The two semester Graduate Diploma of Music, which is nested in the Masters program, is designed to enhance the knowledge base, strengthen the performance skills, and reinforce the teaching and organisational abilities of persons who, having successfully completed an undergraduate degree or without qualifications, have achieved a high level of skills and recognition in the field of professional performance. The inclusion of the two graduate seminar units and elective units will be important for students choosing to move into the profession in the areas of performance, composition and song writing, studio teaching, and music retail and distribution at the completion of this two Trimester program. Should they choose to proceed into the Masters program, these units will have prepared them for the successful completion of the units offered in the second year of that course.

Study Areas

1.PRINCIPAL STUDY: All students receive 18 x individual, 1 hour lessons, on a chosen instrument or voice for every semester in the course.

2.ENSEMBLE: Demonstrate developed suite of professional collaborative skills to engage, direct and perform within a group. Through a range of instrumental and vocal combinations in a wide variety of genres, students will develop skills in improvisation, transcription, transposition, interpretation, sightreading, ensemble direction, accompaniment and rehearsal techniques.

3.ACADEMIC STUDIES: The study of musical scholarship suited to the diverse range of disciplines that make up the creative industries. These typically fall within the paradigms of critical enquiry research and practice-led research.

4.ELECTIVES: Relevant to singer songwriters or any students who wish to learn two instruments, the unique Second Study at AMPA provides 18 x individual, 30 minute lessons every trimester. Or choose from electives to complement and refine your degree such as: Music Theatre, Music Industry, Studio Teaching, Recording, Production, Chart Writing and more. In stages 3 and 4 students transition to postgraduate research units to develop research, analytical and writing skills as well as critical thinking, creative thinking, synthesis and conceptualisation.