Economy, what they have to offer and finding their niche.

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Music Business 302

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Music Business 302 provides the opportunity to focus on a singular aspect of the Business of Music.  These include  running a studio, event management, marketing, copyright or digging deeper into understanding financial planning.

 

Delivery is through online self-study lectures and tutorials. 

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ELECTIVES FOR MUSIC BUSINESS

 

Frost School of Music; University of Miami

  • Entrepreneurship for Musicians
    Entrepreneurs, Sole Proprietorship, Small business structures, Entrepreneurial Approach

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Columbus College of Art and Design

  • Money Matters for Creative Entrepreneurs
    Budgeting, Tax Basics, Financial Systems, Excel, Entrepreneurship

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  • Financial Planning for Creative Careers
    Budgeting, Tax Basics, Financial Systems, Excel, Entrepreneurship

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  • Web Development and Design using Wordpress
    Design, Interaction, HTML, CSS, PHP

Subjects, Units of Study & Electives

Credit Transfer​

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RPL and Credit: Please see our RPL and Credit Transfer Policy if you wish to apply for recognition of previous study.

 

This means you will not have to repeat units that have equivalents in the Bachelor of Music course, and you may complete your course sooner. Applications should be made as soon as possible upon registering your interest in the course using the relevant RPL forms accessible on our webpage.

 

All students will have to audition on their principal study (or submit a portfolio) to ensure they are of the required admission standard.

Credit Transfer

Course Learning Outcomes​

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The Bachelor of Music has been designed to build both disciplinary and generic skills as students’ progress through the course. In line with Level 7 of the Australian Qualifications Framework, upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate the following course learning outcomes:

 

  1. A broad knowledge of the applied, theoretical and historical basis of the discipline.

  2. A depth of disciplinary knowledge in a professionally applicable specialisation.

  3. An understanding of the processes of musical scholarship and research.

  4. The ability to work both independently and collaboratively in diverse and complex musical settings.

  5. Effective written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

  6. Critical thinking and analytical skills appropriate to a range of contexts including further study.

  7. The ability to apply specific musical skills to a wide range of professional contexts.

  8. The capacity to apply technological and creative solutions to contemporary musical practices.

  9. The ability to incorporate knowledge from the business and legal fields to a portfolio career in the music profession.

Course Learning Outcomes

Employment Pathways​

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The Bachelor of Music provides students with a breadth of disciplinary knowledge and skill development for a range of professional contexts. Additionally, by choosing a specialisation through the third-year capstone units, students develop depth of knowledge and skills for further specialist study or employment. A range of employment options for graduates of the Bachelor of Music include:

 

  • Touring Soloist or Ensemble Member

  • Arts and Business Manager 

  • Composer (film, television, radio, gaming, freelance) 

  • Répétiteur / Accompanist 

  • Artistic / Festival Director

  • Music Administrator / Business Manager 

  • Audio Technician, Producer or Sound Engineer

  • Music Critic or Reviewer

  • Academic / Musicologist 

  • Record Producer or Music Director

  • Higher Education / University Lecturer and Tutor

  • Music Teacher / Private Studio Teacher 

  • Sessional Performer / Freelance Musician (bands, studio and live recordings, film, theatre, television and live events)

  • Project Curator 

  • Cultural Heritage Manager

  • Sound Artist

Employment Pathways

Higher Education Governance​​

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Higher Education Committee

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  • Dr Albert Haddad (Chair) BSc (Hons) (Melbourne), Grad. Dip H Ed (Latrobe), Med (Monash), Ded (Melbourne)

  • Mr Paul O’Connor LLB (QUT), ADLS (South Australian CAE), LLM (Sydney), BA (Hons) (Adelaide)

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Academic Board

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  • E/Professor Cathy Falk (Chair) BA (Hons), PhD (Monash)

  • E/Professor Andy Arthurs BMus (Tonmeister) (Hons) (Surrey)

  • Assoc. Prof. Linda Corrin BITC (Hons), LLB, PhD (Wollongong)

Higher Education Governance

Key Staff​​

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Professional Staff 

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Executive Manager and CEO
Ms Elizabeth Woollacott BMus (Hons) (Uni Witwatersrand), MMus (Uni Waikato), Prof.Dip.Gov (NZICD), Honorary Fellow (Uni Melbourne 2017)

