BACHELOR POPULAR MUSIC OF
PERFORMANCE | MUSIC, SOUND AND VISION | MUSIC INDUSTRY
Transform your passion for music into a lifelong career
Image: Jason Sheldon
‘The Bachelor of Popular Music delivers a wealth of invaluable information that has been vital in my career, both as a studio session player and as a live touring performer.’ Ian Peres Wolfmother
‘I can unreservedly recommend this course to anyone considering a national or international popular music career.’
Leah Martin-Brown Songwriter and lead singer for Evol Walks
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BACHELOR OF POPULAR MUSIC Study in world-class facilities
Griffith University’s unique Bachelor of Popular Music, offered through the Queensland Conservatorium, is the only university degree that offers you the opportunity to extend your musical passion beyond performance and production, and develop expertise in the business of music. Based at the Gold Coast campus, and endorsed by international industry heavyweights, the Bachelor of Popular Music will help you foster the musical innovation and creativity needed to succeed in a competitive industry.
You’ll have 24/7 access to six music studios equipped with the latest recording facilities, editing suites and AV post-production technology. You’ll also be able to collaborate with students from the Queensland College of Art and Griffith Film School, in their state-of-the-art digital video studios. With more than 18,000 students, the Gold Coast campus offers a dynamic student lifestyle, including a vibrant music culture, extensive sporting facilities, and a range of cafés, restaurants and a bar.
Follow your passion
Join a remarkable community
Whether your passion is pop, rock, electronic dance music, R&B, country, metal—or your own unique style—our passion is your original music. We’re also committed to fostering collaborations with film, multimedia, photography and business students to help you bring your music to life, expand your networks, and graduate with an exceptional portfolio of work.
When you study with one of Australia’s leading music schools, you’ll benefit from outstanding teaching and global musical connections, and join a network of renowned graduates. Queensland Conservatorium graduates include ARIA-nominee Danny Harley of The Kite String Tangle, Eurovision runner-up Dami Im, ARIA award-winner Megan Washington, Wolfmother’s Ian Peres, three time Grammy award-winner Tim Munro, singer-songwriter Katie Noonan, award-winning international DJ tyDi, and singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke.
Gain industry knowledge You’ll learn from music industry professionals who’ve worked with the best in the business— independent producers, sound engineers, songwriters, and performers. As a Conservatorium student you will constantly be exposed to the latest ideas, trends and approaches in music, with all of our local and international partners at your fingertips.
Find out more at griffith.edu.au/popular-music
As the only Queensland university ranked in the top 50 performing arts universities in the world, Griffith is the ideal launch pad for your music career—a thriving, nurturing and creative environment producing the next crop of savvy and successful industry professionals.
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You’ll have the option to enhance your degree with industry internships and international study tours. What you’ll study
Music, Sound and Vision Writing for moving image is one of the biggest growth areas in the music industry. Taught in partnership with Griffith Film School and the Queensland College of Art, you’ll study composition for film and television, music for gaming, sound design, Foley, location recording, and custom sound creation. Your assessments will be project-based and encourage the interdisciplinary collaborations that occur in the music industry, so you’ll graduate with an extensive portfolio, established networks and the skills to meet the demand for qualified composers for visual image.
Over three years, you’ll learn about contemporary music practices and emerging technologies and develop skills in your chosen major. You’ll develop the skills and expertise to become a ‘portfolio’ musician, combining diverse employment opportunities in areas such as performing, songwriting, recording, event coordination, and business management. In your first year, you’ll study three foundation courses. From your second year, you’ll focus on your selected major—whether that’s performance, music, sound and vision, or music industry. You’ll also have the option to enhance your degree with industry internships and international study tours.
Music Industry You’ll graduate with expert insight into the popular music industry and be skilled in artist and event management, marketing, social media design and business development. Taught in collaboration with Griffith Business School, you’ll also have the opportunity to manage a current Bachelor of Popular Music musician, organise a music event and take part in two music industry internships.
Majors Our majors, developed in partnership with Griffith Business School, Griffith Film School and the Queensland College of Art, have been designed to meet the demands of today’s music world for professionals with broad knowledge of musical genres, excellent business and communication skills, creativity and flexibility.
Performance In this major, you’ll hone your performance, songwriting and recording skills, with the option to specialise in audio production. While making music will be at the core of your studies, you’ll also gain a thorough grounding in the theory, creative music technology and business of music making. You’ll graduate as an independent musician, with an extensive original music portfolio and live performance experience, developed through innovative creative practices and collaborations.
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Jared Porter, former Bachelor of Popular Music student Winner 35th Toyota Star Maker Award, Finalist in the 2016 International Songwriting Competition, Finalist in the 2015 APRA Professional Development awards
Possible career paths include:
Hands-on experience
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Music industry internships You’ll have the chance to get to the heart of the industry with placements available in recording studios, events management companies, music industry publishers and everything in between—the choice is yours.
International study immersions and scholarships Bachelor of Popular Music students have the opportunity to collaborate and develop professional relationships with international industry experts, from producers to professional songwriters and session musicians. You could take a study trip to Nashville, the musical capital of the world, or join the list of students whose songs have been pitched for TV sync placement.
composer DJ media industry specialist multimedia designer music agent/manager music publisher music teacher musical director musician post-production specialist recording engineer song writer sound and music producer sound designer.
