Whether you're an accomplished musician or have no prior musical experience, the Monash Music major offers you the opportunity to pursue your interest through the study of various areas of music. You may also like to gain practical experience via participation in a range of small and large ensembles (some of which are subject to an audition). You will acquire an understanding of the importance of music and music-related practices in various societies and cultures. You'll gain an informed perspective on a range of Western, Asian, African and other global music traditions, learn to critique music in its performed and recorded forms, and develop an accurate understanding of today's music industry. This stimulating area of study is housed at Clayton's Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music, a leading facility for teaching, research and performance. Start of expanded content The diversity of the Music major within the Bachelor of Arts allows you to set your focus from the outset, with first-year units available in popular music, music and history, or music and culture. If it's applied musical training you are seeking, you will be encouraged to audition for one of the musical ensemble units, giving you the chance to hone your singing skills or play in a big band, classical or funk ensemble. You'll also have the option of taking units including aural and theoretical, historical and sociological, pedagogical, industry-focused and cross-cultural. Musicology and Ethnomusicology units are specifically designed to get you thinking about music. These units primarily focus on the historical and sociological nature of music and seek to explore music cultures and industries, fads, phases and phenomena. Whether you want to build expertise in the theory of music, or have the opportunity to develop your practice via participating in an ensemble, or choose to blend the two, you'll emerge with the ability to contextualise different forms of music, devise and follow through extended pieces of research, and express yourself articulately.