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Major Composition (124 credits)

Offered by: Music Research     Degree: Bachelor of Music

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.); Major in Composition program offers students a solid grounding in the basics of classical music composition for instruments and voices, with or without electronics. This is achieved through lecture courses and tutorials (private composition lessons in the third and fourth years of the program). The study of topics related to music theory helps to hone students' compositional technique, while the study of topics related to music history helps to develops students' critical thinking skills. Free elective courses allow students either to focus on an area of secondary interest as a minor degree, or to pursue a broader range of course offerings, either within or outside the Schulich School of Music. To ensure consistent performance throughout their program, students are required to achieve a minimum grade of B- in courses given by the Composition Area.

Program Prerequisites - Freshman Program (32 credits)

32 credits selected as described below, in consultation with the Program Adviser:

22 credits of Prerequisite Courses
4 credits of Large Ensemble
6 credits of Non-Music Electives

Prerequisite Courses

22 credits, all of the courses below:

Note: Students who can demonstrate through auditions, placement tests or equivalencies that they have mastered the material in any of the courses below will be exempt from them and may proceed to more advanced courses.

  • MUHL 186 Western Musical Traditions (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music History and Literature : A survey of Western music from the Middle Ages to the present. Emphasis on key musical concepts and genres in their historical context and aural recognition of style.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Huebner, Steven (Fall)

    • 3 hours

  • MUIN 180 BMus Practical Lessons 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Practical Instrument : Practical instruction on an instrument or voice.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Algieri, Stefano; Dean, Kevin; Haimovitz, Matt; Hashimoto, Kyoko; Laimon, Sara; Mdivani, Marina; Roy, Andre J; Sullivan, Joseph Leo; White, Andre; Poletaev, Ilya; Demers, Isabelle; Strauss, Axel; Leclair, Jacqueline; Lemelin, Stéphane; Labelle, Dominique; Baskin, Theodore; Box, James; Devuyst, Russell; Dolin, Elizabeth; Gaudreault, Jean; Levesque, Stephane; McMahon, Michael; Roberts, Richard Allen; Robinson, Brian; Marandola, Fabrice; Hollenbeck, John; Pilc, Jean-Michel; Stoelzel, Richard; Mac Master, John; Trevino, Matthew; Thurman-Green, Camille; Aldrich, Simon; Amirault, Greg G; Bolduc, Remi; Chappell, Eric; Clayton, Greg; Couture, Jocelyn; Derome, Denys; Desgagne, Alain; Dix, Trevor; Dumouchel, Michael; Dyachkov, Yegor; Freeman, Peter; Gauthier, Michael; Gavrilova, Julia; Gossage, David Mark; Johnson, Alexander David; Johnston, Jeff; Laing, David; Lambert, Michel; Lee, Ranee Y; Lozano, Francisco J; MacMillan, Elizabeth; Mahar, William; Mangrum, Martin D; Manker, Brian; Merkelo, Paul A; Plouffe, Helene; Shuter, Cindy; Swartz, Jennifer; Walkington, Alec; Zuk, Luba; Rager, Joshua; Doxas, Dimitrios; Kennedy, Donny; Beausejour, Luc; Turner, Dave; Kutan, Aline; Hollins, Fraser; Grott, David; McLean, Allan Robert; Popescu, Annamaria; Jimenez, Carlos Alberto; Ducharme, Jérôme; Beaudry, Pierre; Mallette, Marcelle; Trottier, Jean-Nicolas; Feltham, Scott O; Burmeister, Anja; Tremblay, Sophie; Howle, Mark Austin; Read, Alexander; Hove, Erik Anthony; Dahlen, Sienna; Leclair, Marie-Chantal; Normand, Jean-Francois; Basque, Alexis; Barry, Suren; Cote, Nadia; Turner, Catherine; LeBlanc, Rémi-Jean; Ferguson, Mark; Vedady, Adrian; Melancon, Violaine; Brouwer, Albert G; Fournelle-Blain, Victor; Watson, Nathaniel; Polegato, Brett; Jensen, Christine; Suh, Min Jung; Bibace, Kenneth; Lambert, Frédéric; Dobby, Timothy; Yazdanfar, Ali; Karlicek, Martin; Yatsyuk, Sofia; Wan, Andrew; Harboyan, Patil; Smith Bessette, Tracy; Wang, Tong; Prag, Itamar; Peletsis, Anna; Dardykina, Tatiana; Hillis, Amy; Novak, Bohdanna; Cowan, Steven; Ko, Dane; Thibeault, Marina; Alvarez, Christophe; Trudel, Marianne; G'froerer, Joanna; French, Lex; Hendrickson, Anna; Dunn, Jarred; Kearney, Patrick; Miyagaki, Mai; Coleman, Ira; Green, Darrell; James, Chris; Donaldson, Taylor; Richer, Patrice; Petersen, Anna; Stewart, David; Cosbey, Catherine; Brault, Olivier; Schabas, Sara; Morasse, Geneviève (Fall)

    • 3 hours

    • Prerequisite: Admission to the B.Mus. program by audition.

