Performance (M.Mus.): Organ (Thesis) (45 credits)
Offered by: Music (Schulich School of Music)
Degree: Master of Music
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The M.Mus. in Performance; Organ program provides organists with the opportunity to hone their artistry and interpretive skills. The program combines performance with seminars in historically informed performance practice, music and liturgy, counterpoint, improvisation, and continuo playing, among other options.
Students admitted to the M.Mus. in Performance; Organ program who have undergraduate degrees other than the B.Mus.; Major in Performance (Organ, Harpsichord, Guitar) from McGill University, may be required to successfully complete one or more undergraduate course(s) before completion of the Master's degree. Students with a B.Mus.; Major Performance (Organ, Harpsichord, Guitar) degree from McGill University may be required to successfully complete MUPD 560 Music Information and Research Skills. before completion of the Master's program.
Required Courses (21 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUGS 605 | Graduate Performance Colloquium. | 0 |
Graduate Performance Colloquium. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Participation in three professional development workshops or research colloquium approved by the department on topics such as performance pedagogy, academic teaching, music production, copyright, business, grantsmanship, etc. Students participate in each semester of residency until requirements have been met. | ||
| MUPG 575D1 | Organ Repertoire and Performance Practice. | 1.5 |
Organ Repertoire and Performance Practice. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Seminar covering topics related to organ playing, such as liturgical organ playing, organ repertoire and improvisation. | ||
| MUPG 575D2 | Organ Repertoire and Performance Practice. | 1.5 |
Organ Repertoire and Performance Practice. Terms offered: Winter 2026 For description see MUPG 575D1. | ||
Thesis Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUIN 620 | Performance Tutorial 1. | 3 |
Performance Tutorial 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Individual instrumental, vocal, conducting, collaborative piano or operatic tutorial. Technical and interpretive development, preparation of thesis performance projects. | ||
| MUIN 621 | Performance Tutorial 2. | 3 |
Performance Tutorial 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Additional individual instrumental, vocal, conducting, collaborative piano or operatic tutorial according to area of performing specialization. | ||
| MUIN 622 | Performance Tutorial 3. 1 | 3 |
Performance Tutorial 3. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Individual tutorial according to area of performing specialization. Interpretative preparation of thesis performance projects and development of individual artistic vision. | ||
| MUIN 622D1 | Performance Tutorial 3. 1 | 1.5 |
Performance Tutorial 3. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Individual tutorial according to area of performing specialization. Interpretative preparation of thesis performance projects and development of individual artistic vision. | ||
| MUIN 622D2 | Performance Tutorial 3. 1 | 1.5 |
Performance Tutorial 3. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Individual tutorial according to area of performing specialization. Interpretative preparation of thesis performance projects and development of individual artistic vision. | ||
| MUPG 600 | Recital Project 1. | 9 |
Recital Project 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Solo recital, collaborative piano recital, conducting recital or principal Opera Role (by audition) with program notes. | ||
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Students may take MUIN 622 Performance Tutorial 3. or MUIN 622D1 Performance Tutorial 3. and MUIN 622D2 Performance Tutorial 3..
Complementary Courses (24 credits)
9 credits from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUPG 601 | Recital Project 2. | 9 |
Recital Project 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Solo recital, collaborative piano recital, conducting recital or principal opera role (by audition) with program notes. May include chamber music providing none of the repertoire was prepared in a chamber ensemble taken for credit. | ||
| MUPG 602 | Recital Project 3. | 6 |
Recital Project 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Recital, conducting recital or featured opera role (by audition) with program notes. | ||
| MUPG 603 | Recital Project 4. | 3 |
Recital Project 4. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Concerto performance with accompaniment or supporting opera role (by audition) with program notes. | ||
| MUPG 606 | Interdisciplinary Project 1. | 3 |
Interdisciplinary Project 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Research-creation involving collaboration between different disciplines resulting in a new work, interpretation or contribution to knowledge presented in public or through recorded media (e.g., performer and composer; performer and actor/dancer; performer and CIRMMT researcher; performer and sound recording student) with program notes as relevant. | ||
| MUPG 607 | Interdisciplinary Project 2. | 6 |
Interdisciplinary Project 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Research-creation involving collaboration between different disciplines resulting in a new work, interpretation or contribution to knowledge presented in public (i.e., performer-composer commission); performance and actor/dancer collaboration, participant as co-researcher in CIRMMT study including participation in analysis of data, etc.) with program notes as relevant. | ||
| MUPG 676 | Special Project in Church Music. | 9 |
Special Project in Church Music. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Individualized project involving performance in church setting to include both organ performance and choral direction. | ||
6 credits at the 500 level or higher, to be chosen from the Schulich School of Music’s seminar offerings; 3 of the 6 credits must have a MUCO, MUGS, MUGT, MUHL, MUMT, MUPP or MUTH subject code.
