The beat goes on? The current presence of music education in Australian public universities

Figures & data

Table 1. Presence of major educational categories among Australian public universities offering music.

Category of music education	Number of universities	Percentage of universities offering music education
Musicology	28	88%
Music production and technology	27	84%
Contemporary performance (incl. jazz)	25	78%
Composition	22	69%
Music business	14	44%
Classical performance	13	41%
Music education	12	38%
Musical theater performance	8	25%

Table 2. Presence and depth of individual-unit categories among Australian public universities offering music.

Category	Number of units	Percentage of total units
Musicology	214	18%
Composition	162	14%
Classical performance	146	12%
Music production and technology	142	12%
Performance units with studio classes*	97	8%
Music theory	96	8%
Jazz performance	82	7%
Contemporary performance	79	6%
Musical theater performance	66	6%
Music education and pedagogy	50	4%
Music business	28	2%
Non-Western music	15	1%
Total	1,177	100%

* Studio classes are streamed by majors, instruments or voice within the same unit offering.

Table 3. Availability of undergraduate majors and honors in universities with a presence in music education.

University	Degree in music	Music-related major in other degree (e.g., BA, BPA, B. Creat Ind, B. Fine Arts)	Honors in music-related area ✔
Australian Catholic University		✔
Australian National University	✔	✔	✔
Central Queensland University	✔
Charles Darwin University		✔
Edith Cowan University	✔	✔	✔
Federation University		✔
Flinders University		✔
Griffith University	✔	✔	✔
Macquarie University	✔		✔
Monash University	✔		✔
Murdoch University		✔
Queensland University of Technology		✔	✔
RMIT University		✔
Southern Cross University	✔		✔
Swinburne University of Technology		Circus Arts
University of Adelaide	✔	✔	✔
University of Canberra		✔
University of Melbourne	✔		✔
University of Newcastle	✔		✔
University of New England	✔	✔	✔
University of New South Wales		✔	✔
University of Queensland	✔		✔
University of South Australia		✔
University of Southern Queensland	✔	✔	✔
University of the Sunshine Coast	✔	✔	✔
University of Sydney	✔		✔
University of Tasmania	✔		✔
University of Technology Sydney		✔	✔
University of Western Australia	✔	✔	✔
University of Wollongong		✔	✔
Victoria University	✔	✔
Western Sydney University	✔	✔

Table 4. Value propositions in all public universities offering music education.

University	Preparing for a real-world career	Developing musical competencies	Promoting art for art’s sake	Being part of a tradition of excellence
Australian Catholic University	✔	✔
Australian National University	✔		✔	✔
Central Queensland University	✔
Charles Darwin University	✔	✔
Edith Cowan University		✔	✔
Federation University	✔	✔
Flinders University	✔
Griffith University	✔			✔
Macquarie University	✔	✔
Monash University	✔	✔
Murdoch University	✔
Queensland University of Technology	✔		✔
RMIT University			✔
Southern Cross University	✔
University of Adelaide			✔
University of Canberra	✔
University of Melbourne			✔	✔
University of Newcastle	✔
University of New England	✔
University of New South Wales	✔		✔
University of Queensland	✔	✔
University of South Australia	✔
University of Southern Queensland	✔
University of the Sunshine Coast	✔	✔
University of Sydney			✔	✔
University of Tasmania		✔	✔
University of Technology Sydney	✔	✔
University of Western Australia			✔	✔
University of Wollongong	✔	✔
Victoria University	✔	✔
Western Sydney University		✔

Table 5. Sample of music education offerings from Australian public universities.

Category	Characteristics	Examples
Category 1—virtuoso	A dedicated music degree with several specializations or focal areas of music education on offer, in performance (i.e., classical, jazz, and contemporary), production, musicology, or composition. All degrees in this category are named a BMus and result in a subsequent named major or specialization as part of the award. There is a high proportion of compulsory music units with an emphasis on developing individual technical skills, ensemble experience, and highly-developed music theory, compositional, and musicological knowledge. The degree has no compulsory interdisciplinary studies. However, there are options (albeit restricted) to study non-music units through general or university-wide electives.	Edith Cowan University—Bachelor of Music University of Sydney—Bachelor of Music
Category 2—artisan	A dedicated music degree where the range of specializations or focal areas of music is limited in terms of genre (e.g., contemporary only), or by offering broader music education across specializations to build a range of technical and professional skills. Generally named a Bachelor of Music, but may also include other degrees that offer a music specialization. The proportion of compulsory music units varies, but is generally more than half to three quarters of the course. Compulsory interdisciplinary studies make up a small proportion of the degree and there is more breadth to study other non-music units through general or university-wide electives.	Australian National University—Bachelor of Music University of Southern Queensland Newcastle University—Bachelor of Music and Performing Arts Charles Darwin University—Bachelor of Arts
Category 3—generalist	Music education is offered within a broader faculty or disciplinary setting whereby students study various aspects of the music discipline to build a range of professional skills. The degree combines an interdisciplinary education with a focus on music and offers flexibility to explore other disciplines alongside music studies. The proportion of music units is much less than half the degree and is often associated with the selection of a “music major” or specialization. There is a much greater proportion of non-music units (e.g., business, humanities, and arts) and one can study general university-wide electives.	Australian Catholic University—Bachelor of Arts University of Canberra—Bachelor of Creative Industries Murdoch University—Bachelor of Creative Media