Graduate attributes

Graduate attributes outline the learning goals of qualifications offered by Victoria's New Zealand School of Music (NZSM).

Personal attributes answer questions such as:

What general skills can I expect to acquire in the areas of critical and creative thinking, written and verbal communication, working on my own or in a group?
What can an employer expect of a graduate with this qualification?

Programme attributes answer questions such as:

What will a graduate of the programme be able to do?
What disciplinary knowledge can I expect to gain?

View the attributes of each qualification:

Bachelor of Music (BMus)
Graduate Diploma in Music (GDipMus)
Postgraduate Diploma in Music (PGDipMus)
Bachelor of Music with Honours (BMus(Hons))
Master of Music (MMus)
Master of Musical Arts (MMA)
Master of Music Therapy (MMusTher)
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
Artist Diploma (ArtDip)

Bachelor of Music (BMus)

BMus graduates will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

confidence in thinking and working independently
an ability to work effectively with others
confident leadership skills
confident written and oral communication skills
a professional work ethic.

Programme attributes

an understanding of the various disciplines of musical study
an understanding of the cultural, historical and stylistic contexts of the music they perform or research
well-developed musicianship skills
analytical and technical skills required for the development of creative and critical abilities
academic preparedness for postgraduate study in music.

Classical Performance

BMus graduates majoring in Classical Performance will also:

perform with skill and artistry on their chosen instrument or voice
demonstrate understanding of the technical and musical demands of their chosen repertoire
demonstrate understanding of a broad range of musical genres and styles
work effectively as part of an ensemble, and display appropriate leadership skills.

Jazz Performance

BMus graduates majoring in Jazz performance will also:

perform, improvise, compose and arrange music with skill and artistry as a jazz musician in solo and/or group settings.

Composition/Sonic Arts

BMus graduates majoring in Composition/Sonic Arts will also:

create original, imaginative, rigorously developed and coherently
structured works for a variety of musical, sonic and other media
independently solve the creative and practical challenges involved in producing and presenting original musical/sonic works
work collaboratively in the production, and presentation or performance of their work
articulate and assess critically their creative concerns and processes, as well as those of others, and situate them in a wider field of sonic/musical creativity.

Music Studies

BMus graduates majoring in Music Studies will also:

be able to think critically about contrasting musical practices
be familiar with a range of practical and critical approaches towards musical study
confidently articulate an understanding of music within social and historical contexts
possess skills relevant to one or more sub-disciplines in Music Studies.

Graduate Diploma in Music (GDipMus)

GDipMus graduates will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

an ability to think and work independently
good research skills
an ability to apply reasoned thinking to a range of musical issues
very good oral and written communication skills
an ability to communicate formally and informally with a wide range of people
excellent team-working skills, including in collaborative musical situations.

Programme attributes

an ability to undertake advanced-level study in music
an ability to undertake advanced-level study in a field of musical specialisation other than that chosen for their first degree
possession of a broad range of skills, insights and knowledge relating to the study and practice of music, and the ability to apply these effectively.

Postgraduate Diploma in Music (PGDipMus)

(Composition/Sonic Arts and Performance)

PGDipMus graduates will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

a high degree of creativity and artistic accomplishment in the relevant discipline
a rigorous standard of professionalism, as defined in terms of the relevant discipline
excellent organisation, time management, and presentation skills
an independent approach to learning goals
a high degree of confidence to apply for auditions and competitions
an ability to apply skills and attributes essential to a professional performing career in music.

Programme attributes

an understanding of the musical context, literature and/or repertoire pertinent to the discipline
analytical skills that can be brought to bear on a line of inquiry
a critical perspective on relevant musical research.

Bachelor of Music with Honours (BMus(Hons))

(Performance, Composition/Sonic Arts, Jazz Performance, Ethnomusicology, Musicology and Music Studies)

BMus(Hons) graduates will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

an advanced ability to think critically and work independently
a high degree of creativity and artistic accomplishment (Composition/Sonic Arts, Performance)
confidence in working effectively with others and exercising leadership skills
well-developed written and oral communication skills.

Programme attributes

an advanced understanding of the cultural, historical and stylistic contexts of the music they are creating, researching, or performing
academic preparedness for higher postgraduate study in music.

Master of Music (MMus)

Musicology

MMus graduates in Musicology will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

intellectual independence
an ability to convey scholarly ideas effectively in both oral and written forms
a scholarly perspective upon the contexts, literature and/or repertoire pertinent to research in musicology
an ability to develop a research thesis which illuminates a central research concept.

Programme attributes

a specialised understanding of the field of research chosen
academic preparedness for higher postgraduate study in music.

Composition

MMus graduates in Composition will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

intellectual independence
an ability to develop a research thesis expressed through original, highly-developed creative work which illuminates a central research concept
a scholarly perspective upon the contexts, literature and/or repertoire pertinent to a the development of a research thesis in Composition.

