COURSE CURRICULUM

The Contemporary Popular Music major is structured across three levels and is designed to develop students’ skills in performance, composition, production, and music industry practice. At Level 1, students complete core units including Popular Music in Global Perspective and Contemporary Popular Music Principal Studies 1 and 2, which introduce foundational skills in performance and understanding of popular music styles. Students may also choose optional units such as Music Theory for Electronic Musicians or Music Language Foundations to strengthen theoretical knowledge. At Level 2, students progress to more advanced study through Contemporary Popular Music Principal Studies 3 and 4, alongside Electronic Music: Sampling and Synthesis, which focuses on digital production techniques and sound creation. At Level 3, students undertake Contemporary Popular Music Principal Studies 5 and Professional Skills: Music Industry and Artist, which prepare them for real-world music careers by developing industry knowledge, self-management, and professional practice. They also select an elective from units such as Music in the Sixties, Music in Film, TV and Video Games, or Music, Society, and Ideas to broaden their cultural and analytical understanding. Overall, the course integrates performance, creativity, digital production, and industry skills, preparing students for careers in music performance, songwriting, production, and the wider creative industries.