Program Requirement:
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 in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
-
MUIN 180
BMus Practical Lessons 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Practical Instrument: Practical instruction on an instrument or voice.
Offered by: Performance
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: Admission to the B.Mus. program by audition.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Frédéric Lambert, Jean-Nicolas Trottier, Sophie Tremblay, Carlos Alberto Jimenez, John Mac Master, Annamaria Popescu, Dominique Labelle, Patrice Richer, Christine D Jensen, Nadia Cote, Erik Anthony Hove, Denys Derome, Marianne Trudel, Min Jung Suh, Bohdanna Novak, Patil Harboyan, Luba Zuk, Paul A Merkelo, Luc Beausejour, Julia Gavrilova, Greg G Amirault, Jocelyn Couture, Pierre Beaudry, Joshua Rager, Jennifer Swartz, Francisco J Lozano, Helene Plouffe, Sienna Dahlen, Olivier B Brault, Albert G Brouwer, Stephane Levesque, Donny Kennedy, Eric Chappell, David Grott, Trevor Dix, Joanna G'froerer, Dimitrios G Doxas, Michel Lambert, Brian Manker, Allan Robert McLean, Martin D Mangrum, David Mark Gossage, Simon Aldrich, Jean Gaudreault, Elizabeth H MacMillan, David C Laing, Ranee Y Lee, Brian Robinson, Greg Clayton, Michael A Gauthier, Joseph Leo Sullivan, Andre J Roy, Peter Freeman, Russell Devuyst, Richard Allen Roberts, Elizabeth Dolin, Jeff Johnston, Alec Walkington, Scott O Feltham, Michael Dumouchel, Kenneth Bibace, Remi Bolduc, William V Mahar, Cindy Shuter, Kevin Dean, Theodore Baskin, Michael McMahon, Marina Mdivani, Andre White, Sara Laimon, Kyoko Hashimoto, James O Box, Alain Desgagne, Martin Karlicek, Andrew J Wan, Stefano Algieri, Yegor Dyachkov, Alexander David Johnson, Matt Haimovitz, Dave Turner, Alexander W Read, Timothy Dobby, Fabrice Marandola, Lex French, Fraser Hollins, Sara Schabas, Aline Kutan, Amy J Hillis, Taylor Donaldson, Ali Yazdanfar, Tracy Smith Bessette, Chris James, Jérôme Ducharme, Rémi-Jean LeBlanc, Isabelle Demers, Ilya Poletaev, Tong Wang, Axel Strauss, Marcelle Mallette, Jacqueline F Leclair, Anja Burmeister, Tatiana Dardykina, Victor Fournelle-Blain, Anna Peletsis, Mark Austin Howle, Marina Thibeault, Steven C Cowan, Stéphane Lemelin, Suren Barry, Jean-Francois Normand, Jean-Michel Pilc, Richard P Stoelzel, John E Hollenbeck, Marie-Chantal Leclair, Violaine Melancon, Alexis Basque, Christophe Alvarez, Sofia Yatsyuk, Catherine Turner, Nathaniel Watson, Adrian Vedady, Mark Ferguson, Brett Polegato, Mai Miyagaki, Jarred Dunn, Anna K Hendrickson, Dane Ko, Patrick J Kearney, Matthew Trevino, Itamar I Prag, Ira Coleman, Camille Thurman-Green, Darrell Green, Anna C Petersen, Catherine Cosbey, David A Stewart, Geneviève Morasse
-
MUIN 181
BMus Practical Lessons 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Practical Instrument: Practical examination in clarinet techniques.
Offered by: Performance
- Prerequisite: MUIN 180
- Restriction: Open to students entering directly from High Schools outside Quebec.
