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 an Online Program Audit (OPA) customized for you. Visit the OPA 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 and practical exams
- You must complete 3 practical exams (MUIN 282, 382 and 482) during your program. In some cases, you might take your exams at different times than what we suggest in our sample 4-year plan.
- Determine when to apply for these exams with your practical instruction teacher.
- For practical instruction registration details, visit Registration.
Sample year 1 course plan (with no course exemptions)
- You must take placement exams in in jazz materials (MUJZ 160 and 161), jazz ear training (MUSP 123 and 124) and jazz keyboard (MUJZ 170 and 171) before fall classes start. You may also take an optional placement exam for MUJZ 187 if you wish to be exempt from this course.
- 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 ESL course information.
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.
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
- Jazz guitarists and jazz pianists are exempt from MUJZ 170
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
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2021 academic year
One small combo [MUEN 5xx]
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
MUSP 124
Jazz Ear Training 2
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Musicianship: Advanced jazz idioms.
Offered by: Music Research
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
- Jazz guitarists and jazz pianists are exempt from MUJZ 171
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
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2021 academic year
One small combo [MUEN 5xx]
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
MUJZ 223
Jazz Improv/Musicianship 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jazz Studies: Basic improvisational concepts with emphasis on time feel, phrasing, articulation, melodic development, voice leading, harmonic control and stylistic nuance. Memorization and aural recognition of standard jazz repertoire also stressed. The aural tradition of the music is emphasized through rhythmic/melodic dictation.
Offered by: Performance
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: MUJZ 161
- Restriction: Open only to Jazz Performance Majors
MUJZ 260
Jazz Arranging 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jazz Studies: Introduction to concepts and techniques commonly used in jazz arranging. Notation, calligraphy and score preparation are discussed; including study of classical and contemporary scores by prominent jazz arrangers.
Offered by: Performance
- Prerequisite(s): MUJZ 161
- Restriction(s): Open only to Jazz Performance Majors OR with permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Jean-Nicolas Trottier, Donald Leyland Kennedy
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
- Dorian Bandy
- David Brackett
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
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2021 academic year
One small combo [MUEN 5xx]
One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits
One free elective
Winter term
MUJZ 224
Jazz Improv/Musicianship 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jazz Studies: Continuation of Jazz Improvisation/Musicianship MUJZ 223.
Offered by: Performance
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: MUJZ 223.
- Restriction: Open only to Jazz Performance Majors
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2021 academic year
MUJZ 261
Jazz Arranging 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Jazz Studies: Consolidation of knowledge of basic concepts and techniques used in jazz arranging.
Offered by: Performance
- Prerequisite: MUJZ 260.
- Restriction(s): Open only to Jazz Performance Majors OR by permission of instructor.
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
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2021 academic year
One small combo [MUEN 5xx]
MUIN 282
BMus Performance Exam 1
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 2021 academic year
One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits
One non-music elective
