Requirements and Courses (Piano M.Mus.)

Performance (M.Mus.): Piano (Thesis) (45 credits)

Offered by: Music (Schulich School of Music)
Degree: Master of Music
Program credit weight: 45

Program Description

The M.Mus.; Performance Piano program blends performance training with humanities-based scholarship in a vibrant musical environment. The program provides opportunities for chamber music and a range of recital options including solo and chamber music performance, sound recording, and creative interdisciplinary projects.

Students admitted to the M.Mus.; in Performance; Piano program who have undergraduate degrees other than the B.Mus.; Major in Performance Piano 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 in Performance Piano degree from McGill University may be required to successfully complete MUPD 560 Music Information and Research Skills. before completion of the Master's program.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please refer to Visual Schedule Builder. A technical issue is causing the "Terms offered" field to incorrectly report "this course is not currently offered" for many courses in the Course Catalogue.

Required Courses (21 credits)

Course Title Credits
MUGS 605Graduate Performance Colloquium.0

Graduate Performance Colloquium.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

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.

See course page for more information

MUPG 683Piano Seminar 1.1.5

Piano Seminar 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Content to include comparative studies of recorded solo and ensemble repertoire, and lecture-recital presentations reflecting knowledge of historical context and performance practice. Analysis and discussion will accompany attendance at specific performing events at McGill and beyond, as well as presentations by guest lecturers and piano area faculty.

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MUPG 684Piano Seminar 2.1.5

Piano Seminar 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Content to include detailed critiques of in-class teaching, and general discussion of preparation for competitions and academic job applications. Analysis and discussion will accompany attendance at master classes and competitions and beyond, as well as presentations by guest lecturers and piano area faculty.

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Thesis Courses

Course Title Credits
MUIN 620Performance Tutorial 1.3

Performance Tutorial 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Individual instrumental, vocal, conducting, collaborative piano or operatic tutorial. Technical and interpretive development, preparation of thesis performance projects.

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MUIN 621Performance Tutorial 2.3

Performance Tutorial 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Additional individual instrumental, vocal, conducting, collaborative piano or operatic tutorial according to area of performing specialization.

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MUIN 622Performance Tutorial 3. 13

Performance Tutorial 3.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Individual tutorial according to area of performing specialization. Interpretative preparation of thesis performance projects and development of individual artistic vision.

See course page for more information

MUIN 622D1Performance Tutorial 3. 11.5

Performance Tutorial 3.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Individual tutorial according to area of performing specialization. Interpretative preparation of thesis performance projects and development of individual artistic vision.

See course page for more information

MUIN 622D2Performance Tutorial 3. 11.5

Performance Tutorial 3.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Individual tutorial according to area of performing specialization. Interpretative preparation of thesis performance projects and development of individual artistic vision.

See course page for more information

MUPG 600Recital 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.

See course page for more information

1

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 601Recital 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.

See course page for more information

MUPG 602Recital 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.

See course page for more information

MUPG 603Recital 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.

See course page for more information

MUPG 604Chamber Music Recital.6

Chamber Music Recital.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Chamber Music Recital with program notes. Repertoire may not include works performed in MUEN courses. Various instrumentations permitted as long as student performs in all works.

See course page for more information

MUPG 606Interdisciplinary Project 1. 13

Interdisciplinary Project 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

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.

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MUPG 607Interdisciplinary Project 2. 16

Interdisciplinary Project 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

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.

See course page for more information

1

If chosen, students may take either MUPG 606 Interdisciplinary Project 1. or MUPG 607 Interdisciplinary Project 2..

9 credits at the 500 level or higher, to be chosen from the Schulich School of Music’s seminar offerings; 3 of the 9 credits must have a MUCO, MUGS, MUGT, MUHL, MUMT, MUPP or MUTH subject code.

6 credits from the following:

Course Title Credits
MUEN 540Chamber Music Project 1.0.5

Chamber Music Project 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Chamber music ensemble for various instruments.

See course page for more information

MUEN 541Chamber Music Project 2.0.5

Chamber Music Project 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Chamber music ensemble for various instruments.

See course page for more information

MUEN 553Vocal Chamber Ensemble.1

Vocal Chamber Ensemble.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Vocal ensemble repertoire written after 1800.

See course page for more information

MUEN 560Chamber Music Ensemble.1

Chamber Music Ensemble.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Ensemble for chamber music - various instruments.

See course page for more information

MUEN 5612nd Chamber Music Ensemble.1

2nd Chamber Music Ensemble.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Chamber music of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.

See course page for more information

MUEN 568Multiple Ensemble 1.1

Multiple Ensemble 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Special arrangement ensemble. Topic varies by year.

