Aural and Theory

Aural training is a crucial component for all musicians, and is especially important as a support in the development of student’s instrumental studies. Students at the ANU School of Music study sight-singing, rhythm, harmony, dictation, aural appreciation, analysis of musical extracts and most importantly apply these studies through performance, with a particular focus on rhythmic understanding and development.

Aural studies are a core component of the BMUS degree, continuing over three years, closely linked with theory studies. Students are streamed into one of two levels offered: A foundation course and an advanced course, running parallel to each other.

Head of the Aural Studies Program, Bengt-Olov Palmqvist’s (or Olle, as he is affectionately known) believes that the goal of effective teaching should be to enable students to become musically independent; to give them the skills to be able to think for themselves; to allow them to develop further from this knowledge base and then ultimately to add to the pool of wisdom from which musicians can draw on when the need arises.

The study of rhythmic development is based on Olle's Refinement of Rhythm Series, a program which is now published and successfully being used in several countries. For more information on this series, visit www.refinementofrhythm.com

Head of Area

Bengt-Olov Palmqvist,
BMus (Arvika), MA (Stockholm)
T: +61 2 6125 5758
E: Bengt-Olov.Palmqvist@anu.edu.au