Bachelor of Music
The Bachelor of Music (Bmus) is a relatively new program to the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM). Established in 2008, the BMus has three specializations, Music Theatre, Jazz and Popular Music and Classical. The Bachelor of Music is a three year full-time program offered on the Mackay campus of Central Queensland University.
The BMus provides graduates with employment options as instrumental or vocal teachers within private schools or private practice, and/or a performance career. BMus graduates are eligible to apply for entry into a post graduate degree in education through Central Queensland University's, Gradute Diploma of Teaching and Learning (GDTL) degree. This degree currently takes just one year of full-time study to complete in fast track mode. Graduates from the GDTL are eligible for employment as classroom or instrumental music teachers within the Queensland Education Department.
CQCM graduates are now working in the following fields:
- Professional performance
- Professional performance with touring companies around Australia
- Private studio teaching in a variety of musical disciplines
- Instrumental music teaching at primary and secondary school
- Classroom music teaching at primary and secondary school
- Arts management
- Arts promotions
Classical
Within the classical strand of the BMus students can study instrumental, voice or composition as their major study. All students receive one to one lessons in their major study and these can include voice, piano, guitar, percussion, flute, violin, viola, cello, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone. All the teachers are professionals in their field.
Students perform frequently in groups such as classical ensembles, choir, and small vocal ensembles. Many of these ensembles perform regularly around Mackay and region at festivals, art gallery openings, weddings, outdoor concerts etc. Students also have the opportunity to play in the orchestras for the music theatre productions, or to be involved on stage in the music theatre productions as an elective.
Within this specialization students have the option to take electives in song writing, audio recording technology, conducting, music notation software skills as well as academic studies in classical music, film music and country music. Many of these electives are taken with industry professionals who work in intensive sessions with the students.
Many of the courses in the classical area have study materials and resources online that allow students 24 hour access to the information they need to complete their studies.