- Terms
- Instructors
- John Mac Master, Annamaria Popescu, Julia Gavrilova, Jocelyn Couture, Martin D Mangrum, Andre J Roy, Elizabeth Dolin, Carolyn Christie, Marina Mdivani, Kyoko Hashimoto, Andrew J Wan, Tracy Smith Bessette, Stéphane Lemelin, Jean-Michel Pilc
- Frédéric Lambert, Jean-Nicolas Trottier, Sophie Tremblay, Carlos Alberto Jimenez, John Mac Master, Annamaria Popescu, Dominique Labelle, Patrice Richer, Christine D Jensen, Nadia Cote, Erik Anthony Hove, Denys Derome, Marianne Trudel, Min Jung Suh, Bohdanna Novak, Patil Harboyan, Luba Zuk, Paul A Merkelo, Luc Beausejour, Julia Gavrilova, Greg G Amirault, Jocelyn Couture, Pierre Beaudry, Joshua Rager, Jennifer Swartz, Francisco J Lozano, Helene Plouffe, Sienna Dahlen, Olivier B Brault, Albert G Brouwer, Stephane Levesque, Donny Kennedy, Eric Chappell, David Grott, Trevor Dix, Joanna G'froerer, Dimitrios G Doxas, Brian Manker, Allan Robert McLean, Martin D Mangrum, David Mark Gossage, Simon Aldrich, Jean Gaudreault, Elizabeth H MacMillan, David C Laing, Ranee Y Lee, Ronald Di Lauro, Brian Robinson, Greg Clayton, Michael A Gauthier, Joseph Leo Sullivan, Andre J Roy, Peter Freeman, Russell Devuyst, Richard Allen Roberts, Elizabeth Dolin, Jeff Johnston, Alec Walkington, Scott O Feltham, Michael Dumouchel, Kenneth Bibace, Remi Bolduc, William V Mahar, Cindy Shuter, Kevin Dean, Theodore Baskin, Michael McMahon, Marina Mdivani, Andre White, Sara Laimon, Kyoko Hashimoto, James O Box, Alain Desgagne, Martin Karlicek, Andrew J Wan, Stefano Algieri, Yegor Dyachkov, Alexander David Johnson, Matt Haimovitz, Andree Azar, Dave Turner, Alexander W Read, Timothy Dobby, Fabrice Marandola, Fraser Hollins, Sara Schabas, Aline Kutan, Amy J Hillis, Taylor Donaldson, Ali Yazdanfar, Tracy Smith Bessette, Chris James, Jérôme Ducharme, Rémi-Jean LeBlanc, Isabelle Demers, Ilya Poletaev, Tong Wang, Axel Strauss, Marcelle Mallette, Jacqueline F Leclair, Anja Burmeister, Tatiana Dardykina, Victor Fournelle-Blain, Anna Peletsis, Daniele Bourget, Mark Austin Howle, Marina Thibeault, Steven C Cowan, Stéphane Lemelin, Felicia K Moye, Suren Barry, Jean-Francois Normand, Jean-Michel Pilc, Richard P Stoelzel, John E Hollenbeck, Marie-Chantal Leclair, Violaine Melancon, Alexis Basque, Christophe Alvarez, Sofia Yatsyuk, Catherine Turner, Nathaniel Watson, Adrian Vedady, Mark Ferguson, Brett Polegato, Mai Miyagaki, Jarred Dunn, Anna K Hendrickson, Dane Ko, Patrick J Kearney, Matthew Trevino, Itamar I Prag, Ira Coleman, Camille Thurman-Green, Darrell Green, Anna C Petersen, Catherine Cosbey, David A Stewart
-
MUPD 135
Music as a Profession 1
1 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- Open to B.Mus. students or by permission of the instructor.
-
MUSP 140
Musicianship Training 1
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 2 hours
- Prerequisite: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent.
- Corequisites: MUTH 150, MUSP 170
- Terms
- Instructors
- John Guzik, Monica Asly, Fredericka Petit-Homme, Margaret Emily De Castro, Matthew Chan
-
MUSP 141
Musicianship Training 2
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Musicianship: Harmonic, melodic and rhythmic analysis at the keyboard through the study of rudiments, repertoire, chorale/score reading, transposition and harmonization.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Julia Gavrilova, Monica Asly, Jolan Kovacs, Ericsson F Hatfield
-
MUSP 171
Musicianship (Keyboard) 2
1 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Musicianship: Building chordal fluency. Harmonic vocabulary including sequences, chromaticism and modulation. Chorale and score reading with transposing instruments and alto/tenor clefs.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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 in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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 in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Music Theory and Analysis: Sequences and modulation, chromatic vocabulary, analysis of simple theme types (sentence, period, hybrids) and fugal techniques.
