Overview
The Music program stresses professional training with an emphasis on musical performance.
Music at Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allison has been an important part of the curriculum and community since the first Certificate in Music was awarded in 1874.
At a Glance
Curriculum
Why study music at Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allison?
The Department of Music is one of the leading destinations for music study on Canada’s east coast.
Small class sizes within Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allison's Music program mean that you work closely with the department's talented and enthusiastic faculty, have constant access to instruments and practice rooms, and perform on stage on a regular basis.
The department offers performance study in:
- voice
- piano
- strings
- woodwinds
- brass
- percussion
- guitar
- organ
- harpsichord
Although it is a classically-based program, Music offers electives in jazz, musical theatre, world music, and much more.
The Department of Music offers opportunities for students at every level of interest or experience.
Program highlights
Marjorie Young Bell Conservatory of Music
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allison is home to one of the finest university music buildings in the country — the Marjorie Young Bell Conservatory of Music.
The Conservatory building is a vibrant hub of creative activity and research on campus, featuring:
- 310-seat concert hall, Brunton Auditorium, hosting more than 80 concerts, recitals, and guest speakers each year
- Classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and practice studios (most equipped with pianos)
- An extensive collection of instruments, including 15 grand pianos
- A computer lab with hardware and software for music notation, audio editing, and electroacoustic composition
- Choral and instrumental music collections
Our collection includes a Yamaha CFX Concert Grand, giving our Music department one of the best piano collections in Atlantic Canada.
Located in the Conservatory is the , housing the largest musical resources collection in the Maritimes with more than 45,000 books, scores, audio recordings, and videos.
Perform!
The Music department offers Music students the chance to perform in front of an audience on a weekly basis.
Music ensembles and societies also enjoy a reputation as some of the finest in the country:
- Symphonic Band
- Chamber Orchestra
- Elliott Chorale
- Choral Society
- Jazz Ensemble
- New Music Ensemble
- Pep Band
- Garnet & Gold Musical Theatre Society
All large ensembles are open to all Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allison students.
Opportunities for Music students
The Bragg Women Music Opportunities provides:
- Annual artist-in-residence
- Funding for student summer programs and touring opportunities
- Music technology
Other opportunities for Music students include:
- Independent student research grants
- Internships and fellowships
- Peer tutoring and teaching assistantships
- Student employment
- Study abroad and exchanges
Audition Preparation Weekend — for Grade 11 and 12 studentsOur Audition Preparation Weekend is designed for any high school student who is interested in making music a part of their university studies, and will be of particular interest for Grade 11 and 12 students who are considering auditioning for a Bachelor of Music degree. Find out more about workshops and tours provided by the Department of Music. |
Degree options
The Department of Music offers a wide range of degree programs and individual elective courses designed to develop well-rounded musicians and to provide students with a solid foundation in the liberal arts.
At Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allison, there are different levels of Music depending on your interests, skills, and career goals.
Bachelor of Music (BMus)
As a Bachelor of Music student, you'll benefit from four years of weekly private lessons on your chosen instrument or voice, combined with academic studies in music and non-music courses. This program allows you much freedom to put emphasis on performance, music education, composition, music history, or music theory.
There are also courses in areas such as composition, conducting, collaborative piano, chamber music, jazz, opera, and world music.
Bachelor of Music students are not formally streamed into specific areas of musical study, meaning the program gives you the freedom to focus on the areas that best suit your interests and career plans.
The Bachelor of Music degree is suitable for those who contemplate any professional career in music, including teaching, performance, musicology, music therapy, arts administration, recording, broadcasting, music librarianship, and music journalism.
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music
A Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music balances music study with courses in other disciplines — it emphasizes the academic aspects of music and is designed for students who wish to combine their study of music with more non-music courses than are available in the Bachelor of Music curriculum.
Private lessons are not available in the Bachelor of Arts, but there are still ample opportunities to perform in music ensembles and societies.
A BA honours in Music is also available.
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Computer Science and Music
A BA joint major in Computer Science and Music allows students to combine their interests and abilities in both technology and music, focusing on the practical applications of technology and the production of creative outputs that use technology. Students will also develop important problem-solving skills as they apply their programming skills to audio-related issues.
A critical component of this program is a capstone project jointly supervised by Music and Computer Science faculty. Students will create an artistic work that involves significant technology components (for example, using programming software, digital audio processing, or creating an interactive sound installation) or develop a computer program or application that involves significant music components.
Private lessons are not available in the Bachelor of Arts, but there are still ample opportunities to perform in music ensembles and societies.
Minor in Music
A minor in Music consists of a selection of core and elective music courses and can be combined with any degree.
Private lessons are not available in a minor, but there are still ample opportunities to perform in music ensembles and societies.
