Performance Piano Major (B.Mus.)

Special Requirements

Continuation in the program requires a minimum grade of B- in practical instruction/exams and ensembles.

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: Students who can demonstrate through auditions, placement tests, and equivalencies that they have mastered the material in any of the courses below will be exempt from them and may proceed to more advanced courses. Students who have been admitted to a degree or diploma program with keyboard as their principal instrument are exempt from MUSP 170 Musicianship (Keyboard) 1. and MUSP 171 Musicianship (Keyboard) 2. ; see section on Keyboard Proficiency testing for complete information.

• 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
• MUTH 150 Theory and Analysis 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• MUTH 151 Theory and Analysis 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter

Required Courses (45 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 333 Piano Techniques 2 (0 credits) · Offered: Fall
• MUIN 369 Concerto (0 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 433 Piano Techniques 3 (0 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
• MUPG 350 Introduction to Piano Pedagogy (2 credits) · Offered: Winter
• MUPG 356 Piano Repertoire Studies 1 (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• MUPG 357 Piano Repertoire Studies 2 (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• MUPG 541 Senior Piano Seminar 1 (2 credits) · Offered: Fall
• MUPG 542 Senior Piano Seminar 2 (2 credits) · Offered: Winter

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 (20 credits)

Performance

Large Ensemble during the first four terms (2 credits x 4 semesters).

Musicianship (2 credits)

2 credits from:

• 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)

3 credits from courses with a MUHL or MUPP prefix

Selected from courses with a prefix of MUHL or MUPP at the 300-level or above. 3 credits from courses with a MUHL or MUPP prefix

Elective Courses (26 credits)

3 credits of Non-Music Electives 23 credits of Free Electives (may include 2 credits of courses with a MUEN prefix)

8 credits 1 from: (8 credits)

8 credits 1 from:

• MUEN 563 Jazz Vocal Workshop (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• MUEN 572 Cappella Antica (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

4 credits 1 from: (4 credits)

4 credits 1 from:

• 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 556 Introduction to Collaborative Piano 1 (1 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• MUEN 557 Introduction to Collaborative Piano 2 (1 credits) · Offered: Winter
• MUEN 560 Chamber Music Ensemble (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• MUEN 569 Tabla Ensemble (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• MUEN 578 Song Interpretation 1 (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• MUEN 579 Song Interpretation 2 (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• MUEN 581 Introduction to Ensemble Playing for Pianists (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• MUEN 582 Piano Ensembles (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• MUEN 584 Studio Accompanying (1 credits) · Offered: Fall
• MUEN 585 Sonata Masterclass (1 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter

Related programs

• Performance Piano Major (L.Mus.)