Offered by: Music Research
Required Courses (61 credits)
Composition
-
MUCO 241
Tonal Composition 1A
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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 in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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 in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
-
MUCO 246
Composition 1B
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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 in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Denys Bouliane, Pierre Simard
-
MUCO 340D1
Composition 2
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- Terms
- Instructors
- Nicole Lizée, Denys Bouliane, Jean Lesage, Sean Alastair Ferguson, Melissa Hui, Christopher P Harman, Philippe Leroux
-
MUCO 340D2
Composition 2
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Composition: See MUCO 340D1 for course description.
Offered by: Music Research
- Prerequisite: MUCO 340D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both MUCO 340D1 and MUCO 340D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Terms
- Instructors
- Nicole Lizée, Denys Bouliane, Jean Lesage, Sean Alastair Ferguson, Melissa Hui, Christopher P Harman, Philippe Leroux
-
MUCO 341
Digital Studio Composition 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 3 hours lecture-demonstration and 3 hours studio time
- Prerequisite: MUCO 246 or MUCO 230
-
MUCO 342
Digital Studio Composition 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 3 hours lecture-demonstration and 3 hours studio time
- Prerequisite: MUCO 341
-
MUCO 360
Orchestration 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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 in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Composition: Composition tutorial. Continuation of MUCO 340. Students may work with the same instructor, or choose to work with a different instructor.
Offered by: Music Research
- Terms
- Instructors
- Nicole Lizée, Denys Bouliane, Jean Lesage, Sean Alastair Ferguson, Melissa Hui, Christopher P Harman, Philippe Leroux, Eliot Britton
-
MUCO 440D2
Composition 3
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Composition: See MUCO 440D1 for course description.
Offered by: Music Research
- Prerequisite: MUCO 440D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both MUCO 440D1 and MUCO 440D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Terms
- Instructors
- Nicole Lizée, Denys Bouliane, Jean Lesage, Sean Alastair Ferguson, Melissa Hui, Christopher P Harman, Philippe Leroux, Eliot Britton
-
MUCO 460
Orchestration 3
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
-
MUCO 541
Adv Digital Studio Comp 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- Prerequisite: MUCO 342 or permission of the instructor.
-
MUCO 575
Topics in Composition
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Composition: Pitch systems, harmonic concepts and compositional techniques from the late 19th Century to the present.
Offered by: Music Research
- Prerequisite: MUCO 340D1/D2
- Topics will change from semester to semester.
Theory
-
MUTH 251
Theory and Analysis 4
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- Terms
- Instructors
- Jonathan Wild, Olga Ellen Bakulina, Nicole Biamonte
-
MUTH 350
Theory and Analysis 5
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
Musicianship
-
MUSP 240
Musicianship Training 3
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- Prerequisites: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent. MUSP 141
- Corequisite: MUTH 250
- Terms
- Instructors
- John Guzik, Monica Asly, Justin Mariner
-
MUSP 241
Musicianship Training 4
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- Terms
- Instructors
- Monica Asly, Justin Mariner
-
MUSP 346
Post-Tonal Musicianship
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Musicianship: Extended tonal and post-tonal harmonic and contrapuntal structures, rhythmic practices of the 20th and 21st century, score reading.
Offered by: Music Research
- Terms
- Instructors
- Justin Mariner
- Justin Mariner
Music History
-
MUHL 286
Critical Thinking About Music
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- Terms
- Instructors
- Lloyd A Whitesell
- Lloyd A Whitesell
Performance/practical lessons
-
MUIN 280
BMus Practical Lessons 3
2.5 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Practical Instrument: Practical instruction on an instrument or voice.
