Use this 4-year guide to plan your studies and graduate from your Bachelor of Music (Piano) program on time.
If you're a transfer student or a CEGEP graduate, you may be able to complete the program in 3 years instead of 4.
Which courses to take each year
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 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 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.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUSP 140. Musicianship Training 1.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUPD 135. Music as a Profession 1.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUIN 180. BMus Practical Lessons 1.
Description
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: Admission to the B.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 BuilderOne large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits
MUEN 581. Introduction to Ensemble Playing for Pianists.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUHL 186. Western Musical Traditions.
Description
- 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 BuilderWinter term
MUTH 151. Theory and Analysis 2.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUSP 141. Musicianship Training 2.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUIN 181. BMus Practical Lessons 2.
Description
- Prerequisite: MUIN 180
- Restriction: Open to students entering directly from High Schools outside Quebec.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderMUIN 282. BMus Performance Examination 1.
Description
- Exam details 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 BuilderOne large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits
MUEN 581. Introduction to Ensemble Playing for Pianists.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUEN 582. Piano Ensembles.
Description
- 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 BuilderOne 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 250. Theory and Analysis 3.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUHL 286. Critical Thinking About Music.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUSP 240. Musicianship Training 3.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUIN 280. BMus Practical Lessons 3.
Description
- Prerequisite(s): MUIN 181.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderMUIN 333. Piano Techniques 2.
Description
- 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 BuilderOne large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits
One small ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 1 credit
One free elective
Winter term
MUTH 251. Theory and Analysis 4.
Description
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: MUTH 250
- Corequisite: MUSP 241
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderMUSP 241. Musicianship Training 4.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUIN 281. BMus Practical Lessons 4.
Description
- Prerequisite: MUIN 280
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderMUIN 382. BMus Performance Examination 2.
Description
- Exam details are to be found under Examinations and Goals in Practical Subjects in the Music Chapter of the University Calendar.
- Prerequisite(s): MUIN 282
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderOne large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits
One small ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 1 credit
Two free electives
Year 3 course plan
Fall term
MUIN 380. BMus Practical Lessons 5.
Description
- Prerequisite: MUIN 281
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderMUHL 3xx upper-level music history
MUSP 3xx upper-level musicianship
MUPG 541. Senior Piano Seminar 1.
Description
- 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 BuilderOne large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits
One small ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 1 credit
One non-music elective
Winter term
MUTH 350. Theory and Analysis 5.
Description
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: 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 BuilderMUPD 235. Music as a Profession 2.
Description
- Open to BMus students in U2 and U3, or by permission of the instructor.
- Prerequisite(s): MUPD 135
- Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken MUPD 136.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderMUIN 381. BMus Practical Lessons 6.
Description
- Prerequisite: MUIN 380
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderMUIN 369. Concerto.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUIN 433. Piano Techniques 3.
Description
- 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 BuilderMUPG 542. Senior Piano Seminar 2.
Description
- 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 BuilderOne large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits
One small ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 1 credit
One free elective
Year 4 course plan
Fall term
MUIN 480. BMus Practical Lessons 7.
Description
- Prerequisite: MUIN 381
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderMUPG 356. Piano Repertoire Studies 1.
Description
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderMUHL 3xx upper-level music history
One small ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 1 credit
One non-music elective
One free elective
Winter term
MUIN 481. BMus Practical Lessons 8.
Description
- Prerequisite: MUIN 480
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderMUIN 482. BMus Performance Examination 3.
Description
- Exam details are to be found under Examinations and Goals in Practical Subjects in the Music Chapter of the University Calendar.
- Prerequisite(s): MUIN 382
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderMUPG 357. Piano Repertoire Studies 2.
Description
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderMUPG 350. Introduction to Piano Pedagogy.
Description
- Restrictions: Open only to B.Mus. students in the Piano area.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule BuilderOne small ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 1 credit
Two free electives
