Performance (Orchestral Instruments) Major (B.Mus.)

125 credits · Schulich School of Music · 2026-2027 catalogue

Performance (Orchestral Instruments) Major (B.Mus.) as a checklist, with when each course runs in 2026–27. On a computer, check off the courses you have taken or plan to take to add up your credits.

Plan your whole degree in myDegree. It adds your other programs, a Foundation year, electives, prerequisite checks and a term-by-term schedule. Free, no account; your plan stays in your browser. Open myDegree

Special Requirements

Continuation in the program requires a minimum grade of B- in practical instruction/exams and ensembles. Students majoring in violin, viola, or cello must commence basic ensemble training with two terms of MUEN 565 String Quartet Seminar.

Program Prerequisites — Foundation Program (34 credits)

34 credits selected as described below, in consultation with the Program Adviser: 22 credits of Prerequisite Courses 2 credits of Assigned Small Ensemble 4 credits of Large Ensemble 6 credits of Non-Music Electives

Prerequisite Courses (22 credits)

22 credits, all of the courses below: Note: Applicants who can demonstrate through auditions and placement tests that they have mastered the material in any of the courses below will be exempt from them and may proceed to more advanced courses.

  • MUHL 186 Western Musical Traditions (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUIN 180 BMus Practical Lessons 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUIN 181 BMus Practical Lessons 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUPD 135 Music as a Profession 1 (1 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUSP 140 Musicianship Training 1 (2 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUSP 141 Musicianship Training 2 (2 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUSP 170 Musicianship (Keyboard) 1 (1 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUSP 171 Musicianship (Keyboard) 2 (1 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUTH 150 Theory and Analysis 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUTH 151 Theory and Analysis 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter

Required Courses (35 credits)

Performance

  • MUIN 280 BMus Practical Lessons 3 (2.5 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUIN 281 BMus Practical Lessons 4 (2.5 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUIN 282 BMus Performance Examination 1 (1 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUIN 380 BMus Practical Lessons 5 (2.5 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUIN 381 BMus Practical Lessons 6 (2.5 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUIN 382 BMus Performance Examination 2 (1 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUIN 480 BMus Practical Lessons 7 (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUIN 481 BMus Practical Lessons 8 (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUIN 482 BMus Performance Examination 3 (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Theory

  • MUTH 250 Theory and Analysis 3 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUTH 251 Theory and Analysis 4 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUTH 350 Theory and Analysis 5 (3 credits) · Offered: Summer, Winter

Musicianship

  • MUSP 240 Musicianship Training 3 (2 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUSP 241 Musicianship Training 4 (2 credits) · Offered: Winter

Music History

  • MUHL 286 Critical Thinking About Music (3 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter

Professional Development

  • MUPD 235 Music as a Profession 2 (1 credits) · Offered: Winter

Complementary Courses (33 credits)

Performance

Musicianship (2 credits)

2 credits from:

  • MUSP 324 Musicianship for Strings (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUSP 346 Post-Tonal Musicianship (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUSP 355 Advanced Rhythm in Musicianship (2 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUSP 361 Topics in Musicianship (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUSP 363 Topics in Global Musicianship (2 credits) · Offered: Winter

Music History/Literature/Performance Practice (6 credits)

6 credits of courses with a MUHL or MUPP prefix Percussionists must include:

  • MUHL 392 Music since 1945 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Elective Courses (23 credits)

3 credits of non-Music Electives 20 credits of Free Electives (may include 2 credits of courses with a MUEN prefix)

2 credits per term; as assigned by audition) from Large ensembles:

2 credits per term; as assigned by audition) from Large ensembles:

  • MUEN 563 Jazz Vocal Workshop (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 565 String Quartet Seminar (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 573 Baroque Orchestra (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 587 Cappella McGill (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUEN 590 McGill Wind Orchestra (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 592 Chamber Jazz Ensemble (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 593 Choral Ensembles (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 594 Contemporary Music Ensemble (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 595 Jazz Ensembles (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 597 McGill Symphony Orchestra (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter

1 credit per term; as assigned by audition) from small ensembles:

1 credit per term; as assigned by audition) from small ensembles:

  • MUEN 540 Chamber Music Project 1 (0.5 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUEN 541 Chamber Music Project 2 (0.5 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUEN 560 Chamber Music Ensemble (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 569 Tabla Ensemble (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 580 Early Music Ensemble (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 598 Percussion Ensembles (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter

9 credits chosen from: MUEN courses at the 400 or 500 level (maximum of 4 credits) (9 credits)

9 credits chosen from: MUEN courses at the 400 or 500 level (maximum of 4 credits)

  • MUIN 269 Classical Concerto Exam (1 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 229 Traditional Drumming 1: Rudiments (1 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 300 Music Performance Strategies (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUPG 325 Improvisation for String Players (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 326 Introduction to String Pedagogy (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 328 Introduction to Percussion Pedagogy (1 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 329 Traditional Drumming 2: Hand Drumming (1 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 331 Introduction to Woodwind Pedagogy (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 336 Introduction to Brass Pedagogy (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 410 Violin Orchestral Excerpts (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUPG 411 Viola Orchestral Excerpts (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUPG 412 Cello Orchestral Excerpts (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUPG 413 Double Bass Orchestral Excerpts (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUPG 414 Woodwinds Orchestral Excerpts (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUPG 415 Brass Orchestral Excerpts (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUPG 416 Percussion Orchestral Excerpts (1 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUPG 425 Extended Techniques - Strings (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 429 Percussion Seminar (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 431 Extended Techniques - Woodwinds (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 435 Extended Techniques - Brass (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 473 Special Project in Performance (1 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 474 Special Project in Performance (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 571 Free Improvisation 1 (1 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUPG 572D1 Free Improvisation 2 (0.5 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUPG 572D2 Free Improvisation 2 (0.5 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Source: McGill Course Catalogue. myDegree is an independent student project, not affiliated with McGill University.