Music Education Specialisation

About this Specialisation

Focuses on classroom music teaching, with a heavy emphasis on teaching lower school music.

The specialisation is open to students with either classical, jazz or contemporary music backgrounds. The units cover philosophies of music education, practical approaches to music teaching, including active listening, creative and systems-based composing and classroom ensembles, and lesson planning and sequencing. Units are practically-based and cover a wide variety of musical genres and styles. In addition, units dissect the WACE music courses of study, authentic assessment in music education, approaches to set works teaching, and extra musical responsibilities such as camps, tours and administration.

Special entry requirements

All applicants are required to complete a major in music (three years of degree level study comprising at least 6 units with no more than two at first-year level and no fewer than two units at third-year level) including all of the following: musicological study (music history and analysis) in a range of musical styles, periods and genres with a strong component of contemporary and western art music, compositional techniques, music performance studies (a minimum of two years of music performance studies) and preferably Australian music. The study of music and music practice must be developed as a discrete discipline. Vocationally oriented courses are not recognised as equivalent. Alternatively applicants can complete at least two years (4 units) of degree level study in music with at least two units at level 2 or above in the previously mentioned areas, if they intend to undertake this specialisation as their minor area of study.