This is a basic 4-year plan for students from high school with no advanced standing.
Program audit
You will receive a summary of exemption credits from placement exams, transfer credits, Advanced Placements (AP), etc, before you begin your first semester at the Schulich School of Music. You can access this information via a Program Audit (PA) customized for you. Visit the PA web page to learn more about how you can view your personalized program plan.
Meet with your academic advisor to review your program plan at least once a year.
Course load
You should normally register for 15-18 credits per term.
- Full-time course load: 12 credits or more
- Part-time course load: 11 credits or less
Practical instruction
- For practical instruction registration details, visit Registration.
Sample year 1 course plan (with no course exemptions)
- You have the option to take placement exams in jazz materials, jazz ear training or jazz keyboard proficiency before school starts. Depending on the basis of admission and the placement test results, you may be exempt from jazz music history (MUJZ 187), jazz materials (MUJZ 160 & 161), jazz ear-training (MUSP 123 & 124) or jazz keyboard proficiency (MUJZ 170 & 171). To learn more about the 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 MUJZ 187, 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 MUJZ 187 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
MUJZ 160
Jazz Materials 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jazz Studies: Fundamental aural and theoretical skills associated with the jazz idiom. Nomenclature, chord construction, chord/scale relationships, harmonic progression, circle of 5ths, simple turnarounds, simple substitution, symmetrical scales and chord relationships, voice leading.
Offered by: Performance
- 4 hours
- Prerequisite: none. Open to non-jazz majors, space permitting, but not for elective credit in B.Mus. or Artist Diploma programs
MUSP 123
Jazz Ear Training 1
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Musicianship: Rhythmic, melodic and harmonic materials from the jazz idiom. Sight-singing, dictation and transcription with some classical materials.
Offered by: Music Research
- 2 hours
- Corequisites: MUJZ 160, MUJZ 170
- Restriction: Open to Jazz Performance Majors.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Bohdanna Novak, Magdalena Rebisz
MUJZ 170
Jazz Keyboard Proficiency 1
1 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jazz Studies: Basic piano skills, basic comping techniques, standard 3 note rootless voicings in 7, 3 and 3, 7 position with one extension, two-five-ones in major and minor - limited keys. Simple substitution and reharmonisation.
Offered by: Performance
- 1 hour
- Prerequisite: none. Open only to Jazz Performance Majors. May not be taken for elective credit in B.Mus. or Artist Diploma programs
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.
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, Jeffrey E H 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
One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits
MUJZ 187
Jazz History Survey
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jazz Studies: An introductory study of the principal recordings, artists and musical trends in jazz from its origins to the present day.
Offered by: Performance
Winter term
MUJZ 161
Jazz Materials 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jazz Studies: Simple and advanced substitution, borrowed chords, reharmonisation, modes of harmonic minor and melodic minor diatonic systems, unresolved tensions, odd and infrequent modulations, mixed two-five-ones, introduction to polychords, slashchords and non-functional harmony.
Offered by: Performance
- 4 hours
- Prerequisite: MUJZ 160. Open to non-jazz majors, space permitting, but not for elective credit in B.Mus. or Artist Diploma programs
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
MUSP 124
Jazz Ear Training 2
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Musicianship: Advanced jazz idioms.
Offered by: Music Research
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
MUJZ 171
Jazz Keyboard Proficiency 2
1 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jazz Studies: Continuation of previous semester. Two-five-ones and mixed two-five-ones using 4 note close position voicings and 4 and 5 note spreads, in all keys, diminished passing chords, half step shifts, voice leading extensions, quartal and modal voicing, sight reading of standard jazz repertoire.
Offered by: Performance
- 1 hour
- Prerequisite: MUJZ 170. Open only to Jazz Performance Majors. May not be taken for elective credit in B.Mus. or Artist Diploma programs
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
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, Jeffrey E H 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
One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits
One non-music elective (preferably a course to develop critical thinking and writing skills, such as psychology, philosophy, history, etc. before taking MUHL 286 in your 2nd or 3rd year)
Year 2 course plan
If you want to add a minor or second major to your program, apply in year 2.
Fall term
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
MUJZ 262
Applied Jazz Theory
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jazz Studies: An examination of harmonic practices and compositional styles in post-1960 jazz. Various theoretical approaches to jazz harmonic analysis will be addressed. Students analyze and compose jazz tunes and longer forms.
Offered by: Performance
MUJZ 213
Fundamentals of Jazz Improv 1
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jazz Studies: Introduction to basic improvisation concepts of phrasing, articulation, melodic development, harmonic control, musical vocabulary and style. Pedagogical techniques will be discussed.
Offered by: Performance
- Prerequisite(s): MUSP 124 or MUSP 141, and MUJZ 161
- Note: Open to students in Faculty Program Jazz and to students minoring in Jazz Performance, or with permission of instructor; not open to students majoring in Jazz Performance.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
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, Jeffrey E H 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
One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits
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
Winter term
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
MUJZ 214
Fundamentals of Jazz Improv 2
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jazz Studies: A continuation of development of basic improvisation concepts of phrasing, articulation, melodic development, harmonic control, musical vocabulary and style. Pedagogical techniques will be discussed.
Offered by: Performance
- Prerequisite(s): MUJZ 213
- Note: Open to students in Faculty Program Jazz and to students minoring in Jazz Performance, or with permission of instructor; not open to students majoring in Jazz Performance.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
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, Jeffrey E H 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 academic year
One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits
One music elective
One free elective