Offered by: Performance
- Terms
- Instructors
- Rona M Nadler, Frédéric Lambert, Jean-Nicolas Trottier, François Stevenson, Carlos Alberto Jimenez, John Mac Master, Annamaria Popescu, Francois Bourassa, Dominique Labelle, Patrice Richer, Nadia Cote, Erik Anthony Hove, Denys Derome, Mika Putterman, Marianne Trudel, Min Jung Suh, Bohdanna Novak, Patil Harboyan, Luba Zuk, Paul A Merkelo, Luc Beausejour, Julia Gavrilova, Greg G Amirault, Jocelyn Couture, Pierre Beaudry, Joshua Rager, Jennifer Swartz, Francisco J Lozano, Helene Plouffe, Sienna Dahlen, Olivier B Brault, Albert G Brouwer, Stephane Levesque, Donny Kennedy, Eric Chappell, David Grott, Trevor Dix, Joanna G'froerer, Dimitrios G Doxas, Michel Lambert, Brian Manker, Allan Robert McLean, Matthias Maute, Martin D Mangrum, David Mark Gossage, Simon Aldrich, Jean Gaudreault, David C Laing, Ranee Y Lee, Brian Robinson, Greg Clayton, Michael A Gauthier, Joseph Leo Sullivan, Andre J Roy, sylvain Bergeron, Peter Freeman, Russell Devuyst, Richard Allen Roberts, Elizabeth Dolin, Jeff Johnston, Alec Walkington, Scott O Feltham, Michael Dumouchel, Kenneth Bibace, Denis Bluteau, Remi Bolduc, William V Mahar, Cindy Shuter, Kevin Dean, Theodore Baskin, Marina Mdivani, Andre White, Sara Laimon, Kyoko Hashimoto, James O Box, Alain Desgagne, Martin Karlicek, Andrew J Wan, Stefano Algieri, Yegor Dyachkov, Alexander David Johnson, Matt Haimovitz, Andree Azar, Alexander W Read, Timothy Dobby, Fabrice Marandola, Lex French, Lindsay Roberts, Fraser Hollins, Lisanne Tremblay, Sara Schabas, Adam Cicchillitti, Aline Kutan, Amy J Hillis, Taylor Donaldson, Ali Yazdanfar, Tracy Smith Bessette, Chris James, Elizabeth T Skinner, Jérôme Ducharme, Rémi-Jean LeBlanc, Isabelle Demers, Ilya Poletaev, Tong Wang, Axel Strauss, Marcelle Mallette, Jacqueline F Leclair, Anja Burmeister, Victor Fournelle-Blain, Anna Peletsis, Mark Austin Howle, Marina Thibeault, Steven C Cowan, Stanford Cheung, Stéphane Lemelin, Magdalena P von Eccher, Jui-Sheng Li, Suren Barry, Jean-Francois Normand, Jean-Michel Pilc, Richard P Stoelzel, John E Hollenbeck, Marie-Chantal Leclair, Todd Cope, Violaine Melancon, Timothy M Ledger, Alexis Basque, Bailey M Wantuch, Catherine Turner, Nathaniel Watson, Adrian Vedady, Mark Ferguson, Brett Polegato, Mai Miyagaki, Jarred Dunn, Anna K Hendrickson, Dane Ko, Patrick J Kearney, Matthew Trevino, Itamar I Prag, Ira Coleman, Camille Thurman-Green, Darrell Green, Elizaveta Miller, Anna C Petersen, Catherine Cosbey, David A Stewart
- Patil Harboyan, Julia Gavrilova, Allan Robert McLean, Martin D Mangrum, Jean Gaudreault, Andre J Roy, Elizabeth Dolin, Kenneth Bibace, Theodore Baskin, Carolyn Christie, Marina Mdivani, Sara Laimon, Kyoko Hashimoto, Martin Karlicek, Andrew J Wan, Stéphane Lemelin
-
MUIN 281
BMus Practical Lessons 4
2.5 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Practical Instrument: Practical instruction on an instrument or voice.