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Executive Manager (Public Exams and Administration)
Ms Tia Hutajulu Dip Acc (Swinburne), Cert IV Small Business Management, BEcon (STIE Indonesia)

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Business Innovation and Technology Lead
Dr Daniel May BSc, BComp (Hons) (Monash), PhD (Uni Southern Denmark)

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Higher Education Administrator
Dr Yolanda Acker: BMus (Hons), MMus (Hons) (Melbourne), DAST, MAA (Complutense), PhD (ANU)

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Academic Staff

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Head of Academic Program & Musicianship

Dr Matthew Field A. Mus. A (AMEB), BMus (Victoria), PhD (Newcastle)

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Head of Performance & Business Management

Ms Beth Woollacott  BMus (Hons) (Uni Witwatersrand), MMus (Performance) (Uni Waikato), Prof.Dip.Gov (NZICD), Honorary Fellow Business Enterprise (Uni Melbourne 2017)

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Head of Music Modern Music Creation 

Mr Caleb Garfinkel  BMus (VU), BMus (Hon) (Monash), MA (Performance) (Monash)

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Head of Music as Culture

Dr Megan Burslem BMus (Hons), BA, MMus (Performance), MEd, PhD 

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Instrumental and Vocal Tutors

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Students may either accept the Guild-appointed tutor or suggest a tutor of their own choosing. Tutors must hold suitable qualifications and be approved by the Higher Education Executive Manager. 

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Tutors complete a weekly report on the student’s progress. It is not an assessment, but a review and update on the student’s progress in each tutorial. 

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Accompanists

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Students are to arrange a suitable accompanist for the recording of their practical examinations, where necessary. Please note that payment is also the responsibility of the student. Students are advised to contact accompanists as soon as possible, as they are often in high demand during exam periods.

Key Staff

Examinations​​​

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Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music program are required to sit both written and practical examinations as part of their assessment. The former may take the form of tests, quizzes, essays, and the completion of workbooks or projects. 

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Practical examinations are a requirement for all students enrolled in the Music Performance units of the Bachelor of Music Degree. These units require either a technical or recital exam. Students will be required to submit a video recording of their examination performance by a given date.

 

  • Technical exams form part of the assessment for practical music subjects during the first Term of study at each year level. Students are required to perform a selection of technical exercises and study pieces prescribed by their tutor that demonstrate technical ability at the appropriate standard. Proposed repertoire for the examination must be submitted to the Unit Coordinator for approval by the end of Week 10. 

 

  • Recital exams represent the culmination of the practical work students have been putting in all year and are undertaken at the end of the second and fourth semesters, as well as the final sixth semester if completing a major in Performance. Students are to perform a selection of works prescribed by their tutor that demonstrate musical and technical ability. All programs should be submitted to the unit coordinator by the end of Week 10 for approval. 

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For further information about the standards and program lengths expected at each level of the course, please refer to the Music Performance unit outlines.
 

Special Consideration and Extensions

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As outlined in the Special Consideration Policy, students may apply for special consideration if they cannot complete an assessment task in a timely manner or if their performance in assessments and/or examinations is affected by misadventure or special circumstances. These circumstances include medical conditions; employment-related grounds; personal, family and relationship matters; and bereavement.

 

Applications are to be made as soon as possible after a student’s performance in an assessment or examination has been affected by such circumstances on the Special Circumstances Application Form. Students may either apply for additional time to complete an assignment/(s), withdraw from a unit without penalty after the census date or be offered the possibility of sitting a supplementary exam.

 

Relevant documentary evidence from a medical or health practitioner or employer should be attached to your application. Other forms of documentary evidence include a statement from a relevant authority, a jury duty summons, or a funeral notice.

 

The Board of Examiners will consider all applications for Special Consideration and notify the student within 10 working days of the receipt of the application of the decision and the reasons for the decision. Students have the right to appeal this decision if they feel there are grounds for this.

Examinations

Important Dates for 2021

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Term Dates

Academic Calendar

Important Dates for 2021

Learning Online​​

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For all questions, the first place to look is the Student Wiki.