Programme attributes

an ability to implement strategies pertinent to the development of research that is informed by scholarly enquiry in a creative field
academic preparedness for doctoral study in music.

Performance

MMus graduates in Performance will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

intellectual independence
an ability to develop a research thesis expressed through highly-developed creative work which illuminates a central research concept.

Programme attributes

an ability to implement strategies pertinent to the development of research that is informed by scholarly enquiry in a creative field
academic preparedness for doctoral study in music.

Master of Musical Arts (MMA)

Composition and Sonic Arts

MMA graduates in Composition and Sonic Arts will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

a highly-developed individual creative voice
advanced critical and analytical skills
an ability to develop a coherent body of creative work both through original compositions/sound-based work
a good understanding of the musical context, literature and/or repertoire pertinent to the music in question
an advanced command of the musical techniques/technology and medium of presentation as pertinent to the body of creative work
well-developed written communication and oral skills, involving an ability to communicate formally and informally with a wide range of people about their creative work.

Programme attributes

an ability to compose musical/sound-based work that is informed by a line of critical inquiry
an ability to articulate and solve compositional and contextual challenges with originality, creativity and independence
an ability to present work at a highly advanced standard
an ability to engage critically with recent developments in compositional praxis, and articulate the nature of this engagement
academic preparedness for doctoral study in music.

Performance

MMA graduates in Performance will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

a highly-developed individual creative voice
advanced critical and analytical skills
knowledge and understanding of the musical instrument in question, the ability to inform creative work through critical enquiry and the achievement of technical command
high-level skills in musical analysis
well-developed written communication and oral skills, involving an ability to communicate formally and informally with a wide range of people about their instrument and its repertoire
the ability to work effectively in collaborative musical situations.

Programme attributes

an ability to reach a high level of artistic accomplishment in musical performance
an ability to present oneself with confidence in auditions or international competitions
an ability to apply skills and attributes essential to a career in music centering on professional performance
academic preparedness for doctoral study in music.

Master of Music Therapy (MMusTher)

MMusTher graduates will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

an ability to collaborate and communicate respectfully in a variety of media (including music) with a diverse people of all ages and from all walks of life
an ability to plan and organise competent and ethical music therapy practice and research, but be flexible, responsive and creative in their interactions within work environments
an ability to think critically and analytically and be able to apply insights and new learning to their own practice and/or research.

Programme attributes

an ability to practice effectively in the music therapy field and to reflect sensitively on that practice
integrated knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of music therapy and their application in practice
an understanding of the variety of contexts in which music therapy is practised, based both on theoretical learning and on practical experience in the areas they have chosen
an ability to extend theoretical learning and develop problem identification and solution in the field, through research, critical thinking and reflection.

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

Composition

DMA graduates in Composition will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

a highly-developed individual creative voice
sophisticated critical and analytical skills
an ability to develop and present with cogency a coherent body of creative work both through original compositions and in an extended piece of writing
a thorough understanding of the musical context, literature and/or repertoire pertinent to the music in question
highly-developed written communication and oral skills, involving an ability to communicate formally and informally with a wide range of people about their creative work.

Programme attributes

an ability to compose musical/sound-based work that is informed by a line of critical inquiry
an ability to articulate and solve compositional and contextual challenges with originality, creativity and independence
an ability to present work at a professional standard
an ability to engage critically with recent developments in compositional praxis, and articulate the nature of this engagement.

Performance

DMA graduates in Performance will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

a highly-developed individual creative voice
sophisticated critical and analytical skills
an ability to inform creative work through critical enquiry and technical command
high-level skills in musical analysis
knowledge and understanding of the musical instrument in question
highly-developed written communication and oral skills, involving an ability to communicate formally and informally with a wide range of people about their instrument and its repertoire
an ability to work effectively in collaborative musical situations.

Programme attributes

an ability to reach a professional level of artistic accomplishment in musical performance
an ability to present themselves with confidence in major orchestral or vocal auditions, international competitions, or a major concert series
an ability to apply the skills and attributes essential to a career in music which centres on professional performance.

Artist Diploma (ArtDip)

ArtDip graduates will demonstrate personal and programme specific attributes.

Personal attributes

a thorough knowledge and understanding of the musical repertoire pertinent to the musical instrument in question, considered within its historical and social context
high-level skills in musical analysis
a multi-disciplinary, international perspective on music
excellent oral and written communication skills, involving an ability to communicate formally and informally with a wide range of people about their instrument and its repertoire
refined team-working skills, including the ability to work effectively in collaborative musical situations.

Programme attributes

an ability to reach a high level of artistic accomplishment in musical performance
an ability to present themselves with confidence for major orchestral or vocal auditions, international competitions, or find a place in a major concert series
an ability to apply the skills and attributes essential to a professional performing career in music.