McGill.CA / Music / Programs / Licentiate in Music / Piano; L.Mus. (Major)

Yearly Program Study Plan; L.Mus. Piano

Use this 3-year guide to plan your studies and graduate from your Licentiate in Music (Piano Performance) program on time.

If you're a transfer student or a CEGEP graduate, you may be able to complete the program in less than 3 years.

Which courses to take each year

Sample year 1 course plan (with no course exemptions)

  • You have the option to take placement exams in theory and musicianship before school starts. Depending on the basis of admission and the placement test results, you may be exempt from music history (MUHL 186), first year theory (courses with MUTH prefixes) or musicianship (courses with MUSP prefixes). To learn more about course exemption criteria, see Placement Exams. 
  • If you choose not to write the placement tests, you will register for courses as presented in this sample first year course plan.
  • If you are exempt from MUHL 186, you may consider taking an elective in the first semester.
  • You must be proficient in English for all courses, especially Music History. Non-anglophone students should defer MUHL 186 until their second year and register for an English as Second Language (ESL) course in year 1. ESL courses can be accepted as non-music electives. Contact the Writing Centre for information on ESL course registration.

Fall term

MUTH 150. Theory and Analysis 1.

Credits: 3
Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
View offerings for Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Diatonic chords and harmonic progressions, focus on outer-voice framework, cadences, embellishments, building chordal fluency in common-practice tonality, applied chords.
  • Prerequisite: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent.
  • Corequisites: MUSP 140 and MUSP 170

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUSP 140. Musicianship Training 1.

Credits: 2
Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
View offerings for Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

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.
  • 2 hours
  • Prerequisite: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent.
  • Corequisites: MUTH 150, MUSP 170

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUPD 135. Music as a Profession 1.

Credits: 1
Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
View offerings for Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Music Professional Development: An introduction to information, resources, and skills related to physical, mental, and professional well-being for the musician and scholar.
  • Open to B.Mus. students or by permission of the instructor.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder
(optional course though not required)

  • We recommend that you take this course even though it's not required. It covers useful topics such as injury prevention skills and wellness.

MUIN 250. L.Mus. Practical Instruction 1.

Credits: 6
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
View offerings for Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Practical instruction in an instrument or voice.
  • Prerequisite: Admission to the L.Mus. program by audition

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

MUEN 581. Introduction to Ensemble Playing for Pianists.

Credits: 1
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026
View offerings for Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Concentration on interpretation and performance of piano duet and two piano repertoire.
  • 1 hour
  • Restrictions: Open to students in the B. Mus.; Major in Performance Piano and the L. Mus.; Major in Performance Piano.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUHL 186. Western Musical Traditions.

Credits: 3
Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
View offerings for Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

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.
  • 3 hours

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

Winter term

MUTH 151. Theory and Analysis 2.

Credits: 3
Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
View offerings for Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Sequences and modulation, chromatic vocabulary, analysis of simple theme types (sentence, period, hybrids) and fugal techniques.
  • Pre- or Co-requisites: MUTH 150, MUSP 140 and MUSP 170
  • Corequisites: MUSP 141 and MUSP 171

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUSP 141. Musicianship Training 2.

Credits: 2
Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
View offerings for Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

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.
  • 2 hours
  • Prerequisites: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent. MUSP 140
  • Corequisites: MUTH 151, MUSP 171

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUIN 251. L.Mus. Practical Instruction 2.

Credits: 6
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026
View offerings for Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Practical instruction in an instrument or voice.
  • Prerequisite: MUIN 250

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUEN 581. Introduction to Ensemble Playing for Pianists.

Credits: 1
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026
View offerings for Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Concentration on interpretation and performance of piano duet and two piano repertoire.
  • 1 hour
  • Restrictions: Open to students in the B. Mus.; Major in Performance Piano and the L. Mus.; Major in Performance Piano.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder
or

MUEN 582. Piano Ensembles.

Credits: 1
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026
View offerings for Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Ensemble playing in two-piano and piano 4-hand repertoire.
  • Prerequisite: MUEN 581 or permission of the instructor.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUIN 252. L.Mus. Performance 1 Examination.

Credits: 4
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
View offerings for Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Assessment of student progress.
  • Note: Complete descriptions are to be found under Examinations and Goals in Practical Subjects in the Music Chapter of the University Calendar.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

Year 2 course plan

Fall term

MUTH 250. Theory and Analysis 3.

Credits: 3
Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025
View offerings for Summer 2025 or Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Compositional resources of late 18th and early 19th century music. Analysis of forms common to the period c. 1770 - 1840, including Classical sonata forms in several media.
  • 3 hours
  • Prerequisite: MUTH 151
  • Corequisite: MUSP 240

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUHL 286. Critical Thinking About Music.

