To equip students with early-through-advanced industry-led skills and knowledge in musicianship, songwriting, music technologies and practice, including relevant historical, cultural and business practice contexts. To facilitate the development and refinement of self-reflective creative practice, underpinned by comprehensive transferable skills.

The programme is designed to meet the needs of singer-songwriters who wish to pursue a career in the creative industries and performing arts as a songwriter, performer, recording artist, content creator/composer, producer, educator. The programme benefits from existing relationships with organisations including:
· NZ Music Commission
· NZ Music Managers Forum
· APRA/AMCOS
· NZ Music Producers Guild
· Recorded Music New Zealand
· Play It Strange
· Independent Music New Zealand
· Girls Rock! To The Front
· Big Fan Studios
· Roundhead Studios
· The Lab Recording Studios
· Oceania Productions

The stakeholder consultation process invited comments regarding suitability and relevance to the music industry. Students have opportunities to engage in work-integrated learning experiences via Professional Practice courses CC600 and CC700. This ensures they form relationships with individuals or agencies in the music industry, upon which to build future work. The courses within the programme are focussed on skills that translate directly to work readiness.

Core skills of music composition, arrangement, lyric writing, performance, studio recording, professional practice, research skills, and interdisciplinary multi-mode collaborative practice are of key importance to sustainable careers in the creative industries. A recurring feature of the programme is guest writing/performing/business practice workshops from APRA members who are industry professional practitioners. APRA is the Australasian Performing Right Association which represents over 115,000 members who are songwriters, composers and music publishers. APRA licenses organisations to play, perform, copy, record or make available its members' music, and then distributes the royalties to members, and to international affiliate societies who then pay their members. APRA is the key organisation to which songwriter practitioners in Aotearoa NZ belong. SAE is engaged with multiple community events and activities such as:
https://www.indies.co.nz/going-global/
https://www.apraamcos.co.nz/music-creators/songhubs
https://www.facebook.com/theaotearoamusicproducerseries/
https://bigscreensymposium.com/
https://www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz/what-is-nz-music-month/

A graduate of the Bachelor of Songwriting will be able to function in the wider music community as a skilled singer-songwriter. They will be able to both provide leadership and take instruction in areas of known industry practice and will be adaptable to new experiences or opportunities.
Graduates will be able to:

Select, adapt and apply a range of specialised musicianship and songwriting techniques across multiple outcomes to demonstrate creativity and innovation
Select, adapt and apply a broad range of research and analytical skills to inform creative work and artistic practice
Manage and take responsibility for own professional practice to demonstrate ethical considerations and social responsibility aligned with the music industry.
Collaborate in multiple roles with team members, using appropriate communication skills to realise a range of advanced music outcomes
Generate and analyse practical problem-solving skills in a range of advanced music industry contexts including business and entrepreneurship skills
Research and analyse social, economic, cultural and historical conditions relevant to the music industry and the bicultural landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Apply relevant Health and Safety legislation and workplace safety culture to work safely and meet responsibilities in the music industry
Incorporate a reflective and authentic creative process to facilitate the development of creative outputs.

Graduates may pursue further education in the creative industries and performing arts sectors, as well as teacher education related to the areas of creative and performing arts.

A person is eligible to apply for entry who: ? Has attained University Entrance (UE) or NCEA Level 3 with related subjects, or equivalent OR ? Can satisfactorily prove that they have the potential to succeed on the programme and is over the age of 20 by the official start date of their programme of study English as an Additional Language Applicant requirement ? English as an Additional Language (EAL) applicants, including NZ Residents must meet standard NZQA minimum English Proficiency Outcomes for a degree programme, e.g. for the academic version of IELTS they will require a score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5, or acceptable equivalent as per NZQA's English language proficiency requirements*. Scores must come from a single test taken no more than two years before the proposed date of enrolment. An applicant must be a minimum of 17 years at the start date of the programme. Discretionary entry does not apply to this requirement. Applicants aged less than 18 years old must apply with parental/guardian consent. All entry is at the discretion of the Academic Manager. *For NZQA's minimum English language entry requirements, go to: here