This program is designed to give you a well-rounded musical education with the freedom to choose electives in a variety of subjects, both in music and outside of music.

As a Comprehensive major, you’ll study your instrument or voice in weekly one-hour lessons and participate in at least one instrumental or vocal ensemble annually.

You will also complete four courses in music history and theory and courses in post-tonal analysis and composition. Directed-studies graduation projects are available, giving you the chance to research an area of personal interest under the guidance of a faculty member.

In addition to the core courses required, you will choose electives to create a program tailored to your specific musical interests. You can take as many as six credits (12 one-term courses) in subjects outside of the Faculty of Music, which means you can complete a minor or option in the faculties of Arts, Science or Business.

In this program, you’ll learn the fundamentals of composing while writing works for various ensembles.

For third and fourth year, you’ll study one-on-one with composition faculty members, exploring a variety of styles and mediums, including electronic and new media.

A weekly composers’ seminar will cover a range of interests pertaining to your work. In your final year, you’ll undertake a major project, which may be a work for a larger ensemble, a work of extended duration or a collaborative work in film, theatre, gaming or opera.

You will submit a portfolio to our Composition faculty at the end of second year, which must be approved to move into third year composition classes.

Highlights

• Our program incorporates cutting-edge technology, allowing you to collaborate creatively with others.
• Student composer concerts are presented five times a year. Your pieces will be performed by your fellow classmates and presented to the public.
• There are annual readings of student works by the Laurier Orchestra and the Penderecki String Quartet, Laurier’s professional Quartet-in-Residence.
• The Composers and Improvisers Association holds student events and shares composing opportunities

If you wish to pursue a career in teaching music privately or at the elementary or secondary level, our Music Education major includes instruction in designing lessons from curriculum documents, using technology in the classroom, how to assess learning outcomes, classroom management along with the basics of conducting, instrumental and choral techniques and instruction in the methods, materials and philosophy of music education. It also leaves room for you to study a second teaching subject.

Music Education courses are taught by distinguished and experienced music specialists and in-school educators. You’ll have opportunities to gain in-school experience through volunteering in local schools organized by, Laurier’s Student Association of Music Educators (SAME). SAME members participate in the Ontario Music Educators’ Association annual conference plus additional educational and social events. You’ll receive weekly lessons, masterclasses and ensemble work in this major.

Highlights

• Laurier’s Faculty of Education guarantees admission to their Bachelor of Education to a limited number of top-ranking music students upon graduation. Criteria includes maintaining a minimum B average and meeting their general admission requirements.
• Music Education graduates have been welcomed in education certification and graduate programs in many universities across Canada and internationally.
• You will have the opportunity to take teachable subjects housed in Laurier’s Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science or the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics.

Music History, Theory, and Critical Analysis emphasizes academic study, while allowing continued performance opportunities through weekly lessons, masterclasses and ensemble work.

The program gives you flexibility in choosing from a range of music history and theory electives, allowing you to customize your studies around particular academic interests.

You will examine music across all periods of history, with opportunities to study popular music and music of other cultures. Our program emphasizes listening to and writing about music, and delves more deeply into musical analytical and compositional procedures.

In year four, you may have the option of working one-on-one with a faculty member on a research project of your choosing.

This major serves as excellent preparation for graduate work in musicology, music theory, library science, or other allied disciplines for which a strong foundation of academic courses, research and analysis skills are important.

Highlights

• Opportunities to become a research assistant or peer tutor are available.
• Alumni have completed, or are currently in the process of completing, advanced degrees at many distinguished universities, including Florida State, Indiana, Michigan, McGill and others.
• Flexibility in Music History, Theory, and Critical Analysis allows options to customizing your music degree while allowing you freedom to take electives in areas outside of music.

Our performance major is for gifted students in piano, voice, organ, orchestral instruments, guitar and historical instruments, who intend to become professional performers and/or teachers of performance.

In the Performance major you can take advantage of 90-minute weekly lessons on top of participation in a Laurier ensemble, concerto competitions, student recitals, student composers’ concerts and chamber music recitals. In fourth year you will present a 60-minute graduation recital highlighting your repertoire from the year.

If you demonstrate during your audition that you have the potential to succeed as a performer, you may be placed automatically in this major in first year.

Highlights

• Masterclass guest artists give you the chance to perform for the best of the best in the industry including the likes of Dame Evelyn Glennie, Janina Fialkowska, Anton Kuerti, Adrianne Pieczonka, Karlheinz Essl, János Starker, Jeanne Lamon, André Laplante, Emerson String Quartet and many others.