McGill.CA / Music / Students / Undergraduate

Electives

What are electives

  • Electives are courses that are not part of your major program of studies.
  • Free electives can be a combination of music courses and courses offered by other faculties.
  • An elective can be related to music or another subject (e.g. in Arts, Science, etc.) allowing you to explore broader interests.
  • Taking an elective is a convenient way to try out a course outside your principal studies before deciding to apply for a minor or major in the subject area.
  • Most courses in a minor or second major can double count as electives in a Bachelor of Music (BMus) program.
  • Students who are enrolled in elective lessons in second instrument (MUIN 110, MUIN 111, MUIN 210, MUIN 211) or post-quota lessons (MUIN 210, MUIN 211) can have those MUIN courses count as music or free electives.
  • A MUPG course can be considered as complementary performance for those majoring in BMus Performance (Orchestral Instruments) and BMus Voice Performance, or as an elective for all other music programs.
  • Dependent on your program, ensembles completed beyond the program’s required ensemble requirements may be counted as complementary performance or free electives. See your Program Audit (PA) for more information.
  • Courses with MUAR prefixes or those offered by School of Continuing Studies cannot be accepted as credits or electives towards BMus.

Here is a list of electives offered by Schulich School of Music and other faculties:

PDF icon Electives 2025-26 (pdf)

Elective Lessons

A student enrolled in a Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.) or Licentiate in Music (L.Mus.) program may request elective lessons.
Elective lessons are usually designated with the following course codes at 2 credits each: MUIN 110, MUIN 111, MUIN 210 & MUIN 211. These courses can be counted as free electives towards a B.Mus. program.

Email studentaffairs.music@mcgill.ca if you have questions about elective lessons and associated fees.

Elective lessons within or above the lesson quota

Depending on your admit type and program, you are entitled to a maximum number of practical instruction within the lesson quota. Students who wish to take additional semesters of practical instruction after reaching the lesson quota may apply for post-quota elective lessons.

  • For more info on lesson quota by program, see here.

Post-quota lesson fees will be charged if you are assigned elective lessons above the lesson quota.

How to apply?

  • Submit the practical instruction application before May 15 preceding the academic year when you would like to take practical instruction. The Performance Department will assess your request and assign you elective lesson(s) if applicable.

How to register?

  • You cannot register for elective lessons on Minerva.
    If the request is approved, the Performance Department will add the elective lessons to your records. You must first register for at least one course in the semester for which you applied for elective lessons before the department will add the MUIN course to your records.

Note: You will be notified about the post-quota lesson fees before registration and fee assignment.

 

Elective lessons for a second set of practical instruction on an instrument other than major studies

Please note that the option to apply for elective lessons in a 2nd instrument is suspended until further notice.

As a B.Mus. or L.Mus.student, you may apply for practical instruction on an instrument other than your principal studies. If your request is approved, practical instruction on the second instrument will be assigned as elective lessons.

Students wishing to register for lessons on a second instrument must audition on that instrument/voice during the March audition period. In cases where the second-study instrument is closely related to the major (e.g., harpsichord lessons for pianists, viola lessons for violinists, etc.), the audition may be waived with the agreement of the area coordinator for the second-study lessons).

A supplemental lesson fee for second instrument is assigned for practical instruction if your request is approved.

How and when to apply?

You must first pass an audition for the second instrument.

  • Students must submit an Elective Lesson in a Second Instrument Application form between January 15 and February 15.
  • Upon submission of the application, based on your principal instrument of study, you will be informed whether you will be required to audition in order to take lessons in the second instrument of your choice.
  • If the department determines that you need to pass an audition, you will be informed on the repertoire requirements and audition date before early March.
  • The audition period will take place from February to March 2025. More info on audition dates here: Undergraduate Audition Dates | Music - McGill University.

How to register?

You cannot register for elective lessons on Minerva.

If you pass the audition, the Performance Department will add the elective lessons to your records. You must register for at least one course in the semester for which you apply for elective lessons before the department will add the MUIN course to your records.

 

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