Puoro Pakihi,
Perform, produce, and promote the music of tomorrow.
Recording studio
Connor Moore, Music Performance.
Create new music for a new world.
Get hands-on experience in high-tech production facilities that compete with the best in the southern hemisphere.
Work with some of New Zealand’s top musicians and professionals with strong industry connections.
Gain practical skills, experience and connections you need for a career in the multi-billion-dollar music industry.
Discover a future-focused creative career that’s driven by new technology.
What can I study?
Music Industry
Bachelor of Commercial Music
Seek out and develop new ways to commercialise music in a fast-changing digital world.
Study artist development and management, label and distribution networks, music publishing, and the production of one-off and large-scale live events.
Learn about emerging business models that challenge traditional industry conventions.
Work together with other students, supported by staff with international music industry experience.
Harri Robinson
BCommMus
Music Industry major
Graduated 2018
“Studying at Toi Rauwhārangi gave me the grounding I needed in order to process and understand my teenage experiences in the music industry. Rather than getting stuck in a cycle of constant volunteering-for-exposure like so many people looking to break through, Massey helped me to channel my previous industry experiences in a direct way, and figure out which facet of the industry would suit me best.
“Being able to seek advice from industry professionals of such a high caliber gave me such unique insight into the industry overall; it was lovely to have a network of professionals who’ve gone through the industry themselves there to support you, who can provide a realistic approach to the industry they’re teaching.
“Thanks in no small part to this course, I am now the Programme Director at Radioactive.FM, Wellington’s stalwart alternative community radio station; I have also workshopped my third-year project into the Student Radio Network’s first show entirely featuring high-school aged hosts, ‘High Frequency’, which Massey’s Toi Rauwhārangi is now sponsoring!”
Harri Robinson
Music Practice
Bachelor of Commercial Music
Study musicianship and performance using your instrument or musical interface of choice.
Explore digital production and composition techniques.
Improve your song-writing and composition, and learn essential recording production methods.
Work in groups in an environment that encourages creative risk-taking.
Josie Moon
BCommMus
Music Practice major
“The degree taught me about collaboration and finding yourself in musical spaces that are unfamiliar.
“I was studying musicology at another university and I realised that I didn’t want to just write about music. I wanted to make it too.
“As soon as I realised that I could sing, I just decided that I was going to make music my career without a Plan B.”
Josie Moon performing at Rhythm and Vines, 2018.
Music Technology
Bachelor of Commercial Music
Drive change and disruption in the music industry.
Use world-class recording and production studios and custom-designed technology labs.
Collaborate with other music students and respond to industry needs.
Learn hardware and software development (including programming, coding and electronics).
Explore the world of sound engineering. Operate industry-standard large consoles and the latest digital recording and editing technologies.
Develop live light and sound skills so you've got all aspects of live events in venues covered.
Kaysha Bowler
BCommMus
Music Technology major
Graduated in 2018
“I have always been musical and from an early age I’ve known that I wanted to have a career in the music industry.
“At high school I was in bands playing drums, guitar and keyboard, now I am much more into electronic music rather than traditional instruments.
“Music technology is more than just building instruments and pedals. For me it's experimenting and creating cutting-edge technologies that allow us to do more as creatives and musicians.”
Kaysha Bowler with Plex, her custom-built hardware and software controller.
What degree?
-
Create new music for a new world.
Ideal if
- You are interested in music and want to explore the various pathways in which a music career can lead to.
- You are a school leaver or you’re starting a new career path.
- You want a full immersive experience in music.
Majors
- Music Industry
- Music Practice
- Music Technology
Key information
- Duration
- Three years full-time study.
- Entry
Music Industry—Open entry.
Music Practice—You'll need to attend an audition as part of your application.
Music Technology—Open entry.From July–December we hold consultations for Industry and Technology applicants to help make sure it's the right programme for you. These are optional.
- Location
- Wellington.
- Intakes
- February.
- Application
- Due 13 January.
-
Make something more of your music.
Ideal if
- You achieved highly in the Bachelor of Commercial Music.
- You want to refine your specialist music skills and become an advanced practitioner.
- You have a project you want to work on with the support of our experts.
- You want to support your creative practice with research.
- You are interested in a Masters or PhD down the track.
Key information
- Duration
- One year full-time study.
- Entry
You'll need to have achieved at least a B average in the Bachelor of Commercial Music or an equivalent degree.
- Location
- Wellington.
- Intakes
- February.
- Application
- Due 15 February.
-
Take your creativity to the market.
Ideal if
- You have a creative industry idea you want to commercialise.
- You want to learn skills for a sustainable creative career.
- You've just finished an Honours degree or you're coming to university from the workplace.
Key information
- Duration
- 18 months full time, or longer if studied part time.
- Entry
Selected entry—you'll need to submit a portfolio of your creative work, and a written expression of interest. Attend a consultation with the MCE coordinator to discuss your project before you apply.
Find out more about entry to the MCE.
- Location
- Wellington.
- Intakes
- February.
- Application
- Due 30 November.
-
Become the absolute top in your field by pursuing rigorous research, and pushing and challenging current knowledge. Contribute significantly to the understanding of a field of interest.
Ideal if
- You want to produce a sustained piece of advanced research work in a creative arts discipline. This could be a written thesis, or one comprised of creative practice research and a written component.
- You have completed a postgraduate Bachelor (Honours) degree with first class or second class (division 1) honours, or a Master degree with first class or second class (division 1) honours in a relevant field. This qualification must also include a substantive (minimum 30 credits) research project, dissertation or thesis in which you have achieved a minimum grade of B+.
Key information
- Duration
- Three to four years full time, or six years part time.
- Location
- Auckland, Wellington, Manawatū, or by distance within New Zealand.
- Intakes
- February or July
- Application
- Apply anytime
Dr Oli Wilson
Associate professor
School of Music and Creative Media Production, Te Rewa O Puanga
Associate professor Oli Wilson is a musician, educator, and widely published researcher of popular music.
Dr Wilson’s main area of research concerns the impact new digital and communication technologies have on music culture in indigenous communities. He has undertaken extensive research on the recording industry in Papua New Guinea, and has published on New Zealand and Australian popular music.
Oli is also a music practitioner having performed, co-written or produced several NZ-charting singles and albums. He currently plays keyboards in one of New Zealand’s most internationally high-profile group The Chills, and regularly performs internationally.
Turn your talents into a lifelong creative career.
Register your interest