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Master of Music (MMus)

Thesis/Performance-based program

Program overview

Join peers committed to deepening the mastery of their chosen disciplines. Students will learn from distinguished faculty members at the School of Creative and Performing Arts. The school provides intensive study in history, theory, practice, electroacoustic media, musicology, multimedia, sonic arts, performance, music education and more. It also encourages students interested in integrative approaches to performance practice, interdisciplinary research and creative activity. The School of Creative and Performing Arts holds over 80 concerts per year. Students will have a unique opportunity to experience and perform music in the Rozsa Centre`s Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, one of Western Canada's premiere recital facilities.

Completing this program

  • Composition: Seminar in Theory and Composition, Research Techniques and Bibliography of Music, Composition, three electives.
  • Performance: Students must complete a graduate course in either Music Theory, Composition, Sonic Arts or Music History and Literature. Students will also take Research Techniques and Bibliography of Music, two Advanced Performance Practicums, four electives.
  • Thesis/Project: Students will complete a thesis, recital, performances or a similar substantial project which is applicable to their program.

Specializations

  • Composition*
  • Conducting*
  • Music Education*
  • Performance
  • Sonic Arts*

Specializations listed with an * are currently suspended and not accepting applications

Outcomes

Music Teacher, Professor, Instrumental Clinician, Researcher, Performer (soloist, ensemble or orchestral), Director, Composer, Technologist, Computer Music Programmer/Designer, Arts and Media Computing, Arts Event or Policy Management.

A master’s degree in music will give you the pre-requisite for a PhD.

Thesis/performance-based program

Students are required to prepare a thesis (which may be interpreted as a performance or other creative project, depending on specialization) 

Courses

Six to eight courses, depending on specialization

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment

Five years maximum

Supervisor

A supervisor is required, but is not required prior to the start of the program

Fees and funding

See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.


Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.
Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.


  1. Allan Gordon Bell

    Allan Gordon Bell

    Accepting Inquiries
    Composition
  2. Photo of Jani Parsons

    Jani Parsons

    Seeking Students
    Music Performance, Chamber Music, Piano Pedagogy and Education
  3. Laurie Radford

    Laurie Radford

    Accepting Inquiries
    Composition and Sonic Arts
  4. Rod T. Squance

    Rod T. Squance

    Accepting Inquiries
    Music Performance, Ethnomusicology

Admission Requirements


GPA

A minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

A completed Bachelor of Music degree (or equivalent). Must include study in your area of specialization.

Documents

 A one page letter detailing the applicant's reasons for pursuing graduate study

Reference letters

Two

Test scores

None


Work samples

Performance

A live audition or video/audio recording. Repertoire for the audition must contain representative works from a variety of historical periods and must demonstrate an advanced level of technical accomplishment. Recordings should be approximately 20-30 minutes in length. Live auditions are scheduled for early February. 

Composition

A portfolio of at least three recent compositions, together with recordings (where available). Applicants wishing to specialize in electroacoustic composition must submit recordings.

Sonic arts

A portfolio of recent sonic arts creative and/or research projects. A research paper. 

Music education

An essay on a topic in Music Education prepared during or subsequent to the applicant’s undergraduate work. A CV demonstrating two years of successful teaching experience or equivalent professional involvement in music education.


English language proficiency (ELP)

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.

Deadlines

For admission on September 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: Jan. 15 application deadline
  • International students: Jan. 15 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Learn more about this program

School of Creative and Performing Arts

Craigie Hall CHD 100
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
403.220.5422

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

Faculty of Arts (Fine Arts)

Social Sciences Building, Room 102
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
403.220.3580

Visit the Faculty of Arts website

Learn more about UCalgary by taking a virtual tour

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