  • MUIN 181 BMus Practical Lessons 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Practical Instrument : Practical examination in clarinet techniques.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Mdivani, Marina; Roy, Andre J; Lemelin, Stéphane; Christie, Carolyn; Dolin, Elizabeth; Pilc, Jean-Michel; Mac Master, John; Couture, Jocelyn; Gavrilova, Julia; Mangrum, Martin D; Popescu, Annamaria; Wan, Andrew; Smith Bessette, Tracy; Hashimoto, Kyoko (Fall) Algieri, Stefano; Dean, Kevin; Haimovitz, Matt; Hashimoto, Kyoko; Laimon, Sara; Mdivani, Marina; Roy, Andre J; Sullivan, Joseph Leo; White, Andre; Poletaev, Ilya; Demers, Isabelle; Strauss, Axel; Leclair, Jacqueline; Lemelin, Stéphane; Moye, Felicia; Labelle, Dominique; Baskin, Theodore; Box, James; Devuyst, Russell; Dolin, Elizabeth; Gaudreault, Jean; Levesque, Stephane; McMahon, Michael; Roberts, Richard Allen; Robinson, Brian; Marandola, Fabrice; Pilc, Jean-Michel; Stoelzel, Richard; Mac Master, John; Trevino, Matthew; Thurman-Green, Camille; Aldrich, Simon; Amirault, Greg G; Bolduc, Remi; Chappell, Eric; Clayton, Greg; Couture, Jocelyn; Derome, Denys; Desgagne, Alain; Di Lauro, Ronald; Dix, Trevor; Dumouchel, Michael; Dyachkov, Yegor; Freeman, Peter; Gauthier, Michael; Gavrilova, Julia; Gossage, David Mark; Johnson, Alexander David; Johnston, Jeff; Laing, David; Lee, Ranee Y; Lozano, Francisco J; MacMillan, Elizabeth; Mahar, William; Mangrum, Martin D; Manker, Brian; Merkelo, Paul A; Plouffe, Helene; Shuter, Cindy; Swartz, Jennifer; Walkington, Alec; Zuk, Luba; Rager, Joshua; Doxas, Dimitrios; Kennedy, Donny; Beausejour, Luc; Turner, Dave; Kutan, Aline; Hollins, Fraser; Grott, David; McLean, Allan Robert; Popescu, Annamaria; Jimenez, Carlos Alberto; Ducharme, Jérôme; Beaudry, Pierre; Azar, Andree; Mallette, Marcelle; Trottier, Jean-Nicolas; Feltham, Scott O; Bourget, Daniele; Burmeister, Anja; Tremblay, Sophie; Howle, Mark Austin; Read, Alexander; Hove, Erik Anthony; Dahlen, Sienna; Leclair, Marie-Chantal; Normand, Jean-Francois; Basque, Alexis; Barry, Suren; Cote, Nadia; Turner, Catherine; LeBlanc, Rémi-Jean; Ferguson, Mark; Vedady, Adrian; Melancon, Violaine; Brouwer, Albert G; Fournelle-Blain, Victor; Watson, Nathaniel; Polegato, Brett; Jensen, Christine; Suh, Min Jung; Bibace, Kenneth; Lambert, Frédéric; Dobby, Timothy; Yazdanfar, Ali; Karlicek, Martin; Yatsyuk, Sofia; Wan, Andrew; Harboyan, Patil; Smith Bessette, Tracy; Wang, Tong; Prag, Itamar; Peletsis, Anna; Dardykina, Tatiana; Hillis, Amy; Novak, Bohdanna; Ko, Dane; Thibeault, Marina; Alvarez, Christophe; Trudel, Marianne; G'froerer, Joanna; Hendrickson, Anna; Dunn, Jarred; Kearney, Patrick; Miyagaki, Mai; Coleman, Ira; Green, Darrell; James, Chris; Donaldson, Taylor; Richer, Patrice; Petersen, Anna; Stewart, David; Hollenbeck, John; Cosbey, Catherine; Brault, Olivier; Cowan, Steven; Schabas, Sara (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: MUIN 180

    • Restriction: Open to students entering directly from High Schools outside Quebec.

  • MUPD 135 Music as a Profession 1 (1 credit)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music Professional Development : Music Professional Development: An introduction to information, resources, and skills related to physical, mental, and professional well-being for the musician and scholar.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Mativetsky, Shawn (Fall)

    • Open to B.Mus. students or by permission of the instructor.

  • MUSP 140 Musicianship Training 1 (2 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Musicianship : Rhythm and metre basic subdivisions and conducting patterns; intervals, chords, and scale patterns; non-modulating tonal melodies with treble and bass clefs; harmonic progressions emphasizing two-part outer voice structures.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Asly, Monica; De Castro, Margaret Emily; Petit-Homme, Fredericka; Chan, Matthew; Guzik, John (Fall)

    • 2 hours

    • Prerequisite: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent.

