Tune your artistry with a Bachelor of Songwriting and Music Production

Become a lyrical legend as you earn songwriting, composition, production and sound studies while also delving into the business aspects of the contemporary music industry that take a song from concept to commercial product. You’ll be taught by renowned musical artists and producers from both local and international scenes – and join the ranks of notable Alumni including Chitra and Outtatime. This course differs from our Bachelor of Music in its specialisation in both the craft of songwriting and the nuance of music production.

A unique degree for music artists

This qualification is suited to emerging songwriters, composers and music producers who will engage with music as creative practice and be taught as artists. Our pursuit of excellence in contemporary music-making is based on the understanding of music as an art form. Aligned with “do it yourself” practice, your study engages with commercial practice and is grounded in historical context. Songwriting in Australia is a growth industry with its roots in community, and you’ll be learning all about it in Australia’s music capital. Running since 2016, our graduates are music artists, producers, and freelance creatives, and all Bachelor of Songwriting and Music Production subjects have been updated this year for our 2024 delivery.

Empowering creative practice

Bachelor of Songwriting and Music Production is an inspiring degree that empowers students within their creative practice towards a sustainable career - a welcoming and inclusive learning environment for songwriters, composers and music producers. We are committed to diversity with regard to both student intake and musical genre.

Within the degree, practical knowledge and artistic expression are interwoven in a unique curriculum which considers contemporary music an art form. There are four main strands in the degree – songwriting, music production, context and theory, industry and delivery of creative product.

• Songwriting and composition classes drive new ways of exploring and thinking about your creative practice through lectures, discussions, peer review and workshops.
• Music production classes demystify the process whilst deepening your understanding of what is important in a recording. You will use current music software and recording equipment in our computer labs and studios on campus. We also have a custom-built collection of instruments for use in rehearsal rooms, performance spaces and studios.
• Context and theory subjects enrich your practice and application of ideas through study of contextual histories of songwriting and music production. Experimental practice is encouraged as is an inclusive approach to other art forms.
• Industry subjects articulate pathways to releasing material and revenue streams for independent music artists, explain marketing principles and approaches to management of music careers. You will be comprehensively guided through releasing music, making video clips and developing your performance skills with the expectation that you will release a single or EP at the end of second year, and an EP or album at the end of third year.

We understand that songwriting and music production are interdependent creative practices and shared skill-sets. You may write songs but want to both develop your writing skills and learn how to record. You might write through a DAW and want to develop this practice as well as having the ability to record other artists. You may have already released material but are wondering where to go next in terms of your creative practice and artist identity.

All subjects are taught by well-known music artists, producers, and experts in local, national, and international music scenes.

Sara Retallick is an artist, musician, and educator whose?work explores listening and human perceptions of sound through installation, live performance, recording, and research. Currently, she creates exploratory electronic music works under the name Golden Syrup and plays bass for post-punk trio Mod Con.?

Lisa Salvo is a songwriter/composer, performing artist based in Melbourne/Narrm. She has been?shortlisted for the APRA/AMCOS Vanda and Young international?songwriting?competition, and her latest release with experimental pop band On Diamond was nominated for the Australian Music Prize, Best Album in the Music Victoria Awards, and received album of the week on Triple R, PBS and 4ZZZ fm.?

Andy White is a singer-songwriter, author, producer and academic whose work connects literate pop, folk, and punk over the course of twenty internationally released albums and three books. Writing and collaborating with Peter Gabriel, Sinéad O’Connor and John Leckie, Andy’s next releases are a spoken word project written as part of his PhD for UTAS, and a duo album recorded with Tim Finn.

Robin Waters is a producer, musician and solo artist who has worked with Ella Hooper, Kate Miller Heidke, Eves the Behavior, and Washington. Highlights as a performer include playing the Sydney Opera house with Machine Translations as well as multiple international tours and supporting David Byrne with The Boat People.

Robyn Doreian is a magazine journalist, educator, and former editor of British rock bibles Kerrang! and Metal Hammer. Her published interviews include Kurt Cobain, Keith Richards, Slipknot, Metallica, and Patti Smith.

Tony Dupé is a music producer, composer and academic who makes music that is distinctively organic, emotional, and connected to stories and places. He has a new album out this year on U.S. label Lost Tribe Sound and is writing a book as part of his PhD with the University of Queensland.

Louise Terry is an?electronic music producer,?community cultural development artist and educator who?has cultivated a multifaceted career with groups including Sugar Fed Leopard and Sawtooth, as well as under artist name Louise Terra.?Exploring the nexus between music and technology, she is currently developing a live VR music video and?pursuing collaborative practice with electronic music makers in Central Victoria.

Our lecturers also currently include music artist and founder of I Manage My Music Jen Cloher, videographer Edwina Stevens, and vocalist and educator Georgie Darvidis.

Alumni

BSMP’s musical alumni include:

• Chitra, signed by Melbourne label Our Golden Friend, who has released four singles and EPs and is working on her debut album
• Shannen James
• Marbee
• James Cro
• Outtatime