Post by alistair on Oct 24, 2007 18:39:11 GMT 10
Dear student
We are pleased to announce that this week the University of
Melbourne Council agreed that the University's two music teaching
and research arms - Faculty of Music and Victorian College of the
Arts (VCA) School of Music - should join forces to form the
University of Melbourne School of Music.
This will create a single school of music in the University with a
strong identity and a clear vision for international excellence in
music training, scholarship and research. It will make Melbourne
home to the most comprehensive music school in Australia.
The University Council's decision followed a recent Review of Music
in the University. Council approved the terms of reference for the
Review in June 2007.
The Review Panel, chaired by Professor Pip Pattison, President of
the University's Academic Board, comprised Professor Catherine Falk,
the University's Dean of Music; Associate Professor Su Baker, then
Acting Dean of the Victorian College of the Arts; Associate
Professor Ian Holtham, Head of Practical Studies and Keyboard and
Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) in the Faculty; and Professor
Jonty Stockdale, Head of Music and Associate Dean (Learning and
Teaching) at the VCA.
Professor Don McLean, Dean of the Schulich School of Music, McGill
University, Canada, was the external member of the Panel.
A key element of the three-month Review process was extensive
consultation and discussion with staff and students in the Faculty
and the VCA School of Music, and with external experts and
stakeholders.
The new School will be home to around 1000 undergraduate and
postgraduate students. It is an exciting move forward building on
the distinctive strengths of both the current Faculty of Music and
VCA School of Music in music performance, both classical and
contemporary, improvisation, musicology and ethnomusicology, music
therapy, music education, composition and conducting.
The Review Panel supported a unified course offering in music at the
University of Melbourne for several reasons but, most particularly,
for the strength that would come from combining the academic and
artistic expertise of the Faculty and of the VCA School into a
single entity with a suite of undergraduate and graduate courses.
For instance, a new Melbourne Model style of undergraduate course
will be designed to take advantage of the internationally-recognised
academic expertise of the Faculty and of the VCA School of Music in
a broad range of fields. It will retain the name of Bachelor of
Music and entry to the course will require an audition as well as
VCE or equivalent.
The University will move quickly to appoint a head for the new
School to lead the development of the School's vision and to secure
the necessary resources for its establishment and successful
operation.
The new School will be part of a newly-constituted Faculty
encompassing the University's programs in music, visual and
performing arts, whose identity will reflect both the Faculty of
Music and the Faculty of the VCA.
The new School will enable the University to provide the very best
opportunities for all its talented music students, and to work
closely with the community and the profession as a single large and
very impressive gathering together of internationally-recognised
staff in music performance, composition, music therapy and
scholarship.
This is an exciting outcome for students, the art form, the
discipline and the University in the regional, national and
international environment, and looks forward to developing further
high quality, innovative and relevant undergraduate and postgraduate
offerings.
Substantial progress has been made towards the creation of a
framework for developing a unified music offering within the
University. VCA Music and the Faculty of Music already interact and
co-operate on a number of levels and we look forward to building on
this as we move forward. The coming together of two outstanding
musical entities with a shared vision for Music in Melbourne is a
landmark achievement, and will enhance significantly our national
and international standing.
In the short term, students and stakeholders will notice little
structural change; that will be in the longer term and will ensure
the preservation of the heritage of both Faculties.
All academic programs currently offered by the Faculty of Music and
VCA School of Music - including the exciting New Generation Bachelor
of Music degree and the continuing Bachelor of Music Performance -
will be offered in 2008, and all current and enrolling students will
be able to complete their studies.
Also, music at Melbourne will retain a strong presence on both
Parkville and Southbank campuses, enabling students in other New
Generation degrees to take breadth subjects from the Bachelor of
Music and to undertake the concurrent Diploma of Music (Practical).
