Four courses are designed to enable you to learn about music, to write and arrange music and to develop musicianship.

Build upon MUS403 Exploring Music Through Song Writing and MUS404 Music Literacy for Contemporary Musicians from the first year Certificate programme;

• In MUS503 Composing and Arranging for Contemporary Musicians you will explore different ways of communicating musical ideas and how to use aural, keyboard and song writing skills and musical knowledge effectively for contemporary music practice.
• In MUS504 Composition and Instrumentation for Contemporary Musicians you will utilise music skills and knowledge to communicate musical ideas effectively in contemporary music practice.

Four courses are designed to enable you to build your technical skills, develop attributes for contemporary music performance, increase your knowledge of cultural and industry contexts, and prepare for your own professional practice as a contemporary musician.

Build upon MUS405 Contemporary Music Performance Contexts and MUS406 Contemporary Music Performance and Industry Practices from the first year Certificate programme;

• In MUS505 Industry Skills and Professional Performance for Contemporary Musicians, you will develop your music performance skills and knowledge, increase your understanding of contemporary music contexts and styles, and explore aspects of professional music industry practice.
• In MUS506 Professional Contemporary Music Practice and Performance you will extend your music performance skills and use a range of professional practices associated with a career in the music industry.

Academic requirements

New Zealand Certificate in Music (Level 4)(external link) or equivalent skills and knowledge.

English language requirements

All applicants must have a level of English sufficient to be able to study at this level.

Those students whose first language is not English should have an international English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall academic score of at least 5.5 (with at least 5 in each band) issued within the last two years,

OR

A qualification considered to be equivalent to the above.

Refer to The NZQA Table of Internationally Recognised English Proficiency Outcomes for International Students(external link).

Special Entry

All applicants who need their qualifications or current skills/knowledge level assessed for equivalency, or do not meet the Academic and English Language requirements above, may be granted admission to the programme on the approval of the Head of Department (or delegate). This may include an interview with a music tutor and/or a diagnostic assessment to determine the applicant’s ability to successfully undertake the Diploma with a reasonable likelihood of success.

• Apply music theory to read and write music to an advanced level. 
• Apply composition, arranging and/or lyric writing techniques to create a variety of music. 
• Perform music competently and creatively to engage an audience. 
• Apply technical ability and artistic proficiency on a musical instrument(s). 
• Create music and sound recordings for critique using a range of recording, editing and mixing techniques. 
• Research and analyse a range of influences to inform own practice. 
• Manage and take responsibility for own professional practice.
• Analyse characteristics of the music industry to develop own career plan.

Tune in and listen to original tracks from NMIT Contemporary Music students.

The NMIT Contemporary Music Hour on FreshFM is written and produced by current students on the NZ Certificate and Diploma of Music Programmes.

Tune in to hear tracks produced by NMIT students in the NMIT recording studios, from live performances in the Johnny Cash performance suite and industry/student interviews.

“We have some really great talent on our Contemporary Music programme” says tutor Sam Atkins “the radio show is a great way for students to get hands on experience with live radio as well as show case their work.”

NMIT Contemporary Music Hour(external link) airs every second Saturday night at 8pm and replays the following Tuesday night at 10pm, from early August through to mid October.

Find out more about the NZ Certificate and Diploma in Music at NMIT.