    • Corequisites: MUTH 150, MUSP 170

  • MUSP 141 Musicianship Training 2 (2 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Musicianship : Rhythm and metre mixed divisions and syncopations; triadic and seventh chord voicings and disjunct pitch collections; chromatically embellished melodies adding alto clef; simple modulating harmonic progressions emphasizing two-part outer voice structures.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Asly, Monica; Petit-Homme, Fredericka; De Castro, Margaret Emily; Issiyeva, Adalyat; Chan, Matthew (Winter)

    • 2 hours

    • Prerequisites: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent. MUSP 140

    • Corequisites: MUTH 151, MUSP 171

  • MUSP 170 Musicianship (Keyboard) 1 (1 credit)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Musicianship : Harmonic, melodic and rhythmic analysis at the keyboard through the study of rudiments, repertoire, chorale/score reading, transposition and harmonization.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Asly, Monica; Gavrilova, Julia; Kovacs, Jolan; Hatfield, Ericsson (Fall)

    • 1 hour

    • Prerequisite: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent.

    • Corequisites: MUTH 150 and MUSP 140.

    • Course contents parallel with those of MUTH 150 and MUSP 140.

  • MUSP 171 Musicianship (Keyboard) 2 (1 credit)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Musicianship : Building chordal fluency. Harmonic vocabulary including sequences, chromaticism and modulation. Chorale and score reading with transposing instruments and alto/tenor clefs.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Mariner, Justin; Issiyeva, Adalyat; Kovacs, Jolan; Gavrilova, Julia (Winter)

    • 1 hour

    • Prerequisite: MUSP 170

    • Corequisites: MUTH 111 and MUSP 131; or MUTH 151 and MUSP 141

    • Restriction: All students admitted to B.Mus. and L.Mus. programs, including those with keyboard or guitar as their principal instrument, are required to take MUSP 171 Keyboard Lab, unless exempt on the basis of a placement test. Students who are exempt from MUTH 111 through placement tests must still take MUSP 171 (unless exempt) since this course forms the foundation of keyboard-based musicianship tasks at upper levels. (All Majors in Jazz Performance substitute MUJZ 171 for MUSP 171. Students in Jazz Performance who have completed MUJZ 170 and MUJZ 171, and who transfer to a Department of Theory program, will be required to complete MUSP 171.) Students who do not achieve a continuation pass in MUSP 171 must reregister for the course in the semester immediately following. Students who do not achieve a continuation pass after repeating the course will not be allowed to proceed with further Musicianship or Theory studies until a continuation pass is achieved. Tests for MUSP 171 are held in August-September, December-January, and April-May [as well as during the Summer Session when course(s) offered], the exact dates determined by the Department of Music Research.

    • Course contents parallel with those of MUTH 151 and MUSP 141.

  • MUTH 150 Theory and Analysis 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Diatonic chords and harmonic progressions, focus on outer-voice framework, cadences, embellishments, building chordal fluency in common-practice tonality, applied chords.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Schubert, Peter N (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent.

    • Corequisites: MUSP 140 and MUSP 170

  • MUTH 151 Theory and Analysis 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Sequences and modulation, chromatic vocabulary, analysis of simple theme types (sentence, period, hybrids) and fugal techniques.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Bakulina, Olga Ellen (Winter)

Required Courses (61 credits)

Composition

  • MUCO 241 Tonal Composition 1A (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : A writing course based upon the stylistic concepts and resources of European music (Classical to late-Romantic styles), designed to develop control of factors such as phrase structure, melodic shape, rhythm, linear continuity, economy of means, and basic contrapuntal procedures. Extensive analysis of characteristic forms.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Hui, Melissa (Fall)

    • Prerequisite(s): MUTH 151 and MUSP 140

    • Corequisite(s): MUSP 171

    • Restriction(s): Open only to students in Composition.

    • Restriction(s): Students from other programs may be accepted with the permission of the instructor, after submitting samples of previous work

    • Must attain minimum grade of B- in prerequisites before taking MUCO 241.

  • MUCO 242 Tonal Composition 1B (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : An advanced writing course based upon the stylistic concepts and resources of European music (Classical to late-Romantic styles), designed to develop control of factors such as phrase structure, melodic shape, rhythm, linear continuity, economy of means, and basic contrapuntal procedures. Extensive analysis of characteristic forms.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Hui, Melissa (Winter)

    • Prerequisite(s): MUCO 241

    • Restriction(s): Open only to students in Composition.

    • Restriction(s): Students from other programs may be accepted with the permission of the instructor, after submitting samples of previous work.