See course page for more information

MUEN 569Tabla Ensemble.1

Tabla Ensemble.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Performance and practice of the tabla of North India.

See course page for more information

MUEN 578Song Interpretation 1.1

Song Interpretation 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Normally open only to Voice and Piano Performance students. Study of the standard song repertoire with emphasis on the singer and pianist as partners. A public recital will be given at the end of each term.

See course page for more information

MUEN 579Song Interpretation 2.1

Song Interpretation 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Study of song repertoire for singers and pianists.

See course page for more information

MUEN 582Piano Ensembles.1

Piano Ensembles.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Ensemble playing in two-piano and piano 4-hand repertoire.

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MUEN 584Studio Accompanying.1

Studio Accompanying.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Highly qualified collaborative partners will be assigned to work independently with studio teachers and their students.

See course page for more information

MUEN 585Sonata Masterclass.1

Sonata Masterclass.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Exploration of the vast literature for sonatas with piano and instrument, including multiple issues of ensemble preparation and performing.

See course page for more information

MUEN 588Multiple Ensemble 2.1

Multiple Ensemble 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Special arrangement ensemble. Topic varies by year.

See course page for more information

MUEN 590McGill Wind Orchestra.2

McGill Wind Orchestra.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Large ensemble for wind instruments.

See course page for more information

MUEN 594Contemporary Music Ensemble.2

Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Ensemble for contemporary music - instruments and voice.

See course page for more information

MUEN 597McGill Symphony Orchestra.2

McGill Symphony Orchestra.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Ensemble for orchestral instruments.

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MUEN 688Multiple Ensembles.2

Multiple Ensembles.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Student participation in more than one ensemble in different concert periods over the course of a term.

See course page for more information

MUPD 580Piano Pedagogy Practicum.2

Piano Pedagogy Practicum.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Observation of studio and master class teaching, videotaped private instruction, and adjudication of student performances.

See course page for more information

MUPG 571Free Improvisation 1.1

Free Improvisation 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Introduction to the creative practice of improvisation for performers. The course focuses on the development of listening as applied to the practice of collective and solo improvisation.

See course page for more information

MUPG 572D1Free Improvisation 2.0.5

Free Improvisation 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

This course is designed for performers who want to develop their skills as advanced improvisers. Both collective and solo contexts are addressed as performance practices, touching upon the history of improvisation as well as current trends.

See course page for more information

MUPG 572D2Free Improvisation 2.0.5

Free Improvisation 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

This course is designed for performers who want to develop their skills as advanced improvisers. Both collective and solo contexts are addressed as performance practices, touching upon the history of improvisation as well as current trends.

See course page for more information

MUPG 670Advanced Continuo 1.2

Advanced Continuo 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

A historically-oriented study of the principles of figured bass. Standard idioms from historical treatises will be introduced. Preparation of operatic excerpts from the standard high Baroque repertory is required.

See course page for more information

MUPG 670D1Advanced Continuo 1.1

Advanced Continuo 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

A historically-oriented study of the principles of figured bass. Standard idioms from historical treatises will be introduced. Preparation of operatic excerpts from the standard high Baroque repertory is required.

See course page for more information

MUPG 670D2Advanced Continuo 1.1

Advanced Continuo 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

For description see MUPG 670D1.

See course page for more information

MUPG 671Advanced Continuo 2.2

Advanced Continuo 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

A study of the many different styles of figured bass accompaniment as revealed in contemporary sources. The emphasis will be on realization at the keyboard of representative 17th- and 18th- century operatic recitatives and arias.

See course page for more information

MUPG 671D1Advanced Continuo 2.1

Advanced Continuo 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

A study of the many different styles of figured bass accompaniment as revealed in contemporary sources. The emphasis will be on realization at the keyboard of representative 17th- and 18th- century operatic recitatives and arias.

See course page for more information

MUPG 671D2Advanced Continuo 2.1

Advanced Continuo 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

For description see MUPG 671D1.

See course page for more information

MUPG 687Collaborative Piano Repertoire 1: Song.1

Collaborative Piano Repertoire 1: Song.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Issues in collaborative piano song repertoire and performance in different genres and musical styles.

See course page for more information

MUPG 688Collaborative Piano Repertoire 2: Instrumental.1

Collaborative Piano Repertoire 2: Instrumental.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Issues in collaborative piano instrumental repertoire and performance in different genres and musical styles.

See course page for more information

MUPG 689Collaborative Piano Rep.3: Orch. Reduction, Opera, Oratorio.1

Collaborative Piano Rep.3: Orch. Reduction, Opera, Oratorio.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Issues in collaborative piano orchestral reduction, opera, oratorio and performance in different genres and musical styles.

See course page for more information

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