Covid-19 FAQs

Prior to entering campus, every employee needs to submit the self-assessment form in Minerva.

Employees who have received a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 must consult McGill's Health guidelines for employees page and follow the directives under If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive.

All information will be treated confidentially.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive, or have been in contact with a case, you must follow the Government and University guidelines. The McGill COVID-19 webpage provides information on what to do if you have symptoms, think you may have been exposed, have travelled recently, or have tested positive.

Students who have tested positive for (COVID-19) should fill in the self-reporting form for students found in Minerva.

Information collected will be kept safely and confidentially: any personal information will not be disclosed unless as required by law or with the student’s express consent.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive, or have been in contact with a case, you must follow the Government and University guidelines. The McGill COVID-19 webpage provides information on what to do if you have symptoms, think you may have been exposed, have travelled recently, or have tested positive. For further details visit the Health guidelines for McGill students webpage.

Yes. All individuals permitted on campus are required to wear a procedural mask at all times. A few exceptions are: 

1. Masks may be removed if you are alone in a room such as a closed office.

2. Masks may be removed to eat or drink, provided you are at least 2 meters distance from another individual in a designated space.

3. Music-specific exceptions, following the directives of the CNESST guidelines for the performing arts: 

• When playing a wind or brass instrument
• For voice students, in a solo performance situation, if wearing a mask would make it impossible to perform
• When conducting an ensemble, as long as 2-meter distancing is respected at all times
• In practical examinations, recitals and concerts, performers are required to wear a mask unless doing so prevents the execution of their performance (i.e. wind and brass instruments, singers in a solo recital, conductors)

McGill’s Facilities Management and Ancillary Services is closely following the recommendations of several organizations including Public Health Canada and the Institut national de la santé publique. They have increased the air circulation throughout the buildings, and you can find more information on their HVAC operations page.

Many of the rooms currently designated for in-person brass, woodwind and voice teaching are equipped with an independent HVAC system (Wirth Opera Studio, C-201, C-204, C-209, C-310, Redpath-202). Rooms attached to the central HVAC systems of the Strathcona and Elizabeth Wirth Music Buildings and that are being utilized for in-person brass, woodwind and voice teaching have been equipped with an air purifier as an additional precautionary measure.

It is important for each individual to understand their role and responsibilities in ensuring a safe environment. The University will continue in our communication to reinforce the need for each member of the community to be an agent of safety, not only by their personal behaviours, but also by helping and reminding others to respect the health and safety directives.

During the Fall and Winter semesters, several McGill employees will act as Safety Ambassadors. They will be doing rounds in our facilities, with a role of helping individuals follow the directives, and reminding individuals of these directives. In cases where more serious issues arise, security will also be onsite and the procedures for reporting non-compliance can be found here.

Failure to comply with the safety guidelines could result in reduced access, exclusion from the building, and/or disciplinary measures.

Some staff members will return to campus part-time for front-facing services.

• The building director’s office (E223) will be open weekdays from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
• Additionally, several units will be available for online appointments, please see the list of administrative contacts for more information.

Following the necessary health and safety guidelines, administrative employees are progressively returning to campus. 

Administrative services are available during regular business hours and emails are being monitored regularly. Until further notice, email is the best way to contact staff members. Below is a list of resource accounts to contact each unit:

• Admissions: undergraduateadmissions.music [at] mcgill.ca OR graduateadmissions.music [at] mcgill.ca
• Communications and Production: publicity.music [at] mcgill.ca
• Finance: elise.quinn [at] mcgill.ca
• Graduate Studies: graduatestudies.music [at] mcgill.ca or Book an appointment with Graduate Studies
• Music Performance: performance.music [at] mcgill.ca
• Music Research: research.music [at] mcgill.ca
• Student Affairs: studentaffairs.music [at] mcgill.ca or Book an appointment with Student affairs
• Building Director’s Office: buildingdirector.music [at] mcgill.ca 
• Visit the McGill Conservatory website for the most up to date information or to book an appointment online.

See a complete list of administrative contacts here

Yes, in collaboration with the libraries, McGill has re-imagined safe spaces on campus that are designed for quiet and individual study. More information and bookings can be found on the Study Hubs Website

Music students, faculty, and staff can now connect remotely to some of the Library’s PC workstations. Finale, Sibelius, Transcribe! and Dorico are available for remote access on certain machines. The service is available through McGill IT's AnyDesk Service. Off-campus users must be connected to the McGill VPN to access the site, and only one user may be signed into a given computer at a time. Note that certain functions of the programs might respond more slowly when used remotely.

For more information about the remote access service, please see the McGill Library announcement.

