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 applying 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 (MUIN 110, MUIN 111) 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.
- Course offered by the School of Continuing Studies cannot be accepted as credits or electives towards BMus.
- BMus and LMus students cannot take MUTH 101: Basic Materials Western Music and MUHL 211: The Art of Listening. These courses are designed for students from a faculty other than Music and therefore cannot be counted as an elective in a music minor or major.
List of electives offered by Schulich School of Music and other faculties:
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 [at] 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.
