Master of Music (Performance Teaching)

The Master of Music (Performance Teaching) prepares you to become a leader in music education as a performer-teacher. You will participate in a range of learning opportunities, connected to the study of Western classical and contemporary music, which are underpinned by the latest research and taught by internationally renowned experts.

The course acknowledges the changing landscape of the music professional and will prepare you to work in schools, studios, community programs, private providers, and further education settings, both locally, nationally and internationally. Our graduates are highly sought after as instrumental, vocal and ensemble teachers.

The course has two specialisations:

• The Instrumental Specialisation prepares students for school-based instrumental/vocal teaching, developing approaches, strategies and specific instrumental music pedagogy appropriate for individual and group instruction. This specialisation is underpinned by the latest research into curriculum, assessment, and teaching practice to provide the most relevant preparation for Instrumental-Vocal teachers. It includes three professional placements, which contribute partially to VIT registration and also provide the opportunity to develop a specific focus on conducting and orchestration.
• The Studio Specialisation prepares students for private studio-based instrumental/vocal teaching, with a focus on the development of the one-on-one setting, or small group lessons. This specialisation includes two professional placements and a focus on instrumental approaches and pedagogy. It is accompanied by a range of electives, allowing specialisation into areas related such as instrumental pedagogy, performance, conducting and research.

In addition to professional placements, you will have access to advanced music performance tuition combined with the chance to observe a range of expert teachers and musicians across a range of learning experiences. All students have the opportunity to participate in second instrument studies, which explores group teaching and related pedagogy, combined with the exploration of ensemble participation throughout the degree. All the while developing a personalised awareness of pedagogy specific to performance teaching within the learning process.

Professional practice is an important component of the program and is completed in a variety of settings including community organisations, schools, studios and Suzuki classes. This area of study relates to a range of elective subjects that keep you abreast of the latest practical, theoretical and research areas in music performance and music education.

Specialist pedagogical subjects, combined with individual lessons, enable you to acquire a deeper understanding of teaching issues that are specific to music performance through the use of both face-to-face, and virtual-online modes of delivery, to ensure you are prepared to teach in many settings. We encourage you to continuously think about and reflect on your learning, as you are encouraged to develop your own philosophy which will shape your teaching practice. Importantly the skills and knowledge covered in this course provide a range of approaches to use with confidence as you teach music performance at all levels, across a range of learning environments.

In the final semester you can select a Capstone from:

• Music performance
• Music performance research
• Conducting or
• Suzuki music education (includes Primary Level Suzuki Teacher accreditation)

Specialist electives include areas such as: Teaching Aural Musicianship, Band Direction, Orchestral Conducting, Choral Direction, Music Learning and Technology, Piano Pedagogy and Piano Repertoire.

This course is offered as a 1.5 year full-time, 3-year part-time program.

The course is strongly connected to the major examination providers: the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB), Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) and Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority for music curriculum (VCAA). Guest presenters from these areas regularly visit campus to share the latest knowledge and developments with students.

The course also values the importance of music advocacy in schools and studios, and works closely with key professional associations, such as the Australian Society for Music Education (ASME), and Association of Music Educators Victoria (AMUSE) while also engaging a range of organisations such as the Melbourne Youth Orchestra (MYO) who work closely with Conservatorium staff.

Importantly, many of the teaching staff in the course are currently involved in collaboration and leadership across a range of international and national music associations, which ensures that students in the program are always aware of key research and initiatives.