Professor Catherine Falk
Dean of Music
University of Melbourne
Professor Jonty Stockdale
Acting Director and Dean
Faculty of the VCA
University of Melbourne
We are pleased to announce that this week the University of
Melbourne Council agreed that the University's two music teaching
and research arms - Faculty of Music and Victorian College of the
Arts (VCA) School of Music - should join forces to form the
University of Melbourne School of Music.
This will create a single school of music in the University with a
strong identity and a clear vision for international excellence in
music training, scholarship and research. It will make Melbourne
home to the most comprehensive music school in Australia.
The University Council's decision followed a recent Review of Music
in the University. Council approved the terms of reference for the
Review in June 2007.
The Review Panel, chaired by Professor Pip Pattison, President of
the University's Academic Board, comprised Professor Catherine Falk,
the University's Dean of Music; Associate Professor Su Baker, then
Acting Dean of the Victorian College of the Arts; Associate
Professor Ian Holtham, Head of Practical Studies and Keyboard and
Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) in the Faculty; and Professor
Jonty Stockdale, Head of Music and Associate Dean (Learning and
Teaching) at the VCA.
Professor Don McLean, Dean of the Schulich School of Music, McGill
University, Canada, was the external member of the Panel.
A key element of the three-month Review process was extensive
consultation and discussion with staff and students in the Faculty
and the VCA School of Music, and with external experts and
stakeholders.
The new School will be home to around 1000 undergraduate and
postgraduate students. It is an exciting move forward building on
the distinctive strengths of both the current Faculty of Music and
VCA School of Music in music performance, both classical and
contemporary, improvisation, musicology and ethnomusicology, music
therapy, music education, composition and conducting.
The Review Panel supported a unified course offering in music at the
University of Melbourne for several reasons but, most particularly,
for the strength that would come from combining the academic and
artistic expertise of the Faculty and of the VCA School into a
single entity with a suite of undergraduate and graduate courses.
For instance, a new Melbourne Model style of undergraduate course
will be designed to take advantage of the internationally-recognised
academic expertise of the Faculty and of the VCA School of Music in
a broad range of fields. It will retain the name of Bachelor of
Music and entry to the course will require an audition as well as
VCE or equivalent.
The University will move quickly to appoint a head for the new
School to lead the development of the School's vision and to secure
the necessary resources for its establishment and successful
operation.
The new School will be part of a newly-constituted Faculty
encompassing the University's programs in music, visual and
performing arts, whose identity will reflect both the Faculty of
Music and the Faculty of the VCA.
The new School will enable the University to provide the very best
opportunities for all its talented music students, and to work
closely with the community and the profession as a single large and
very impressive gathering together of internationally-recognised
staff in music performance, composition, music therapy and
scholarship.
This is an exciting outcome for students, the art form, the
discipline and the University in the regional, national and
international environment, and looks forward to developing further
high quality, innovative and relevant undergraduate and postgraduate
offerings.
Substantial progress has been made towards the creation of a
framework for developing a unified music offering within the
University. VCA Music and the Faculty of Music already interact and
co-operate on a number of levels and we look forward to building on
this as we move forward. The coming together of two outstanding
musical entities with a shared vision for Music in Melbourne is a
landmark achievement, and will enhance significantly our national
and international standing.
In the short term, students and stakeholders will notice little
structural change; that will be in the longer term and will ensure
the preservation of the heritage of both Faculties.
All academic programs currently offered by the Faculty of Music and
VCA School of Music - including the exciting New Generation Bachelor
of Music degree and the continuing Bachelor of Music Performance -
will be offered in 2008, and all current and enrolling students will
be able to complete their studies.
Also, music at Melbourne will retain a strong presence on both
Parkville and Southbank campuses, enabling students in other New
Generation degrees to take breadth subjects from the Bachelor of
Music and to undertake the concurrent Diploma of Music (Practical).
Professor Catherine Falk
Dean of Music
University of Melbourne
Professor Jonty Stockdale
Acting Director and Dean
Faculty of the VCA
University of Melbourne