The Contemporary/Jazz study program produces unique and professional musicians who, due to the highly practical and individual training offered at AMPA, are able to hit the ground running when they start their careers.

Course Overview

Qualification: Bachelor of Music (Performance)

Duration: 6 Trimesters (2 years) full-time or part-time equivalent. Students may exit after four trimesters with an Associate Degree of Music (Performance)

Fee-HELP: Available

CRICOS: BMus (Perf.) 057024K | AssDegMus (Perf.) 057023M 

AMPA’s innovative undergraduate degrees merge high-level performance and practical training with academic rigour and unparalleled industry insight. Students can personalise their degree based around their individual musical interests and aspirations. 

Unlike many institutions in Australia, AMPA remains focused on individual, one-to-one learning. This means that music students are entitled to receive a 60 minute lesson per week as part of their Principal Study unit, along with an additional 30 minute lesson as part of Second Study, 12 weeks per study period throughout the degree. 

Focus Area: Contemporary/Jazz Performance

This intensive and highly practical program centres on individual performance and instrumental/vocal technique, while placing equal focus on ensemble practice and performance. Through this collaboration, students develop advanced technical skills ensuring they are 100% ready for a career as a professional contemporary musician. Studying within the Contemporary/Jazz Performance focus area, you’ll be exposed to a wide range of modern genres, including Rock, R&B, Funk, Punk, Pop, Blues as well as various Jazz sub-genres. You’ll study performance techniques, interpretation, improvisation, stagecraft, soloing, ensemble interaction, as well as reading, arranging, chart writing and ensemble dynamics. You will constantly perfect your skills by performing at AMPA classes and events, and at external gigs and venues.

Course Structure 

Study Areas

1. PRINCIPAL STUDY: All students receive 12 x individual, 1 hour lessons, on a chosen instrument or voice for every trimester in the course.

2. MAJOR STUDIES: Analyse, workshop and develop stylistic interpretation and presentation on stage.

3. PERFORMANCE STUDIES: Weekly performances on stage in a live environment with professional sound and lighting.

4. ACADEMIC STUDIES: Gain the technical knowledge required to become a versatile professional. In stages 5 and 6 students transition to more practical based units to prepare for the industry and postgraduate studies.

5. ENSEMBLE: Improvise, experiment and collaborate with students in various bands led by industry seasoned musicians.

6. ELECTIVES: Relevant to singer songwriters, guitarist/vocalists, or any students who wish to learn two instruments, the unique Second Study at AMPA provides 12 x individual, 30 minute lessons every trimester. Or choose from electives to complement and refine your degree such as: Song Writing, Music Theatre, Music Industry, Improvisation, Recording, Production, Music and Moving Image, Chart Writing and more.

Course Progression

Students can transfer from the Associate Degree into the Bachelor Degree at any of the below transfer points.Students that have started in the Bachelor Degree also have the option of exiting after 4 trimesters with an Associate Degree.

Career Outcomes

Many contemporary performance graduates go on to become professional performers as soloists or in bands, recording artists, session musicians, events managers, music journalists, promoters and distributors, tutors, and marketing and administration professionals in creative industries. Additionally, graduates are qualified to undertake postgraduate studies in a range of areas including: teaching in secondary schools, TAFE and universities/colleges, arts management, creative industries, and further music studies.

Admissions

Entry Requirements: Completion of HSC or equivalent OR completion of at least one full time year of tertiary study OR as a mature age student. Provisional admission may be granted for students limited educational qualifications.

Admissions Process: Audition + Interview + Musical Knowledge Test

For further information on admissions procedures, please refer to Section 3.1 of the AMPA Student Handbook.

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AMPA’s Composition/Creative Music Technology focus area offers tailored programs to nurture, encourage and develop the unique creative voice of each artist who undertakes the program.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Qualification: Bachelor of Music (Performance) / Associate Degree of Music (Performance)
Duration: 6 Trimesters (2 years) full-time or part-time equivalent / (AssocDeg: 4 Trimesters FTE)
Entry: Presentation of composition portfolio + Interview + Theory Assessment, Music 1 and/or 2 recommended
CRICOS: 057024K
Details: More details at www.ampa.edu.au. Fee-Help available

AMPA’S innovative undergraduate degrees merge high-level performance and practical training with academic rigour and unparalleled industry insight. Students can personalise their degree based around their individual musical interests and aspirations. AMPA undergrads may choose to undertake a double major and focus on two areas and can choose electives across all focus areas to further tailor their degree.

FOCUS AREA: Composition/Creative Music Technology

The AMPA Composition & Creative Music Technology department provides students with a range of songwriting and arranging techniques, as well as music production, mixing and recording skills. Students will develop their own unique ideas and explore different modes of music delivery, as well as gain enhanced analytical and theoretical musical knowledge. Students will undergo practical training through the experimentation and workshopping of their compositions. Alongside this, they will receive practical performance skills through collaboration with contemporary and classical performance students and ensembles at AMPA. Practical training is complemented by the study of harmony, music history and industry studies.

Choose electives to complement and refine your degree from classes such as: Orchestrating & Arranging, Production, Music and Moving Image, Music Industry, Recording, Studio Teaching, and Jazz Improvisation.

COURSE STRUCTURE: Composition/Creative Music Technology (by trimester)


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* Students who successfully complete T1 – T4 are eligible for an Associate Degree of Music (Performance)


GRADUATE PATHWAYS

Composition graduates go on to become composers for ensembles, films, video games, media and advertisements, as well as soundtrack producers, music directors, and marketing and administration professionals in arts councils and creative industries. Additionally, graduates are qualified to undertake postgraduate studies in a range of areas including: teaching in secondary schools, TAFE and universities/colleges, arts management, creative industries, and further composition studies.