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If the answer isn’t on the WIKI…

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For all access and technical matters regarding your online learning, email address, accessing the LMS or other questions, alway email: support@guildmusic.edu.au  

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For questions about course content, please contact your instructor. 

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Student email address

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Shortly after enrolment, you will be provided with a unique guild-student email address.  

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This address is used to log into the Guild’s Online Learning Management System (LMS), the Student Wiki and a number of other portals that you may need to access during your degree.  

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Most general information and notices are placed in the Student Wiki, and assignments are submitted through the LMS, but other communications may be sent to your email.  

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The email also gives you access to a google workspace to create documents.  The Guild uses google docs in favour of other document systems such as Microsoft.  

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Learning Management System (LMS)

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The online Learning Management System (LMS) is an important resource for all students. It contains all the information you need to know about each of your units and your assessment tasks and assignments, including lecture content, additional notes, video tutorials, as well as forums where you can interact with your peers, which assist in answering your questions.

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The content of your units will be delivered on Kannu, the platform we use as our LMS. During Orientation Week, your lecturers will invite you to your individual Kannu courses using your Guild email address. Please contact your lecturer in regard to any issue relating to your LMS course content.

 

The Online Learning Platform is accessed through http:/learn.guildmusic.edu.au. Access details (password and username) will be sent to students via email in the first week of the course. 
 

Student Wiki

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The Student Wiki is where you will find most of the important information, including additional course information and announcements.  It is constantly being updated and should be consulted regularly.  The Wiki can be found at: students.guildmusic.edu.au and can be accessed using your Guild email. If you have any suggestions or feedback on the wiki, please click on the information icon at the bottom-left of each screen.

Learning Online

Financial Information​​

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Fees

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The Full-Time course fee per Term of Study is A$4500, inclusive of instrumental tuition.  The total cost, 

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Students not eligible to use the Australian Government’s FEE-HELP scheme (international students and permanent residents except for those on humanitarian visas) can choose to pay their instrumental lesson fees separately making the cost A$3000 per Term plus instrumental lessons.   

 

Part-time students are charged on a fractional basis, based on their Units of Study in a particular Term.

Fees can be paid through FEE-HELP, upfront or through instalments.

 

FEE-HELP is available to eligible students - Australia Citizens and Permanent Residents on Humanitarian Visas. Please bear in mind that a 25% loan fee is added to the total cost of the degree by FEE-HELP, which is repayable to the Australian Tax Office (ATO). In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Australian government has temporarily removed the FEE-HELP loan fee for units with a census date up to 30 June 2021. After this time, the loan fee will be reduced to 20%, in line with VET Student Loans.

 

Students who indicate that they would like to access FEE-HELP must complete an eCAF (Electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form). You will receive an email from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment prompting you to do so. This form must be completed before the relevant census date or you will be unable to access FEE-HELP for that study period. FEE-HELP students will receive a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) after the Census date, indicating the amount owing to the ATO for the period. This is not an invoice. It is just for your records.

 

Students who choose to pay their fees upfront, or who are unable to access FEE-HELP, will receive a Levy Statement soon after classes have commenced. Options are available to pay in instalments if requested. Please note that for eligible students a combination of upfront payments and FEE-HELP is possible.

 

Students who are not up to date in their payments will not be permitted to sit their final examinations and statements of results will be withheld until all payments are received.

 

Please see the Guild’s Fee Refund Policy for information about fee refunds.

The Guild’s Teach out Policy outlines information about tuition assurance.

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Census dates

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The census date is the last date you can withdraw from a Unit of Study without incurring a debt, and without it appearing on your academic transcript. Census dates also apply to withdrawals or deferrals from the course as a whole. There is a separate census date for each student intake and these are set no earlier than 20% into the semester.

 

Please be very mindful of these dates if you are contemplating making any changes to your enrolment, as you may be liable for a fee or the unit may still appear on your transcript.

 

Upon enrolment, please be sure to consult the census date corresponding to your study period as included in this Handbook.
 

Scholarships

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The Guild awards a number of annual scholarships. These awards are made on the basis of merit evidenced at the time of application. All scholarships are paid in the form of a reduction on the annual course fees. The Scholarship Selection Committee may exercise discretion in the award of scholarships.