Offered by: Performance
- Terms
- Instructors
- John Mac Master, Annamaria Popescu, Patil Harboyan, Julia Gavrilova, Greg G Amirault, Francisco J Lozano, Albert G Brouwer, David Grott, Brian Manker, Simon Aldrich, Elizabeth H MacMillan, Andre J Roy, Christopher J McCann, Alec Walkington, Marina Mdivani, Sara Laimon, Martin Karlicek, Stefano Algieri, Matt Haimovitz, Fabrice Marandola, Fraser Hollins, Jérôme Ducharme, Rémi-Jean LeBlanc, Marcelle Mallette, Jacqueline F Leclair, Marina Thibeault, Stéphane Lemelin, Violaine Melancon, Adrian Vedady, Darrell Green, Elizaveta Miller
- Rona M Nadler, Frédéric Lambert, Jean-Nicolas Trottier, François Stevenson, Carlos Alberto Jimenez, John Mac Master, Annamaria Popescu, Francois Bourassa, Dominique Labelle, Patrice Richer, Nadia Cote, Erik Anthony Hove, Denys Derome, Mika Putterman, Marianne Trudel, Min Jung Suh, Bohdanna Novak, Luba Zuk, Paul A Merkelo, Julia Gavrilova, Greg G Amirault, Jocelyn Couture, Pierre Beaudry, Joshua Rager, Jennifer Swartz, Francisco J Lozano, Sienna Dahlen, Olivier B Brault, Albert G Brouwer, Stephane Levesque, Donny Kennedy, Eric Chappell, David Grott, Trevor Dix, Joanna G'froerer, Dimitrios G Doxas, Michel Lambert, Brian Manker, Allan Robert McLean, Matthias Maute, Martin D Mangrum, David Mark Gossage, Simon Aldrich, Jean Gaudreault, David C Laing, Ranee Y Lee, Ronald Di Lauro, Brian Robinson, Greg Clayton, Michael A Gauthier, Joseph Leo Sullivan, Andre J Roy, sylvain Bergeron, Peter Freeman, Russell Devuyst, Richard Allen Roberts, Elizabeth Dolin, Jeff Johnston, Alec Walkington, Scott O Feltham, Michael Dumouchel, Kenneth Bibace, Denis Bluteau, Remi Bolduc, William V Mahar, Cindy Shuter, Abe Kestenberg, Kevin Dean, Theodore Baskin, Marina Mdivani, Andre White, Sara Laimon, Kyoko Hashimoto, James O Box, Alain Desgagne, Martin Karlicek, Andrew J Wan, Stefano Algieri, Yegor Dyachkov, Alexander David Johnson, Matt Haimovitz, Andree Azar, Dave Turner, Alexander W Read, Timothy Dobby, Fabrice Marandola, Lex French, Fraser Hollins, Lisanne Tremblay, Sara Schabas, Adam Cicchillitti, Aline Kutan, Amy J Hillis, Taylor Donaldson, Ali Yazdanfar, Tracy Smith Bessette, Chris James, Katherine Petersen, Jérôme Ducharme, Rémi-Jean LeBlanc, Isabelle Demers, Ilya Poletaev, Tong Wang, Axel Strauss, Marcelle Mallette, Jacqueline F Leclair, Anja Burmeister, Victor Fournelle-Blain, Anna Peletsis, Daniele Bourget, Mark Austin Howle, Marina Thibeault, Steven C Cowan, Stanford Cheung, Stéphane Lemelin, Felicia K Moye, Magdalena P von Eccher, Jui-Sheng Li, Suren Barry, Jean-Francois Normand, Jean-Michel Pilc, Richard P Stoelzel, John E Hollenbeck, Marie-Chantal Leclair, Todd Cope, Violaine Melancon, Timothy M Ledger, Alexis Basque, Bailey M Wantuch, Catherine Turner, Nathaniel Watson, Adrian Vedady, Mark Ferguson, Brett Polegato, Mai Miyagaki, Jarred Dunn, Anna K Hendrickson, Dane Ko, Patrick J Kearney, Matthew Trevino, Itamar I Prag, Camille Thurman-Green, Elizaveta Miller, Anna C Petersen, Catherine Cosbey, David A Stewart
-
MUIN 283
BMus Concentration Final Exam
1 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Practical Instrument: Assessment of student's progress in the practical area.
Offered by: Performance
- Exam details are to be found under Examinations and Goals in Practical Subjects in the Music Chapter of the University Calendar.
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year
Professional Development
-
MUPD 235
Music as a Profession 2
1 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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.