  • MUCO 245 Composition 1A (2 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : 20th- and 21st-century techniques and approaches. Basic parameters such as pitch, rhythm and timbre, and their inter-relationship at all structural levels. Notation and score preparation. Performance practice. Analysis of selected 20th- and 21st-century scores. Writing of short pieces for solo instruments and small ensembles, including voice.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Lesage, Jean (Fall)

  • MUCO 246 Composition 1B (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : More advanced 20th- and 21st-century techniques and approaches. Basic parameters such as pitch, rhythm and timbre, and their inter-relationship at all structural levels. Notation and score preparation. Performance practice. Analysis of selected 20th- and 21st-century scores. Writing of short pieces for solo instruments and small ensembles, including voice.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Lesage, Jean (Winter)

    • Prerequisite(s): MUCO 245

    • Corequisite(s): MUSP 171 and MUSP 241.

    • Restriction(s): Open only to students in Composition.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken MUCO 245D1/D2.

  • MUCO 261 Orchestration 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : Study of the instruments of the western orchestra, including performance techniques, used in different combinations. Score reading and notation. Analysis of excerpts of the repertoire from the point of view of instrumental writing and timbral combination. Reduction of orchestral scores for piano; scoring and transcription of piano works for different ensembles. Instruments studied: strings, harp, woodwinds, standard keyboards. Orchestration: scoring for string quartet, string ensembles, woodwind quintet and ensembles, small orchestra.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Bouliane, Denys; Simard, Pierre (Fall)

    • 3 hours

    • Prerequisites: MUTH 150 and MUSP 140.

    • Corequisite(s): MUSP 170

    • Restriction(s): Only open to B.Mus. Major in Composition students; students from other programs may be accepted with the permission of the instructor. Samples of previous work may be requested.

  • MUCO 340D1 Composition 2 (2 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : Composition tutorial. Weekly hour-long private composition lessons. Students are required to complete, at a minimum, a five-minute composition in each of the fall and winter semesters, or the equivalent (for example, a 10-minute composition completed over the course of both semesters). Works may include acoustic instruments and/or voices, with or without electronics. Goals may include advancement of technique, study of relevant repertoire and development of a personal musical style.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Ferguson, Sean Alastair; Bouliane, Denys; Lesage, Jean; Harman, Christopher; Hui, Melissa; Leroux, Philippe; Lizée, Nicole (Fall)

  • MUCO 340D2 Composition 2 (2 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : See MUCO 340D1 for course description.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Ferguson, Sean Alastair; Bouliane, Denys; Lesage, Jean; Harman, Christopher; Hui, Melissa; Leroux, Philippe; Lizée, Nicole (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: MUCO 340D1

    • No credit will be given for this course unless both MUCO 340D1 and MUCO 340D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms

  • MUCO 341 Digital Studio Composition 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : Composition with MIDI, audio recording, digital audio signal processing software and hardware. Creation of small-scale composition studies using technological resources in the context of electroacoustic music. The hands-on activities will include critical listening and evaluation of electronic and computer music repertoire.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Britton, Eliot (Fall)

    • 3 hours lecture-demonstration and 3 hours studio time

    • Prerequisite: MUCO 246 or MUCO 230

  • MUCO 342 Digital Studio Composition 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : Advanced composition with MIDI, audio recording, digital audio signal processing software and hardware. Creation of complete electroacoustic pieces and/or production of audio media materials.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Britton, Eliot (Winter)

    • 3 hours lecture-demonstration and 3 hours studio time

    • Prerequisite: MUCO 341

  • MUCO 360 Orchestration 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : Reduction of orchestral scores for piano. Scoring and transcription of piano works for different ensembles. Instruments studied: brass and percussion. Orchestration: brass ensembles, percussion ensembles and combinations. Scoring for full orchestra.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Simard, Pierre (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: MUCO 261

    • Restrictions: Only open to B.Mus. Major in Composition students; students from other programs may be accepted with the permission of the instructor, after submitting samples of previous work.

  • MUCO 440D1 Composition 3 (2 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : Composition tutorial. Continuation of MUCO 340. Students may work with the same instructor, or choose to work with a different instructor.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Ferguson, Sean Alastair; Bouliane, Denys; Lesage, Jean; Harman, Christopher; Hui, Melissa; Leroux, Philippe; Britton, Eliot; Lizée, Nicole (Fall)

  • MUCO 440D2 Composition 3 (2 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : See MUCO 440D1 for course description.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Ferguson, Sean Alastair; Bouliane, Denys; Lesage, Jean; Harman, Christopher; Hui, Melissa; Leroux, Philippe; Britton, Eliot; Lizée, Nicole (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: MUCO 440D1

    • No credit will be given for this course unless both MUCO 440D1 and MUCO 440D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms

  • MUCO 460 Orchestration 3 (2 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : Analysis of advanced orchestration techniques. Various orchestration theories and practices used by composers, particularly in the twentieth century including the study of extended techniques.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Harman, Christopher (Fall)

  • MUCO 541 Advanced Digital Studio Composition 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : Advanced topics in digital studio composition. Aesthetics and poetics of electroacoustic composition. Analytical approaches to this repertoire. Use of digital signal processing and synthesis techniques. Creation of complete pieces incorporating music technology which may include a live performance component.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Ferguson, Sean Alastair (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: MUCO 342 or permission of the instructor.