Credits: 3
Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026
View offerings for Summer 2025 or Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

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.
  • Prerequisite: MUHL 186 or MUJZ 187
  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken MUTH 301

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUSP 240. Musicianship Training 3.

Credits: 2
Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025
View offerings for Summer 2025 or Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

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.
  • Prerequisites: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent. MUSP 141
  • Corequisite: MUTH 250

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUIN 350. L.Mus. Practical Instruction 3.

Credits: 6
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026
View offerings for Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Practical instruction in an instrument or voice.
  • Prerequisite: MUIN 251

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUIN 333. Piano Techniques 2.

Credits: 0
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
View offerings for Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Practical examination in piano techniques.
  • pass/fail
  • Mandatory test for pianists to be taken prior to the Performance 2 Exam.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

One small ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 1 credit

Winter term

MUSP 241. Musicianship Training 4.

Credits: 2
Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Summer 2025, Winter 2026
View offerings for Summer 2025 or Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

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.
  • Prerequisite: MUSP 240
  • Corequisite: MUTH 251

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUIN 351. L.Mus. Practical Instruction 4.

Credits: 6
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026
View offerings for Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Practical instruction in an instrument or voice.
  • Prerequisite: MUIN 350

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUIN 352. L.Mus. Performance 2 Examination.

Credits: 4
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.

Description

Assessment of student progress.
  • Note: Complete descriptions are to be found under Examinations and Goals in Practical Subjects in the Music Chapter of the University Calendar.
  • Prerequisite(s): MUIN 252

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

One small ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 1 credit

Year 3 course plan

Fall term

MUIN 450. L.Mus. Practical Instruction 5.

Credits: 4
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026
View offerings for Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Practical instruction in an instrument or voice.
  • Prerequisite: MUIN 351

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUPG 541. Senior Piano Seminar 1.

Credits: 2
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
View offerings for Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

In-class performance and analysis of solo and ensemble repertoire, including historical and modern recordings.
  • 3 hours
  • Prerequisite(s): MUIN 382 or MUIN 352, and 4 semesters of Basic Ensemble.
  • Restriction: Only open to Faculty of Music Piano Performance students

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUSP xxx upper-level musicianship: 2 credits

One small ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 1 credit

Winter term

MUIN 451. L.Mus. Practical Instruction 6.

Credits: 4
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026
View offerings for Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Practical instruction in an instrument or voice.
  • Prerequisite: MUIN 450

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUPG 542. Senior Piano Seminar 2.

Credits: 2
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
View offerings for Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.

Description

Issues of piano pedagogy and preparation for competitions.
  • 3 hours
  • Prerequisite: MUPG 541
  • Restriction: Only open to Faculty of Music Piano Performance students.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder
​

MUIN 452. L.Mus. Performance 3 Examination.

Credits: 8
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.

Description

Assessment of student progress.
  • Note: Complete descriptions are to be found under Examinations and Goals in Practical Subjects in the Music Chapter of the University Calendar.
  • Prerequisite(s): MUIN 352

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

  • To spread these 8 credits over fall and winter: Instead of MUIN 452, take

    MUIN 452D1. L.Mus. Performance 3 Examination.

    Credits: 4
    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
    This course is not offered this catalogue year.

    Description

    Assessment of student progress.
    • Students must register for both MUIN 452D1 and MUIN 452D2
    • No credit will be given for this course unless both MUIN 452D1 and MUIN 452D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
    • MUIN 452D1 and MUIN 452D2 together are equivalent to MUIN 452

    Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

    Launch Visual Schedule Builder
    in the fall and

    MUIN 452D2. L.Mus. Performance 3 Examination.

    Credits: 4
    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
    This course is not offered this catalogue year.

    Description

    Assessment of student progress.
    • Prerequisite: MUIN 452D1
    • No credit will be given for this course unless both MUIN 452D1 and MUIN 452D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
    • MUIN 452D1 and MUIN 452D2 together are equivalent to MUIN 452

    Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

    Launch Visual Schedule Builder
    in the winter.

MUIN 369. Concerto.

Credits: 0
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.

Description

Practical examination on concerto repertoire.
  • pass/fail
  • Mandatory test for pianists

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

MUIN 433. Piano Techniques 3.

Credits: 0
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.

Description

Practical examination in piano techniques.
  • pass/fail
  • Mandatory test for pianists to be taken prior to the Performance 3 Exam.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

One small ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 1 credit

Back to top