Programmes & Curriculum

The BNBU Music Performance programme provides students with systematic training in performance, music theory, music history, ear training, ensemble practice, creative expression, and professional development. The curriculum combines professional depth, interdisciplinary perspectives, and flexible individual pathways, aiming to nurture musicians with artistic expression, international outlook, creativity, and professional adaptability.

Music learning is not only about technical training, but also about comprehensive artistic growth. Students receive training through private instruction, ensemble practice, music theory and ear training, music harmony and analysis, music history, major elective courses, and final-year projects. Through continuous stage practice, creative exploration, and interdisciplinary collaboration, students gradually develop their individual artistic directions.

Curriculum Structure

Major Required Courses

Major Required Courses form the core foundation of the Music Performance programme. They help students build strong professional skills, theoretical understanding, and artistic expression.

Related areas include private instruction, ensemble practice, music theory and ear training, music harmony and analysis, form and style, principles of music education, music history and repertoire studies, and final-year projects.

Through these courses, students gradually develop a complete learning pathway from technical training to artistic expression, and from theoretical understanding to stage practice.

Major Elective Courses

Major Elective Courses provide students with broader opportunities to explore different areas of music according to their interests, strengths, and future goals.

Areas include keyboard musicianship, studio recording techniques, film music, popular music, songwriting, music business management, Chinese music, vocal literature and repertoire, jazz harmony, vocal pedagogy, musical theatre, music career planning, musical arts internship, jazz improvisation, and creating music and sound for new media.

These courses allow students to explore areas beyond performance, including music production, film music, popular music, music education, music business, arts administration, Chinese music, jazz, music for new media, and interdisciplinary creation. They also broaden students’ possibilities for postgraduate study and future careers.

University Core Courses

University Core Courses provide students with foundational training in languages, humanities, society, philosophy, politics and economics, healthy lifestyle, and whole-person education.

For music students, these courses help strengthen English communication, Chinese writing, critical thinking, and cross-cultural communication skills. They also enable students to better understand the relationship between music and society, culture, history, and the wider world.

General Education Courses

General Education Courses encourage students to move beyond a single disciplinary perspective and engage with different fields of knowledge and social issues. These courses help students develop open-minded thinking and the ability to solve problems across disciplines.

As an art form, music is closely connected with history, literature, technology, visual media, communication, social culture, and the creative industries. Through General Education courses, students understand music within a broader intellectual context and develop interdisciplinary thinking and creativity.

Free Elective Courses

Free Elective Courses provide students with greater flexibility in their learning. Students may choose courses beyond or related to their major according to their interests, postgraduate study plans, or career goals.

These courses allow students to explore more possibilities and connect their musical abilities with knowledge from other fields, developing more individualized professional pathways.

Programme Features

English-Medium Instruction and an International Learning Environment

The core programme is taught in English and includes essential courses found in reputable universities and music institutions worldwide. This prepares students for further studies abroad and international artistic practice. The BNBU English Learning Centre also supports students in strengthening their English proficiency in an international academic environment.

Solid Professional Training

Professional training is at the heart of the Music Performance programme. Students continuously develop their performance skills, musical understanding, and artistic expression through private instruction, ensemble courses, music theory, ear training, music analysis, and stage practice.

The department emphasizes students’ comprehensive growth in technique, style, musical understanding, stage expression, and professional awareness, helping them gradually form mature, stable, and individual artistic voices.

Rich Performance Practice

Performance practice is an essential component of the Music Performance programme. The department believes that musical growth takes place not only in the classroom, but also on stage, in rehearsals, through collaboration, and in response to audiences.

Students may participate in choir, orchestra, chamber music ensemble, jazz ensemble, lunchtime concerts, musical theatre, masterclasses, workshops, interdisciplinary artistic projects, and final-year project presentations. Through these practical opportunities, students gain stage experience and strengthen their collaboration, performance, and project execution abilities.

Interdisciplinary Creative Development

Based in the School of Culture and Creativity, the Music Performance programme encourages students to connect musical abilities with other creative fields and explore broader artistic and professional possibilities.

Through coursework, project collaboration, performance practice, and faculty resources, students may engage with film music, music technology, sound for new media, music production, arts administration, music education, popular music, and the cultural and creative industries. Interdisciplinary learning helps students understand the diverse ecology of the contemporary music industry and develop stronger adaptability and creativity for future development.

Final-Year Project

The final-year project is an important presentation of students’ undergraduate learning outcomes. Students integrate professional training, artistic understanding, project planning, stage presentation, and collaboration skills to complete an artistic project with individual character.

The final-year project is not only a final presentation, but also a process through which students reflect on their learning experience, clarify their artistic direction, and prepare for future development. Through this project, students further strengthen independent thinking, project management, professional expression, and stage presentation abilities.

Future Pathways

The BNBU Music Performance programme prepares students for postgraduate study and diverse professional pathways. Graduates may pursue further study in music performance, music education, musicology, music production, music management, cultural and creative industries, and related interdisciplinary areas. They may also enter fields related to performance, creation, production, education, arts administration, music business, new media, and related industries.

Possible pathways include:

Performing Artist

Music Creation and Production

Music Business and Management

Music Education

Music Technology and New Media

Applied and Portfolio Careers