  • MUCO 575 Topics in Composition (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : Pitch systems, harmonic concepts and compositional techniques from the late 19th Century to the present.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Harman, Christopher (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: MUCO 340D1/D2

    • Topics will change from semester to semester.

Theory

  • MUTH 251 Theory and Analysis 4 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Expanded harmonic resources of the 19th century (e.g., advanced chromaticism including enharmonic reinterpretation and symmetrical division). Analysis of characteristic small and large forms. Writing and analytical skills with a goal toward perceiving how levels of musical structure interact.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Wild, Jonathan; Bakulina, Olga Ellen; Biamonte, Nicole; Roth, Jade (Winter)

  • MUTH 350 Theory and Analysis 5 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Exploration of 20th and 21st century organizations of pitch, rhythm, timbre etc. Written and analytical skills for the purpose of gaining insight into the compositional techniques and aesthetics of this repertoire.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Duinker, Ben (Winter)

Musicianship

  • MUSP 240 Musicianship Training 3 (2 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Musicianship : Rhythm and metre mixed divisions and two-part work; additional chordal voicings and pitch collections; melodies modulating to closely-related keys adding tenor clef; harmonic progression including applied chords; two-part keyboard-style passages.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Asly, Monica; Mariner, Justin; Guzik, John (Fall)

    • Prerequisites: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent. MUSP 141

    • Corequisite: MUTH 250

  • MUSP 241 Musicianship Training 4 (2 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Musicianship : Changing metres; chord voicings and atonal pitch collections; modulating tonal melodies and score reading of transposing instruments; harmonic progression including chromatic chords; two-part passages.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Asly, Monica; Mariner, Justin; Guzik, John (Winter)

  • MUSP 346 Post-Tonal Musicianship (2 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Musicianship : Extended tonal and post-tonal harmonic and contrapuntal structures, rhythmic practices of the 20th and 21st century, score reading.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Mariner, Justin (Fall) Mariner, Justin (Winter)

Music History

  • MUHL 286 Critical Thinking About Music (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music History and Literature : Examination of various periods and styles: e.g., central works from different traditions, the interaction of music and society, performance practice, and music's relation to other arts.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Whitesell, Lloyd (Fall) Whitesell, Lloyd (Winter)

Performance/practical lessons

  • MUIN 280 BMus Practical Lessons 3 (2.5 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Practical Instrument : Practical instruction on an instrument or voice.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Algieri, Stefano; Dean, Kevin; Haimovitz, Matt; Hashimoto, Kyoko; Laimon, Sara; Mdivani, Marina; Roy, Andre J; Sullivan, Joseph Leo; White, Andre; Poletaev, Ilya; Demers, Isabelle; Strauss, Axel; Leclair, Jacqueline; Lemelin, Stéphane; Labelle, Dominique; Baskin, Theodore; Box, James; Devuyst, Russell; Dolin, Elizabeth; Gaudreault, Jean; Levesque, Stephane; Roberts, Richard Allen; Robinson, Brian; Marandola, Fabrice; Hollenbeck, John; Pilc, Jean-Michel; Stoelzel, Richard; Mac Master, John; Trevino, Matthew; Aldrich, Simon; Amirault, Greg G; Bergeron, sylvain; Chappell, Eric; Clayton, Greg; Couture, Jocelyn; Derome, Denys; Desgagne, Alain; Dix, Trevor; Dumouchel, Michael; Dyachkov, Yegor; Freeman, Peter; Gauthier, Michael; Gavrilova, Julia; Gossage, David Mark; Johnson, Alexander David; Johnston, Jeff; Laing, David; Lambert, Michel; Lee, Ranee Y; Lozano, Francisco J; Mahar, William; Mangrum, Martin D; Manker, Brian; Maute, Matthias; Merkelo, Paul A; Plouffe, Helene; Shuter, Cindy; Swartz, Jennifer; Walkington, Alec; Zuk, Luba; Rager, Joshua; Doxas, Dimitrios; Kennedy, Donny; Beausejour, Luc; Kutan, Aline; Hollins, Fraser; Grott, David; McLean, Allan Robert; Bluteau, Denis; Popescu, Annamaria; Stevenson, François; Jimenez, Carlos Alberto; Ducharme, Jérôme; Beaudry, Pierre; Azar, Andree; Mallette, Marcelle; Trottier, Jean-Nicolas; Feltham, Scott O; Richer, Patrice; Burmeister, Anja; Howle, Mark Austin; Read, Alexander; Bourassa, Francois; Dahlen, Sienna; Leclair, Marie-Chantal; Normand, Jean-Francois; Tremblay, Lisanne; Cope, Todd; Basque, Alexis; Barry, Suren; von Eccher, Magdalena; Skinner, Elizabeth; Cote, Nadia; Turner, Catherine; LeBlanc, Rémi-Jean; Ferguson, Mark; Vedady, Adrian; Melancon, Violaine; Brouwer, Albert G; Brault, Olivier; Fournelle-Blain, Victor; Watson, Nathaniel; Polegato, Brett; Suh, Min Jung; Bibace, Kenneth; Lambert, Frédéric; Dobby, Timothy; Yazdanfar, Ali; Karlicek, Martin; Wan, Andrew; Harboyan, Patil; Smith Bessette, Tracy; Wang, Tong; Prag, Itamar; Peletsis, Anna; Hillis, Amy; Novak, Bohdanna; Cowan, Steven; Ko, Dane; Ledger, Timothy; Thibeault, Marina; Cicchillitti, Adam; Li, Jui-Sheng; Trudel, Marianne; G'froerer, Joanna; French, Lex; Hendrickson, Anna; Dunn, Jarred; Kearney, Patrick; Putterman, Mika; Cheung, Stanford; Coleman, Ira; Green, Darrell; Nadler, Rona; Wantuch, Bailey; James, Chris; Miller, Elizaveta; Thurman-Green, Camille; Petersen, Anna; Stewart, David; Donaldson, Taylor; Miyagaki, Mai; Hove, Erik Anthony; Cosbey, Catherine; Schabas, Sara; Bolduc, Remi; Roberts, Lindsay (Fall) Laimon, Sara; Mdivani, Marina; Roy, Andre J; Lemelin, Stéphane; Baskin, Theodore; Christie, Carolyn; Dolin, Elizabeth; Gaudreault, Jean; Gavrilova, Julia; Mangrum, Martin D; McLean, Allan Robert; Bibace, Kenneth; Karlicek, Martin; Wan, Andrew; Harboyan, Patil; Hashimoto, Kyoko (Winter)

