Why Study/Key Benefits

• Develop practical skills at the intersection of music, creativity and technology.
• Work with professional recording and production equipment, specialist music-technology facilities and custom-designed technology labs.
• Learn hardware and software development, including programming, coding and electronics.
• Develop skills in sound engineering, recording, mixing, live sound, lighting and audiovisual technologies.
• Explore the creation of new musical instruments, controllers and interactive music systems.
• Gain experience using industry-standard recording consoles and digital recording/editing technologies.
• Work collaboratively with other music students on creative and technically focused projects.
• Study in an environment connected with New Zealand's music industry and professional practitioners.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The current Bachelor of Commercial Music provides a flexible 360-credit structure. Students can select music courses across the subject areas and add an optional Music Technology minor.

The current Music Technology minor comprises 60 credits selected from courses including:

• 133186 Introduction to Music Technology – 15 credits
• 133281 Sound Synthesis and Effects – 15 credits
• 133287 Live Visuals and Lighting for Music – 15 credits
• 133288 Live Music Technologies – 15 credits
• 133296 The Recording Project – 15 credits
• 133381 Making Music Machines – 15 credits
• 133389 Advanced Recording and Mixing – 15 credits

The exact combination is subject to the minor's course-selection rules and prerequisites.

Key subject areas include:

• Music hardware and software
• Musical interfaces and interactive technologies
• Physical computing
• Digital signal processing
• Sound synthesis and effects
• Live sound
• Lighting and real-time visual systems
• Recording and mixing
• Mechatronic musical systems
• Electronics and programming
• Digital audio production
• New musical instruments and controllers. 

Disciplines/Specialisations

The current Bachelor of Commercial Music has no new-enrolment Music Technology major. Instead, students can take Music Technology as a 60-credit minor.

Current music study options within the Bachelor of Commercial Music include:

• Music Technology minor
• Music Industry minor
• Music Performance and Composition minor
• Bachelor of Commercial Music without a major
• M?tauranga Toi M?ori as a major option under the current qualification structure.

The Music Technology minor is particularly focused on:

• Sound engineering
• Music production technology
• Recording
• Digital audio
• Electronics
• Programming
• Physical computing
• Interactive music systems
• Live sound
• Lighting and visual technologies. 

Programme Highlights

• 360-credit Bachelor of Commercial Music.
• 3 years full-time.
• Wellington campus.
• Practical, industry-oriented music education.
• Specialist recording and production facilities.
• Custom-designed music-technology laboratories.
• Hardware and software development.
• Programming, coding and electronics.
• Professional sound engineering.
• Live sound, lighting and audiovisual technologies.
• Recording, mixing and mastering.
• Development of interactive instruments and musical systems.
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Career Outcomes

Music Technology study can support careers in areas such as:

• Sound engineering
• Studio recording
• Music production
• Sound design
• Live sound engineering
• Lighting design
• Stage and production design
• Audio production for film and television
• Audio for games and interactive media
• Audio for apps and digital platforms
• Music-technology development
• Hardware development
• Software development
• Freelance creative technology work

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

The programme status requires particular attention:

• The supplied Music Technology page is still available on Massey's website and describes the former 120-credit Music Technology major.
• Massey's current regulations explicitly mark the 120-credit Music Technology major as “No new enrolments.”
• The current Bachelor of Commercial Music is awarded with or without a major and offers Music Technology as a 60-credit minor.
• Massey's current College of Creative Arts page describes the Bachelor of Commercial Music as fully open entry and lists Music Technology as an optional minor.
• The current Music Technology minor includes courses in music technology, sound synthesis, live visuals/lighting, live music technologies, recording, music machines and advanced recording/mixing.
• Students should check course prerequisites before selecting higher-level Music Technology courses. For example, 133281 requires 133186, while 133288 requires 133185 or 133150.
• The overall Bachelor of Commercial Music does not require an audition for admission under the current open-entry structure

International Student Visa Requirements

Because the Bachelor of Commercial Music is an on-campus qualification in Wellington, an international student intending to study in New Zealand will generally require a Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that this visa:

• Is for students paying international tuition themselves or through family support, a loan or partial scholarship.
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Requires sufficient funds for tuition or an applicable scholarship.
• Requires sufficient funds for living costs or an acceptable sponsor.
• Requires acceptable insurance.
• Allows study full-time in New Zealand on an approved course.
• May allow work up to 25 hours per week during study and full-time during holidays, depending on the visa conditions.
• Allows travel in and out of New Zealand while the visa remains valid.