Courses open to all students
Students from any program are also welcome to take Music elective courses, to join our ensembles, or to attend our many concerts and events each year (which are free for Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allison students).
For students outside the Music department, there are Music courses offered in:
- music appreciation
- theory
- music in Canada
- world music
Non-Music students also have the opportunity to participate in the department’s large ensembles.
Not sure about the difference between a major, a minor, an honours, and a certificate?
What's the difference between a BMus and a BA in Music?
MUSC 1201 — Introduction to Music History and Literature
This course introduces students to the history and literature of music in the Western World and provides an overview of the various styles, eras, and genres of Western Art Music. It considers and compares changing concepts, styles, forms, and media.
MUSC 1221 — Introduction to Music, Culture, and Context
This course considers music's role in society and culture broadly through the comparison and consideration of musics from different locations and cultural contexts, including works of jazz, popular, Indigenous (resurgence), traditional, world, and art musics. The course aims to develop students' core research and critical thinking skills. It explores the theoretical frameworks of gender studies and decolonization, and their implications for music studies.
MUSC 2141 — Composition and Music Technology I
This course focuses on the small forms using traditional concepts, techniques, and idioms in a variety of styles and instrumentation. It places emphasis on developing an awareness of the factors that come into play in musical composition as well as on recognizing and being able to produce strong musical material. It includes instruction in notation software and digital audio.
MUSC 2613 — Chamber Music I
This course provides practical experience in the art of chamber music performance. (Format: Private Instruction 1 Hour)
MUSC 3271 — Modern Musical Theatre
This course surveys selected important works in the American and British Musical theatre traditions from precursors in the nineteenth- century to the mature musicals of Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It studies musicals in their historical and cultural context and as they relate to popular song and musical styles.
MUSC 3281 — The Beatles
This course addresses the musical, social, and cultural issues surrounding one of the most important rock groups of the twentieth century. Drawing on a large body of recent scholarship, the course considers the Beatles' albums from early covers of music by other artists to their own "song cycles" such as Sgt. Pepper and Revolver. (Format: Integrated Lecture and Laboratory)
MUSC 3401 — Introduction to Conducting
This course is designed to train students in the physical techniques and fundamentals of conducting and in basic rehearsal strategies and score preparation. (Format: Lecture/Laboratory 3 Hours)
MUSC 4591 — Applied Music VIII with Full Recital
This applied course involves the preparation and execution of a public recital program of approximately 60 minutes of music under the supervision of the student's Applied Music teacher. (Format: Private Instruction 1 Hour)
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Linda Pearse
Professor, Music; Canada Research Chair in Music, Contact, and Conflict
What can I do with a music degree?
Through professional experience within a small university, students develop practical skills and critical thinking abilities for any professional career in music.
Recognized by Maclean's as Canada's top undergraduate university, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allison's strong academic reputation helps graduates stand out as they pursue diverse career paths.
Skills developed in the Bachelor of Music program are highly transferable to other areas of study. Creativity, independence, teamwork, and dedication to perfection are some of the skills that are highly prized in areas such as medicine and law.
Popular career paths for Music graduates include:
- music teacher at the elementary or secondary level
- choral or instrumental conductor
- music therapist
- instrumental performer and conductor
- arts administrator
- instrument designer/repair technician
- music librarian
- music software designer
- sound engineer
- speech therapist
Alumni Spotlight
Rachel O'Brien ('17)
Bachelor of Music
Music Director of Anne of Green Gables: The Musical and Jersey Boys, Confederation Centre of the the Arts
What is it like to study at Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allison?
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allison's Bachelor of Music program helped me realize that I want to perform music professionally. It gave me the space and resources necessary to develop my musical voice.
I loved the Music program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allison because I had so many opportunities to explore different areas of music that interested me. I’m glad I wasn’t streamlined immediately into just performance, composition, or education. Instead I could really broaden my musical horizons! I took so many great classes based around performance, conducting, music education, etc. and still had the space to complete an English minor.
/current-students/department-music
What are my admission requirements?
Applying to the Bachelor of Music (BMus)
The Bachelor of Music (BMus) degree requires a supplemental application and an audition, in addition to your general application for admission to Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allison.
Applying to the Bachelor of Music
If you're applying to the Bachelor of Arts (BA), you don't need to audition or submit additional materials. However, you will need to complete the Music Entrance Assessment before you begin classes.
Follow Music on social media
What other programs are related to music?
Drama Studies
Drama Studies provides an education in drama and theatre, introducing students to many areas of the discipline including acting, production, directing, design, dramatic theory and literature.
Museum and Curatorial Studies
Museum and Curatorial Studies provides a wider understanding of the cultural production of museums and their communities.
Fine Arts
Fine Arts helps you develop your artistic and creative abilities, and your ability to think critically, write, and speak about works of art.