B.Mus. students may register for a maximum of 6.25 credits per academic year; permission to exceed this maximum may be requested from the Chair of Undergraduate Studies in special circumstances such as when a student is registered for the "double credit" applied study (MUSC x20/x25).

This page is presently under construction - please see the Faculty of Arts & Science calendar for accurate information.

Year 1

Music Core

• MUSC 103* — Music and Society
• MUSC 121 — Applied Study I (private instrumental/voice lessons)
• MUSC 127* — Ear training and Sight singing I
• MUSC 128* — Keyboard Harmony I (see note i below)
• MUSC 191 — Theory and Analysis I (see note ii below)
• MUSC 203* - Romantic & 20th Century Music
• One ensemble
• 1.5 music option or non-music elective credits (including one of MUSC 180*, MUSC 181*, MUSC 182*, MUSC 183*, MUSC 185*, MUSC 187* or MUSC 188*), or 1.0 music option or non-music elective credits if the student is registered for MUSC 004 or MUSC 006.

Note

1. First-year students who have not yet completed the RCM Grade 6 piano entrance requirement may not enroll in Keyboard Harmony I (MUSC 128*) until they have attained that standard. If they can play at a RCM Grade 4 level they can register for Functional Piano (MUSC 004) in their first year, the successful completion of which fulfils the piano entrance requirement. Students receive no credit for MUSC 004 and there is an additional charge. An equivalency exam will be held in Orientation Week in September for students who have not successfully completed the Grade 6 piano exam, or have failed MUSC 004. Students entering their second year of the B.Mus. program who fail this equivalency exam will be required to withdraw from the B.Mus. program.
2. A theory rudiments screening test will be administered in Theory and Analysis I (MUSC 191) in the first week of the Fall term. B.Mus. students scoring less than 80% are required to enroll concurrently in Rudiments (MUSC 006), and to achieve a passing grade in MUSC 006. Students receive no credit for MUSC 006 and there is an additional charge.

Recommendations for Music Options (Year 1)

• Students intending to teach music should consider taking a secondary instrument course from the MUSC 180* - 189* series;
• Students interested in composition should take MUSC 153, a Composition Seminar course, or MUSC 255, Electroacoustic Music Composition;
• Musicology courses without prerequisites include the Social History of Popular Music (MUSC 171*), History of Jazz (MUSC 172*), Women, Gender and Music (MUSC 286*), Social History of Canadian Music (MUSC 288*), World Musics (MUSC 289*). Note: not all of these courses are offered every year.

Recommendations for Non-music Electives (Year 1)

• Students interested in teaching at secondary school level should consider taking a 100-level course in the relevant "second teachable" subject in their first year to facilitate entry into upper-level courses in that subject;
• Students who wish to enter a Faculty of Education should consider taking PSYC 100 or SOCY 122 in their first year, although these courses my also be completed as correspondence courses through Continuing and Distance Studies in any year;

Year 2

Music Core

• MUSC 204* — Baroque and Classical Music
• MUSC 205* — Medieval and Renaissance Music
• MUSC 221 — Applied Study II
• MUSC 227* — Ear training and Sight singing II
• MUSC 228* — Keyboard Harmony II
• MUSC 291 — Theory and Analysis II
• One ensemble (0.25 credit)
• 1.5 music option or non-music elective credits
• MUSC 392* in Year 3; the 0.5 credit may be completed in Year 3 or Year 4; it is recommended that the remaining two ensembles that make up the four required core ensembles be completed in Year 3 and 4.

Degree Requirements

Of the minimum 21.5 credits required for the B.Mus. degree, at least 6.0 credits must be at the 300 level or above. These 6.0 credits may include core, music option and non-music elective courses, excluding ensembles.

A. Core Courses (11.0 credits)

Most of the required core courses - in musicology, theory, musicianship and applied study - should be completed in the first two years of the program, as outlined above. In addition, students must take one ensemble in each of the first two years.

Other B.Mus. core requirements should be completed as follows:

1. MUSC 392* and the required course in counterpoint (MUSC 394*, 398* or 399*) should be completed in Year 3 or Year 4;
2. the 0.5 credit in 20th-century studies in music theory, musicology or ethnomusicology may be completed in Year 3 or Year 4, and should be chosen from MUSC 285*, 388*, 446* (MUSC 380*, 381*, 445*, 476*, 477*, 480*, 481* may also fulfill the 20th-century requirement depending on the specific topic offered);
3. it is recommended that the remaining two ensembles that make up the four required core ensembles be completed in Years 3 and 4.

Music Option and Non-music Elective Courses

A minimum of 10.5 credits in music options and non-music electives are needed to complete the 21.5 credits required for the program.

B. Music Options (4.5 to 7.5 credits)

A maximum of 7.5 credits in music option courses may count towards the B.Mus. degree; students may take as few as 4.5 music option credits, depending on how many non-music electives they choose.

Through their selection of music option courses students specialize in one or more of the main areas of study: musicology/ethnomusicology, theory/composition, education, or applied study (performance). Students of exceptional performing ability may audition for the "double credit" applied study performance option, MUSC x20/x25. Students enrolled in this option are required to present a public recital at the end of the year, and receive 2.0 credits per year of applied study.

Note

An additional two ensembles beyond the four required core ensembles may count towards the music option credits.

C. Electives (3.0 to 6.0 credits)

Students must take at least 3.0 elective credits in non-music subjects; a maximum of 6.0 elective credits in non-music subjects may count towards the 21.5 credits required for the B.Mus. degree.