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year
Complementary Courses (13 credits)
Music Theory
3 credits from the following:
-
MUTH 202
Modal Counterpoint 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Music Theory and Analysis: Polyphonic techniques of the Renaissance period studied through analysis of works by Palestrina and others and through written exercises in two to three voices.
Offered by: Music Research
-
MUTH 204
Tonal Counterpoint 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Music Theory and Analysis: The contrapuntal techniques of Baroque composers studied through detailed technical analysis of their works and through written exercises in strict style.
Offered by: Music Research
Music History
6 credits from the following:
-
MUHL 385
Early Twentieth-Century Music
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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 in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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 in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year
Performance/ensemble
4 credits from the following:
-
MUEN 563
Jazz Vocal Workshop
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Ensemble: Vocal workshop for jazz musicians.
Offered by: Performance
-
MUEN 572
Cappella Antica
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Performance
- 4 hours
- Prerequisite: Audition.
-
MUEN 573
Baroque Orchestra
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Ensemble: Open to singers and instrumentalists, this ensemble specializes in chamber music primarily of the Baroque era.
Offered by: Performance
- 4 hours
- Prerequisites: Audition
- Terms
- Instructors
- Dorian Bandy
- Dorian Bandy
-
MUEN 587
Cappella McGill
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Performance
- 4 hours
- Prerequisite: Audition.
- Note: May be taken instead of Choral Ensemble.
- 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
-
MUEN 590
McGill Wind Orchestra
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Ensemble: Large ensemble for wind instruments.
Offered by: Performance
- 4-6 hours
- Prerequisite: Audition
- Terms
- Instructors
- Danielle D Gaudry
- Danielle D Gaudry
-
MUEN 592
Chamber Jazz Ensemble
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Ensemble: This ensemble will deal with the extensive repertoire of music which exists for small jazz orchestra (9-13 instruments).
Offered by: Performance
- Restriction: Open to Jazz Performance students only.
-
MUEN 593
Choral Ensembles
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Ensemble: Students enrolling in Choral Ensembles will be assigned to one of the above groups.
Offered by: Performance
- 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.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Jean-Sébastien Vallée, Matthew Boutda, Jeffrey Chan, Kody Pisney
- Jean-Sébastien Vallée
-
MUEN 594
Contemporary Music Ensemble
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Ensemble: Ensemble for contemporary music - instruments and voice.
Offered by: Performance
- 4 hours
- Prerequisite: Audition.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Mélanie Léonard
- Mélanie Léonard
-
MUEN 595
Jazz Ensembles
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Ensemble: Ensemble for jazz - instruments and voice.
Offered by: Performance
- 3-4 hours
- Prerequisite: Audition.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Carlos Alberto Jimenez, Marianne Trudel, William V Mahar, Philippe Côté
-
MUEN 597
McGill Symphony Orchestra
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Ensemble: Ensemble for orchestral instruments.
Offered by: Performance
- 6 - 7 hours
- Prerequisite: Audition.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Rudolf-Alexius Hauser
- Rudolf-Alexius Hauser
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 in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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
Adv Digital Studio Comp 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
-
MUHL 388
Opera After 1900
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Music History and Literature: Major early twentieth-century works by Debussy, Strauss, Schreker, Bartók, 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.
Offered by: Music Research
-
MUTH 302
Modal Counterpoint 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 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 in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Music Theory and Analysis: Further analysis and written exercises with special emphasis on fugal techniques in free style.
Offered by: Music Research
-
MUTH 322
Topics in Post-Tonal Analysis
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Music Theory and Analysis: Topics in advanced analysis of post-tonal music.
Offered by: Music Research
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: MUTH 350
- Topics will change from semester to semester.
-
MUTH 528
Schenkerian Theory & Analysis
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: MUTH 251 or permission of instructor.
- 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 538
Math Models for Music Analysis
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Music Research
- 3 hours
- Prerequisites: MUTH 350 (or equivalent).
- 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 539
Topics in Adv Writing Tech
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Music Theory and Analysis: Advanced writing skills, including intensive four-part harmonization, advanced harmonic vocabulary and syntax, post-tonal counterpoint.
Offered by: Music Research