Further study If you decide to develop your specialist interests even further, you can go on to study the Bachelor of Popular Music with Honours. Through a program of research and practice-based work, you’ll be equipped to enter further Higher Degree by Research study and/or professional life as a highly skilled, creative and flexible musical performer and researcher.
SEED The Bachelor of Popular Music’s very own artist management agency, SEED, offers students paid performance opportunities from their first year, including at high profile events and festivals. Spanning a range of genres, SEED also releases an annual compilation album of students’ original music, facilitates music video and photo shoots, arranges networking opportunities and delivers quality industry insight. SEED artists have won music awards and appeared in Triple J’s Hottest 100. Visit seedgriffith.com for more information.
The Bachelor of Popular Music degree also qualifies you to follow a teaching pathway, by studying the Master of Secondary Teaching.
How to apply To apply, you’ll need to lodge an online Application for Audition form with the Queensland Conservatorium by the due date in August, along with an application with QTAC or UAC by late September, using the following codes: • QTAC code: 235772, English (4, SA) is a prerequisite to entry • UAC code: 283215, two units of English is assumed At the audition, you’ll complete an interview, present a live instrumental and/ or vocal performance and present a résumé of achievements and experience. The audition and interview will last approximately 20 minutes. Auditions are usually held in the Queensland September school holidays. Candidates will be notified of their scheduled time approximately two weeks prior to the audition week.
Career opportunities The Conservatorium is committed to nurturing and developing musical talent and preparing students to take their place in the industry. You’ll be equipped for a successful career in all areas of the industry, including with professional music bodies, in large music organisations, live commercial performance, recording studios, arranging, composition and teaching. Many graduates have successful performance careers along with their own businesses, such as recording studios, record labels, teaching studios, music distribution, and artist and repertoire companies.
Visit griffith.edu.au/music-audition for more information about auditions.
Bachelor of Popular Music students have paid performance opportunities from their first year (pictured right)
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ENDORSED BY INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY HEAVYWEIGHTS The Bachelor of Popular Music is endorsed by international industry heavyweights, including artists, songwriters and producers.
‘The Bachelor of Popular Music teaches and promotes an all-encompassing skill set. It provides a range of skills that teach group collaboration and open-mindedness, with studio and performance insights from both sides of the mixing desk, and education in legal matters. It delivers a wealth of invaluable information that has been vital in my career, both as a studio session player and as a live touring performer. The course has my full support.’ Ian Peres, bassist and keyboard player for Grammy award-winning rock band Wolfmother Ian is a Bachelor of Popular Music graduate.
‘I mix and work with graduates from some of the world’s best-known music schools on a daily basis, which really helps me appreciate the depth and quality of the Conservatorium’s Bachelor of Popular Music. I can unreservedly recommend this course to anyone considering a national or international popular music career. It gave me the critical foundations of knowledge and expertise to develop my international career in the rock music industry and equipped me with the skills and confidence to perform in any situation. The new majors being introduced to the course will further strengthen the development opportunities for future students.’ LA-based Leah Martin-Brown, songwriter and lead singer for Evol Walks As a Bachelor of Popular Music graduate, Leah has toured internationally, been a finalist in the Q Music Awards, and signed a global management deal with one of the world’s most pre-eminent management groups, The Rick Sales Entertainment Group.
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‘Completing the Bachelor of Popular Music gave me the skills, knowledge and confidence to enter the music industry and most importantly, solidified my passion to have a career in original music. It was clear to me after my first semester that it was the perfect first step towards a career as an original performing and recording artist. I graduated with a catalogue of recordings, some of which formed part of my debut release. Graduating with release-ready material was invaluable and helped to open doorways for performing, touring and recording after graduation.’ Award-winning singer/songwriter, Georgia Potter
‘I absolutely endorse Griffith University’s Bachelor of Popular Music and its expansion to include a performance major focused on writing and recording original music. Becoming a working musician in the modern music climate is greatly helped by a broad understanding of many applicable skill sets, such as songwriting, production and marketing.’
Image: WILK
Bachelor of of Popular Music graduate Georgia was the inaugural winner of the $15,000 Carol Lloyd Award, announced at 2017 Queensland Music Festival.
ARIA nominated singer/producer and record label owner Danny Harley, of The Kite String Tangle Danny is a graduate of the Bachelor of Popular Music. His debut single ‘Given the Chance’ was voted in at number 19 in the Triple J Hottest 100.
‘Working with the Bachelor of Popular Music students has been a delight. Their musicianship is professional and top notch. Being in one of the world’s music centres I’m always impressed with how seamlessly they plug into the Nashville music scene—so much so that I’ve asked several to continue working with me. I know they will continue to refine their craft and the new innovative degree that Griffith University has developed will allow future students to grow even further!’ Nashville producer, Scott Gerow Scott has worked on award-winning records with artists including Christina Aguilera and Crystal Gayle. He has placed songs in TV series such as CSI and How I Met your Mother and feature films such as The Equaliser. Bachelor of Popular Music students have the opportunity to collaborate with Scott on an annual international study tour to Nashville.
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Contact us Popular Music Administrative Officer Phone: +61 7 5552 9036 Email: j.sutherland@griffith.edu.au qcgu.popmusic 
QCGCgoldcoast 
International Student Administration Phone: +61 7 3735 7200 Email: international@griffith.edu.au @PopularMusicGC
All information is correct as at June 2017, but is subject to change as content is reviewed and updated.
CRICOS No. 00233E J001345
griffith.edu.au/popular-music