Please visit McGill Libraries’ FAQ for more information.

Returns can be done in person or by mail. Please visit McGill Libraries’ FAQ for up to date information.

Requested Music Library materials can now be picked up in the Wirth Lobby on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 am – 2 pm. Library materials can be returned during the service hours as well. 

Library users must have their McGill ID to enter the Wirth Music Building Lobby. Please note that access for all other purposes is through the Strathcona Music Building only. Users will be asked to leave the Wirth Lobby after picking up or returning library materials. 

A limited selection of the Music Library’s AV equipment, which is being made available only to Schulich School of Music users, can also be borrowed as part of the service. 

Note that it is not possible to request materials directly at the Wirth Lobby. Books, scores, CDs and DVDs must be requested in advance through the Library Pickup form, and A/V equipment, through the equipment reservation form. 

Service details are available on the McGill Library Pickup Service page. 

All McGill Library branches, including the Music Library, are closed until further notice. Online access to many library materials remains available, and certain items are available through the Terrace Pickup Service. Music Library staff are available to answer your questions or to arrange one-on-one virtual consultations, and you may also chat with, email or text a McGill librarian. For more information, see the McGill Libraries FAQ page.

McGill will return to in-person teaching beginning in Fall 2021. Please refer to the Return to Campus Fall 2021 site, which outlines how we will safely return to campus over the coming months.

McGill will return to in-person teaching beginning in Fall 2021. Please refer to the Return to Campus Fall 2021 site, which outlines how we will safely return to campus over the coming months.

All placement exams will be delivered online. Detailed updates about dates and times will soon be provided on our Undergraduate Music Placement Exams webpage.

Building Hours – Summer 2021 | June 24 – August 27*
Monday-Friday 07:00 – 22:00
Saturday 08:30-18:00
Sunday closed
*Thursday June 24 and Thursday July 1 both buildings are closed.
Access remains via card reader only. Access is assigned once practice times are booked.

Access to the building requires a valid McGill ID card. New students must get their McGill ID activated before entering Schulich’s buildings.

The music buildings are open with restricted card access, so you must have your McGill ID and a room reservation for in-person lessons, remote lessons or a practice room. Once your booking request has been approved, you will be granted card access. If you do not have an ID card, please follow these instructions:

McGill Students: New students should visit the Service Point website to book an appointment.

Staff: Guidelines for McGill staff members are accessible through the McGill Human Resources website

Other users: Students from Marianopolis or part-time instructors, for example, should email buildingdirector.music [at] mcgill.ca for an appointment to pick up a temporary access card.

If do not have an ID, please follow the instructions posted at 555 Sherbrooke West.

A new card reader has been added at 555a Sherbrooke for stairless entry, please email your request for card access to buildingdirector.music [at] mcgill.ca

Ad hoc booking requests can be made using the room booking system (VPN required) and booking request form. Please include your instrument and the name of your accompanist and ensemble (limited). Please indicate if you do not currently have card access to the building for practice or in-person lessons. All persons on campus must be accounted for and your instrument helps determine the appropriate room size and equipment as well as the amount of time to leave between bookings.

Requests will be processed on a first come, first-served basis and can take up to 2 days to process during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Weekend booking requests will only be processed on Monday starting at 10:00 a.m., it is highly recommended to submit booking request as early as possible. Booking requests cannot be made over the phone.

Requests will be processed on a first-come first-served basis.

In keeping with government directives, McGill has suspended all student travel outside Canada for internships, student exchanges, international mobility programs, competitions, or conferences. See the most up to date policies for University travel here. Staff and students can apply for exceptions for mission critical and time-sensitive travel through their Faculty Dean or unit head (associate vice-principal or higher).

See the most up to date policies for University travel here.

McGill’s International Student Services has a complete FAQ on travel related questions. Please refer to this page for more information.

COVID-19 Updates from International Student Services: JUNE 2021:
1. International students with a valid study permit (or approval letter) can travel to Canada (McGill is on the list of DLIs with an approved COVID-19 readiness plan).
2. The 14-day quarantine is still required from ALL travellers entering Canada (even if vaccinated). However, as of July 5^th, 2021 at 11:59pm ET, fully vaccinated* travellers authorized to enter Canada by land or by air, will be exempt from the federal requirement to undergo a 14-day quarantine. Please note, the 14-day quarantine will continue to be required for all other travellers who do not meet the requirements to be considered fully vaccinated. See our Entering Canada page on Quarantine exemption for fully vaccinated travellers for all of the important details.
3. Before making travel plans, please refer to McGill's quarantine resources and to our vaccination FAQs.

More information can be found on McGill’s International Student Services’ travel FAQ.