  • MUIN 281 BMus Practical Lessons 4 (2.5 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Practical Instrument : Practical instruction on an instrument or voice.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Algieri, Stefano; Haimovitz, Matt; Laimon, Sara; Mdivani, Marina; Leclair, Jacqueline; Lemelin, Stéphane; Marandola, Fabrice; Mac Master, John; Aldrich, Simon; Gavrilova, Julia; Lozano, Francisco J; MacMillan, Elizabeth; Manker, Brian; McCann, Christopher; Walkington, Alec; Hollins, Fraser; Grott, David; Popescu, Annamaria; Ducharme, Jérôme; Mallette, Marcelle; Vedady, Adrian; Melancon, Violaine; Brouwer, Albert G; Karlicek, Martin; Harboyan, Patil; Thibeault, Marina; Green, Darrell; Miller, Elizaveta; LeBlanc, Rémi-Jean (Fall) Algieri, Stefano; Dean, Kevin; Haimovitz, Matt; Hashimoto, Kyoko; Kestenberg, Abe; Laimon, Sara; Mdivani, Marina; Roy, Andre J; Sullivan, Joseph Leo; White, Andre; Poletaev, Ilya; Demers, Isabelle; Strauss, Axel; Leclair, Jacqueline; Lemelin, Stéphane; Moye, Felicia; Labelle, Dominique; Baskin, Theodore; Box, James; Devuyst, Russell; Dolin, Elizabeth; Gaudreault, Jean; Levesque, Stephane; Roberts, Richard Allen; Robinson, Brian; Marandola, Fabrice; Hollenbeck, John; Pilc, Jean-Michel; Stoelzel, Richard; Mac Master, John; Trevino, Matthew; Aldrich, Simon; Amirault, Greg G; Bergeron, sylvain; Bolduc, Remi; Chappell, Eric; Clayton, Greg; Couture, Jocelyn; Derome, Denys; Desgagne, Alain; Di Lauro, Ronald; Dix, Trevor; Dumouchel, Michael; Dyachkov, Yegor; Freeman, Peter; Gauthier, Michael; Gavrilova, Julia; Gossage, David Mark; Johnson, Alexander David; Johnston, Jeff; Laing, David; Lambert, Michel; Lee, Ranee Y; Lozano, Francisco J; Mahar, William; Mangrum, Martin D; Manker, Brian; Maute, Matthias; Merkelo, Paul A; Shuter, Cindy; Swartz, Jennifer; Walkington, Alec; Zuk, Luba; Rager, Joshua; Doxas, Dimitrios; Kennedy, Donny; Turner, Dave; Kutan, Aline; Hollins, Fraser; Grott, David; McLean, Allan Robert; Bluteau, Denis; Popescu, Annamaria; Stevenson, François; Jimenez, Carlos Alberto; Ducharme, Jérôme; Beaudry, Pierre; Azar, Andree; Mallette, Marcelle; Trottier, Jean-Nicolas; Petersen, Katherine; Feltham, Scott O; Richer, Patrice; Bourget, Daniele; Burmeister, Anja; Howle, Mark Austin; Read, Alexander; Bourassa, Francois; Dahlen, Sienna; Leclair, Marie-Chantal; Normand, Jean-Francois; Tremblay, Lisanne; Cope, Todd; Basque, Alexis; Barry, Suren; von Eccher, Magdalena; Cote, Nadia; Turner, Catherine; LeBlanc, Rémi-Jean; Ferguson, Mark; Vedady, Adrian; Melancon, Violaine; Brouwer, Albert G; Brault, Olivier; Fournelle-Blain, Victor; Watson, Nathaniel; Polegato, Brett; Suh, Min Jung; Bibace, Kenneth; Lambert, Frédéric; Dobby, Timothy; Yazdanfar, Ali; Karlicek, Martin; Wan, Andrew; Smith Bessette, Tracy; Wang, Tong; Prag, Itamar; Peletsis, Anna; Hillis, Amy; Novak, Bohdanna; Cowan, Steven; Ko, Dane; Ledger, Timothy; Thibeault, Marina; Cicchillitti, Adam; Li, Jui-Sheng; Trudel, Marianne; G'froerer, Joanna; French, Lex; Hendrickson, Anna; Dunn, Jarred; Kearney, Patrick; Putterman, Mika; Cheung, Stanford; Nadler, Rona; Wantuch, Bailey; Miller, Elizaveta; Thurman-Green, Camille; Petersen, Anna; James, Chris; Stewart, David; Donaldson, Taylor; Miyagaki, Mai; Hove, Erik Anthony; Cosbey, Catherine; Schabas, Sara (Winter)

