Department of Music Research

At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, the Department embraces the disciplines of Applied Performance Sciences, Composition, Music Education, Music History, Theory, Music Technology, and Sound Recording. The philosophy of the Department is to encourage integration of the disciplines as much as possible within the learning process in each program of study: the development of basic musicianship, the absorption of the grammar and syntax of musical discourse, and the study of the world of ideas are understood as interconnected.

Major programs offer the student some focus with the flexibility to pursue other areas of interest. The Faculty program is intended to offer an option for individual and creative plans of study. All of the Department's programs give a solid grounding in analytic, synthetic, and writing skills that are useful preparation not only for the music profession but also for professions as diverse as law, journalism, management, and librarianship.

The B.Mus./B.Ed. Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education Concurrent Program combines an orientation towards a professional career in primary and secondary schools with sensitivity to broader intellectual frameworks against which teachers should understand their roles.

The Department also offers a Minors in Applied Performance Sciences, Music Composition, a Minor in Music Education, Music Entrepreneurship, Music History, Music Theory, Musical Applications of Technology, and Musical Science and Technology to students who seek to place their work in larger context. Several of these Minors are open to students from other faculties.

For each program, all courses listed are required courses unless otherwise indicated.

Available Programs

Prerequisite Courses for M.Mus. in Sound Recording

Students interested in M.Mus. in Sound Recording should successfully complete prerequisites before applying for this graduate program. A list of prerequisites is found on the program's website. Students should also notify the Sound Recording Area of their interest in the program before taking the prerequisites.  

Students in a bachelor program are encouraged to register for the prerequisites as part of the Minor in Musical Applications of Technology.

B.Mus./B.Ed. Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education Concurrent Program

The Bachelor of Education in Music (B.Ed. Music) mcgill.ca/dise/teachercert/music is an integrated 152-credit program of initial teacher training that leads to certification as a teacher in the Province of Quebec. This program is only open to students who have completed a Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.) or its equivalent, and normally students receive significant advanced standing in the program such that the B.Ed. Music program can be completed in two and a half years. Applicants to B.Ed. Music should choose Faculty of Education (Music) as the faculty which offers the program when submitting an application for an undergraduate program.

Students who do not have an equivalent B.Mus. should complete the 170-credit concurrent Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.) - Major Music Education and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) - Music Elementary and Secondary mcgill.ca/music/programs/bmus/bmus-bed. The concurrent program is comprised of academic studies in music, professional studies and field experience. Students normally take five years to complete the concurrent program. The two degrees are awarded during the same convocation period. Applicants to the B.Mus./B.Ed. concurrent program should select Schulich School of Music as the faculty when applying for this program.

Students in the concurrent B.Mus./B.Ed. or B.Ed. Music who receive an F or J in any Field Experience course are placed in Unsatisfactory Standing. Although they may complete their term, they are required to withdraw from the program.