3 credits from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUHL 591D1 | Paleography. | 1.5 |
Paleography. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The theory and practice of musical transcription for the period 1100 to 1600. Black modal notation, Franconian notation, French and Italian Ars Nova notation, Mannerism, white mensural notation, proportions, and lute and keyboard tablatures will be studied. | ||
| MUHL 591D2 | Paleography. | 1.5 |
Paleography. Terms offered: Winter 2026 See MUHL 591D1 for course description. | ||
| MUTH 602 | Keyboard Modal Counterpoint. | 3 |
Keyboard Modal Counterpoint. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Advanced study of polyphonic techniques of the renaissance period through written exercises, in-depth written case study, and improvised practice at the keyboard. | ||
| MUTH 604 | Keyboard Tonal Counterpoint. | 3 |
Keyboard Tonal Counterpoint. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Advanced study of polyphonic techniques of tonal music through written exercises, in-depth written case study, and improvised practice at the keyboard. | ||
or a 3-credit seminar at the 500 level or higher, approved by the Schulich School of Music.
6 credits from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUEN 540 | Chamber Music Project 1. | 0.5 |
Chamber Music Project 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Chamber music ensemble for various instruments. | ||
| MUEN 541 | Chamber Music Project 2. | 0.5 |
Chamber Music Project 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Chamber music ensemble for various instruments. | ||
| MUEN 560 | Chamber Music Ensemble. 1 | 1 |
Chamber Music Ensemble. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Ensemble for chamber music - various instruments. | ||
| MUEN 561 | 2nd Chamber Music Ensemble. 1 | 1 |
2nd Chamber Music Ensemble. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Chamber music of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. | ||
| MUEN 569 | Tabla Ensemble. 1 | 1 |
Tabla Ensemble. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Performance and practice of the tabla of North India. | ||
| MUEN 573 | Baroque Orchestra. 1 | 2 |
Baroque Orchestra. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Open to singers and instrumentalists, this ensemble specializes in chamber music primarily of the Baroque era. | ||
| MUEN 580 | Early Music Ensemble. 1 | 1 |
Early Music Ensemble. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 An ensemble of 4-6 vocalists and instrumentalists which performs music of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. | ||
| MUEN 593 | Choral Ensembles. 1 | 2 |
Choral Ensembles. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Students enrolling in Choral Ensembles will be assigned to one of the above groups. | ||
| MUEN 594 | Contemporary Music Ensemble. 1 | 2 |
Contemporary Music Ensemble. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Ensemble for contemporary music - instruments and voice. | ||
| MUEN 597 | McGill Symphony Orchestra. 1 | 2 |
McGill Symphony Orchestra. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Ensemble for orchestral instruments. | ||
| MUHL 591D1 | Paleography. | 1.5 |
Paleography. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The theory and practice of musical transcription for the period 1100 to 1600. Black modal notation, Franconian notation, French and Italian Ars Nova notation, Mannerism, white mensural notation, proportions, and lute and keyboard tablatures will be studied. | ||
| MUHL 591D2 | Paleography. | 1.5 |
Paleography. Terms offered: Winter 2026 See MUHL 591D1 for course description. | ||
| MUPG 575D1 | Organ Repertoire and Performance Practice. 1 | 1.5 |
Organ Repertoire and Performance Practice. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Seminar covering topics related to organ playing, such as liturgical organ playing, organ repertoire and improvisation. | ||
| MUPG 575D2 | Organ Repertoire and Performance Practice. 1 | 1.5 |
Organ Repertoire and Performance Practice. Terms offered: Winter 2026 For description see MUPG 575D1. | ||
| MUTH 602 | Keyboard Modal Counterpoint. | 3 |
Keyboard Modal Counterpoint. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Advanced study of polyphonic techniques of the renaissance period through written exercises, in-depth written case study, and improvised practice at the keyboard. | ||
| MUTH 604 | Keyboard Tonal Counterpoint. | 3 |
Keyboard Tonal Counterpoint. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Advanced study of polyphonic techniques of tonal music through written exercises, in-depth written case study, and improvised practice at the keyboard. | ||
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May be taken more than once.