  • MUIN 283 BMus Concentration Final Examination (1 credit)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Practical Instrument : Assessment of student's progress in the practical area.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Exam details are to be found under Examinations and Goals in Practical Subjects in the Music Chapter of the University Calendar.

Professional Development

  • MUPD 235 Music as a Profession 2 (1 credit)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music Professional Development : An overview of the responsibilities and skills required of professions in music and of the varied career paths leading from a music degree.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Marchand, Juanita (Winter)

    • Open to BMus students in U2 and U3, or by permission of the instructor.

    • Prerequisite(s): MUPD 135

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken MUPD 136.

Complementary Courses (13 credits)

Music Theory

3 credits from the following:

Music History

6 credits from the following:

  • MUHL 385 Early Twentieth-Century Music (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music History and Literature : Development of European, Russian, and American music from the 1890s until the early 1940s, tracing its roots in late 19th-century Romanticism and following its evolution in central Europe, France, and the United States. The music of major innovators such as Debussy, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Ives, and Varèse will be discussed.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

  • MUHL 391 Canadian Music (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music History and Literature : Survey of music in Canada from the 16th Century to the present. Current musical organizations and institutions, and contemporary Canadian music will be stressed. Time permitting, brief reference will be made to the folk music of indigenous and immigrant groups.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

  • MUHL 392 Music since 1945 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music History and Literature : Appearance and evolution of such post-war phenomena as total serialism, "chance" music of various kinds, and electronic music as seen in major figures such as Boulez, Stockhausen, Cage and others in Europe and the United States. Important developments during the 1960s. Rise of "minimalism" and "neo-Romanticism" during the 1970s and 80s.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Stewart, Breanna (Winter)

Performance/ensemble

4 credits from the following:

  • MUEN 563 Jazz Vocal Workshop (2 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Ensemble : Vocal workshop for jazz musicians.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Novak, Bohdanna (Fall) Novak, Bohdanna (Winter)

  • MUEN 572 Cappella Antica (2 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Ensemble : An ensemble of 8 to 12 voices specializing in early music. N.B. This ensemble may substitute as a Basic Ensemble in programs that specify Choral Ensemble, with Departmental approval.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Nadler, Rona (Fall) Nadler, Rona (Winter)

    • 4 hours

    • Prerequisite: Audition.

  • MUEN 573 Baroque Orchestra (2 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Ensemble : Open to singers and instrumentalists, this ensemble specializes in chamber music primarily of the Baroque era.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Bandy, Dorian (Fall) Bandy, Dorian (Winter)

    • 4 hours

    • Prerequisites: Audition

  • MUEN 587 Cappella McGill (2 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Ensemble : An ensemble of 16 voices performing challenging repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day. Since the expectation is a level of performance equivalent to a professional chamber ensemble, singers wishing to join this group should have had considerable ensemble experience, and advanced vocal and sight-reading skills.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • 4 hours

    • Prerequisite: Audition.

    • Note: May be taken instead of Choral Ensemble.

  • MUEN 590 McGill Wind Orchestra (2 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Ensemble : Large ensemble for wind instruments.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Gaudry, Danielle (Fall) Gaudry, Danielle (Winter)

    • 4-6 hours

    • Prerequisite: Audition

  • MUEN 592 Chamber Jazz Ensemble (2 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Ensemble : This ensemble will deal with the extensive repertoire of music which exists for small jazz orchestra (9-13 instruments).