 

Students who successfully fulfil the admission requirements and subsequently enrol in the B.Mus. program will be automatically considered for one of the following scholarships:
 

For exceptional skills on entry:

Vocal Scholarship $350 per year over three years 

Piano Scholarship $350 per year over three years

Guitar Scholarship $350 per year over three years

Composition Scholarship $350 per year over three years

 

The Dr Holmes Award for General Excellence (Total $1,200)

Years 1 through 3 - $400 per year
 

(Pre-requisites: ATAR of 80+ and A.Mus +) in addition to successful fulfillment of all admission requirements)
 

The Guild Award Total: 

Half fee being 0% scholarship year 1, 50% year 2 and 100% year 3.

(Pre-requisites: ATAR of 70+ and A.Mus + in addition to successful fulfillment of all admission requirements)

Financial Information
Resources

Resources​​

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Course Materials

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All required course materials and texts are available on the Online Learning Platform.

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Software

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All specialised software requirements are provided as part of the course. Access details will be sent out as required.

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Internet

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It is essential that students have a fast and reliable internet connection as they will be required to watch numerous videos, upload performances and engage in video conferences.

Support Services​​

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Academic Support

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The Guild is committed to providing assistance and support to all students. If you require additional support, including how to cite your references, do research or complete assessments, you should contact the relevant academic staff member via email. The staff member will arrange to discuss the support required and can also direct you to other professional support services. This may include support with English language or writing skills. The Guild’s Students at Risk Policy sets out the procedures in place for students who may require additional assistance.

 

Technical and IT Support

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Technical and IT support is available online. Please contact support@guildmusic.edu.au and outline the issue you are experiencing.

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Disability Support

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The Guild is committed to inclusion of people with disabilities in the learning environment and every aspect of life at the Guild. We endeavour to accommodate students and staff with disabilities as much as possible, however we receive no additional funding for this.  As such, within the program we can only provide modified programs and modified examinations appropriate to the student’s needs.  We are unable to provide one-on-one assistance.

 

If you have a disability and require a modified program, please make the request directly to the Executive Manager who will lead you through the process and the paperwork where required. 

 

Complaints

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If you have a complaint about any aspect of the Guild,  please refer to the procedures set out in the Student Complaints Policy (non-academic) so that it can be managed appropriately.

Support Services

Academic Integrity

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The Guild is committed to high standards of conduct for our staff and students.

 

We promote free speech and intellectual inquiry and are committed to academic integrity. 

Bachelor of Music students should be aware of the following policies in this regard and refer to them if they have queries:

 

  • Student Misconduct Policy

  • Academic Freedom Policy

  • Academic Integrity Policy

  • Academic Appeals Policy

  • Assessment and Moderation Policy

  • Student Progression Policy

 

Please consult the section on Copyright and Intellectual Honesty in this Handbook for further information about plagiarism. 

 

Copyright and Intellectual Honesty

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The Guild is committed to high academic standards and expects students to understand and respect principles of academic integrity. The Guild will not tolerate infringements of copyright or plagiarism by its staff and/or students. Students are advised to thoroughly familiarise themselves with the definition of plagiarism as given in the Academic Integrity Policy:

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“Plagiarism is the reproduction of someone else’s words, ideas or findings as the student’s own work and presenting them as original ideas. Plagiarism includes:

 

  • direct copying or paraphrasing from someone else’s published work (either in electronic or hard copy) without appropriately acknowledging the source using in text citations and referencing;

  • using facts, information and ideas derived from a source without acknowledgement;

  • submitting an assessment task to be graded or review that the student has not written in (in part or fully);

  • copying answers or text from another student and submitting as one’s own;

  • citing the work of another person without acknowledging the original source;

  • fabricating references or using incorrect references in assessment tasks;

  • submitting another person’s presentation, program, spreadsheet, or other form with only minor alterations”

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Students must also ensure that they are aware of and adhere to copyright laws of Australia:

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A copyright owner is entitled to take legal action against a person who infringes his/her copyright. Unless otherwise permitted by the Copyright Act 1968, unauthorised copying of a work in which copyright applies may infringe the copyright of that work.

 

Where making a copy of a work is ‘fair dealing’ under section 40 of the Copyright Act 1968, making a copy is not an infringement of the copyright in the work. It is fair dealing to make a copy, for the purpose of research or study, of one or more articles on the same subject matter in a periodical publication or, in the case of any other work, of a reasonable portion of a work. In the case of a published work that is of not less than ten pages and is not an artistic work, 10 percent of the total number of pages, or one chapter, is a reasonable portion.

 

More extensive copying may constitute fair dealing for the purpose of research or study. To determine whether it does, it is necessary to refer to the criteria set out in sub-section 40 (2) of the Copyright Act 1968.

 

Copyright Licenses

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A license from Screen Rights (Australia) is maintained to allow the student to view (but not copy) material. This covers TV material used for educational purposes. Each individual is obliged to observe all sections of the Copyright Act. 

Academic Integrity

FAQs

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Is there an attendance requirement?

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Yes. “Attendance” is measured differently in online-learning. As opposed to “attending a class in person”, students are required to view all lectures and participate in all assignments and aspects of course material.  Some courses have specific “attendance requirements” for tutorials, such as Performance, where the student must attend all twelve instrumental lessons in a Term, unless ill or for another legitimate reason. Where a LIVE-Online tutor session is part of the course content, these can be attended at the time online, or be viewed later.  They are recorded and posted to the course content.  Failure to meet attendance requirements may result in you falling behind, missing assessments or impede your progress through the course. Unsatisfactory progress may lead to your enrolment being temporarily restricted, suspended or even terminated.

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How are instrumental classes run?

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A weekly one-on-one individual instrumental or vocal lesson is included in all Music Performance units during semester, for a total of 12 weeks. This is to be scheduled directly with your teacher and can be either online or in person where possible. When enrolling, please advise as to whether or not you are already working with a teacher and wish to continue, or you need to be assigned a new teacher.

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How do I gain approval for my practical exam program?

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All students enrolled in a Music Performance unit will present a technical program (Music Performance 101, 201 or 301) or recital program (Music Performance 102, 202 or 302) requiring endorsement from the Unit Coordinator. Programs are to be developed by students in conjunction with their vocal or instrumental tutor. Students will need to submit their proposed programs by the end of week 10 of each study period.

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Can I defer my offer or take leave from the Bachelor of Music course?

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Yes. If you would like to defer your course, please complete an application for deferment from the course, stating the reason why. Deferrals are permitted for a maximum period of one year and may be sought after being offered a place, prior to enrolment.

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If I defer my course, am I required to re-audition?

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Sometimes. Students who defer or take leave from their course for more than one Term will be required to meet the admission requirements prior to being readmitted to the Bachelor of Music course. This may entail re-sitting the interview, audition and musicianship test.

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Can I complete more than two Terms in one year?

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Yes. The Bachelor of Music course consists of six Terms of study on a full-time basis, which is normally undertaken over three years. Each Term is 15 weeks, including an orientation week, twelve teaching weeks, study time and exams. The Guild has redesigned the course to offer three Terms in the year to benefit Part-Time students who would like a more balanced workload spread over more weeks in the year.  It also allows Full-Time students to accelerate their studies if they so choose.   

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How many units can I study at a time?

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A full-time semester load is normally considered to be made up of 50 credits. This is usually achieved across four units. In exceptional circumstances, students may be authorised to take on an additional unit. Part-time students may enrol in a lighter load, normally consisting of two to three units. I

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Can I receive a passing grade in a unit without completing all the requirements and submitting all assessments?

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No. Guild policy states that students must submit all components of assessment within a unit in order to receive a passing grade in that unit. Failure to submit all assessment tasks will result in a fail result for the unit. 

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Is there a channel through which I can provide feedback about the course?

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Yes. At the Guild we are continually striving to improve the student experience and give students a greater involvement in the directions of the course. We welcome your feedback throughout the year, which can be conveyed to unit coordinators via email.

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Must I complete the Unit Surveys?

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Yes. The Guild is required to collect information from students for statistical purposes. The results of student feedback are also considered by the Academic Board and form the basis for further action, as necessary, in response.  Students are required to complete the Unit Experience Survey (UES) at the end of each semester for each of the units that they are enrolled in prior to receiving results. You will be advised when the UES is open for your feedback.

FAQs
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