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Lindhorst, Jonathan (Fall)

    • Restriction: Open to Jazz Performance students only.

  • MUEN 593 Choral Ensembles (2 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Ensemble : Students enrolling in Choral Ensembles will be assigned to one of the above groups.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Vallée, Jean-Sébastien; Boutda, Matthew; Chan, Jeffrey; Pisney, Kody (Fall) Vallée, Jean-Sébastien; Boutda, Matthew; Chan, Jeffrey; Pisney, Kody (Winter)

    • 4 hours

    • Prerequisite: Audition.

    • Section 001 Chamber Singers: a group of approximately 24 mixed voices which explores the a cappella repertoire of all periods as well as works with chamber accompaniment.

    • Section 002 Concert Choir: an ensemble of approximately 60 voices (S.A.T.B.) which performs the repertoire from all periods appropriate to a group of this size.

    • Section 003 University Chorus: a mixed chorus of approximately 100 which performs a variety of choral material including both traditional and popular selections.

    • Section 004 Women's Chorale: an ensemble of approximately 40 women stressing the fundamentals of singing and ensemble participation.

  • MUEN 594 Contemporary Music Ensemble (2 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Ensemble : Ensemble for contemporary music - instruments and voice.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: LĂ©onard, MĂ©lanie (Fall) LĂ©onard, MĂ©lanie (Winter)

    • 4 hours

    • Prerequisite: Audition.

  • MUEN 595 Jazz Ensembles (2 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Ensemble : Ensemble for jazz - instruments and voice.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Côté, Philippe; Mahar, William; Jimenez, Carlos Alberto; Trudel, Marianne (Fall) Trudel, Marianne; Côté, Philippe; Mahar, William; Jimenez, Carlos Alberto (Winter)

    • 3-4 hours

    • Prerequisite: Audition.

  • MUEN 597 McGill Symphony Orchestra (2 credits)

    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Ensemble : Ensemble for orchestral instruments.

    Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

    Instructors: Hauser, Rudolf-Alexius (Fall) Hauser, Rudolf-Alexius (Winter)

    • 6 - 7 hours

    • Prerequisite: Audition.

Elective Courses (18 credits)

3 credits of non-Music Electives.
15 credits of Free Electives.

Recommended but not required courses:

  • MUCO 462 Advanced Tonal Writing (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : Stylistic concepts and resources of European music including phrase structure, melodic shape, rhythm, linear continuity, economy of means, notation, and basic contrapuntal procedures. Extensive and detailed analysis of characteristic repertoire.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

  • MUCO 542 Advanced Digital Studio Composition 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Composition : Further advanced topics in digital studio composition culminating in a complete large-scale work incorporating music technology, including computer-assisted composition, analysis/resynthesis techniques, and new gestural controllers for live performance of digital musical instruments.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Ferguson, Sean Alastair (Winter)

  • MUHL 388 Opera After 1900 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music History and Literature : Major early twentieth-century works by Debussy, Strauss, Schreker, BartĂłk, Stravinsky and Schoenberg. Opera in Europe between the Wars including operas of Berg, Milhaud, Krenek, Hindemith and Weill. Politics, sociology, and literature in relationship to musical style. Approaches since 1945 in selected works by Britten, Henze, Zimmermann, Ligeti, Somers and Glass.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Whitesell, Lloyd (Winter)

  • MUTH 302 Modal Counterpoint 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Continuation of Modal Counterpoint I. Study of more advanced techniques through further analysis and written exercises in three or more voices.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

  • MUTH 304 Tonal Counterpoint 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Further analysis and written exercises with special emphasis on fugal techniques in free style.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Schubert, Peter N (Winter)

  • MUTH 322 Topics in Post-Tonal Analysis (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Topics in advanced analysis of post-tonal music.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Neidhofer, Christoph (Fall)

    • 3 hours

    • Prerequisite: MUTH 350

    • Topics will change from semester to semester.

  • MUTH 528 Schenkerian Theory and Analysis (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Introduction to the principles and graphing techniques of Schenkerian theory, analysis of tonal works from 1700-1900, and study of prolongational techniques in relation to formal types.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • 3 hours

    • Prerequisite: MUTH 251 or permission of instructor.

  • MUTH 538 Mathematical Models for Musical Analysis (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Theoretical topics and analytical applications selected from the following: serial theory, atonal set theory, contour theory, similarity metrics, transformational networks, elementary group theory and generalized interval systems, neo-Riemannian theory, atonal voice-leading and geometry, scale theory, models of tuning and temperament and information theory.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • 3 hours

    • Prerequisites: MUTH 350 (or equivalent).

  • MUTH 539 Topics in Advanced Writing Techniques (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Advanced writing skills, including intensive four-part harmonization, advanced harmonic vocabulary and syntax, post-tonal counterpoint.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Neidhofer, Christoph (Winter)

Schulich School of Music—2024-2025 (last updated Aug. 21, 2024) (disclaimer)
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