Music for non-Music Students Arts & Science

Overview

What to expect

Study Western and world music from cultural, historical, and formal perspectives. Music for non-Faculty of Music students is available as a Major or Specialist program from within a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, providing rigorous training in musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory. Students gain the cultural knowledge and analytical expertise to understand music in all its aspects. Music is also offered as a minor from within the Faculty of Arts and Science and MUS courses are also available to all Arts and Science students to meet distribution requirements.

Why it stands out

The Major or Specialist program in music offers a unique combination of courses from the Faculty of Music and the Faculty of Arts and Science. While students have options for ensemble instruction, they focus on music as a humanistic subject encompassing art, history, and culture. The Minor program focuses on the study of the history and culture of music.

Who it's for

The Major and Specialist programs are intended for Arts and Science students studying on the St. George Campus who have existing music training. All students are required to have completed Level 8 Theory and Level 9 Harmony from the Royal Conservatory of Music, or equivalent. Students gain admission to the Major or Specialist programs by interview and audition. Some knowledge of Western music history and theory is an advantage. The Music minor is intended for Arts & Science students studying on the St. George Campus who are interested in courses in history and culture. Courses for the Music minor are all MUS courses and are available only for those taking courses towards the minor or taking courses for distribution requirements, with the exception of MUS120Y1 and MUS220Y1, which are also available to students in the Major or Specialist programs in music.

Outcomes

Opportunities for study

Flexibility is a program strength. Students choose among courses from two separate faculties and have opportunities to obtain their degree with a music specialist, major, or minor designation.

Opportunities after graduation

The specialist program provides excellent preparation for a variety of professional activities, including music criticism, library science, publishing, broadcasting, and recording.

Postgraduate opportunities

Students have options to pursue graduate studies in musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory, which can lead to careers in university teaching and research.

Curriculum

Core Courses

Core Courses in the history and culture of music are common to all program variations. Students pursuing the music specialist or major variations will add courses on music theory. Those choosing the specialist or major ensemble options will add courses that develop their musicianship skills for performance in vocal or instrumental ensembles.

Specialization

The program is available as a specialist degree requiring the equivalent of ten (10) full music credits (or 11.5 with the ensemble option), a major degree requiring the equivalent of seven (7) full music credits (or 8 with the ensemble option), or a minor degree requiring the equivalent of four full MUS music credits.

Electives

Students in all variations of the program have considerable choice among non-music courses offered in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Course Availability as an Arts & Science Student

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The Major and Specialist options are only available to students registering at the University of Toronto through the Faculty of Arts & Science on the St. George Campus. Students take the same music history, theory and analysis courses as their BMus counterparts registered through the Faculty of Music, but more credits from other disciplines within Arts & Science. Candidates for the B.A. must first be admitted to the Faculty of Arts & Science. Enrolment in the major and specialist programs is limited to students who pass an audition-interview which is held in August via video recorded audition and Zoom interview.
This is a limited enrolment program. Students must have completed 4.0 credits and meet the requirements listed below to enrol.
Special Requirement
- Students must pass an audition-interview to enroll in the program. The audition is held annually in August. Students are required to complete and submit the Student Profile available on-line, prior to August 1st.
- Prospective candidates must perform at the Royal Conservatory of Music Grade Eight level, and demonstrate that they have RCM Level 8 Theory (or equivalent) and RCM Level 9 Harmony (or equivalent). Students who do not meet the Level 9 Harmony requirement (or equivalent) will be required to attend an additional hour of tutorial during the fall term of TMU140Y1.
Application process for the Music Major/Specialist:
- Complete the Music Major/Specialist Student Profile with the links to your audition recordings by August 1.
- Submit evidence of achievement in Music Theory (Official transcripts from the RCM, or equivalent) by August 15. Applicants without this proof may elect to take the Faculty of Music entrance theory exam on these materials by no later than August 15. Official transcripts may be sent directly from the RCM to undergrad.music@utoronto.ca. Other acceptable theory equivalents include AP Music (with the exam) with a grade of 4 or 5, and ABRSM grade 5 (RCM Level 8 Theory) and ABRSM grade 8 (RCM Level 9 Harmony).
- Take part in a Zoom interview on August 16, 2024
- If you are interested in the Ensemble option, you must also complete the Mus120/220 Audition Request Form by the posted deadline (to arrange for an ensemble audition), and download the excerpts relevant to your instrument from the MUS120Y1 & MUS220Y1:Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles I & II webpage (Excerpts will be available in July).
Once your Student Profile, video recording links, and the appropriate documents have been received, your interview time will be set. Notification of your Major or Specialist interview time will be sent out AFTER the Student Profile Form due date.
Candidates will be notified of their audition/interview results on the Tuesday following their audition/interview.
Audition
Requirements:
Perform three (3) pieces at a Grade 8 level RCM, or higher, from different stylistic periods.
It is your responsibility to provide an accompanist, if needed. All instruments must audition with an accompanist with the exception of the following: Accordion, Guitar, Harp, Harpsichord, Organ, Percussion, and Piano.
Additionally, those interested in ethnomusicology and the study of world music may audition on the basis of their comparable accomplishments in a non-Western instrumental or vocal performing tradition
Recorded Audition Guidelines:
- Students auditioning on orchestral instruments and voice (excluding percussion) must perform with an accompanist for their audition.
- The video recording must be of good quality (although professional not required).
- Please record each piece of repertoire separately; if you have multiple movements you may stop between them, but they should be included in one video submission.
- Identify yourself at the beginning of at least one of your videos clearly stating your first and last name, and instrument.
- No edits or enhancements are permitted; each piece/movement must be performance in one take.
- The performer must appear in the video frame. For instrumentalists, the head and both hands must be clearly visible. For vocalists, the performer must face the camera and the upper body and face must be clearly visible.
Interview
At the Interview:
- You may be asked about your recorded audition video performance
- You may be asked to sight-sing a short piece in the treble clef, sing back a short melody, and identify intervals and chords, during the interview. We recommend Zooming in from a device with a larger screen to ensure you will be able to read the music on the screen that will be shared with you.
- You will answer questions from the panel to demonstrate your knowledge of and interest in music, motivation for pursuing music study, and an ability to express ideas clearly
Ensemble Option Requirements
Students interested in pursuing the Major/Specialist with the Ensemble option will have an additional audition during Registration Week in the Edward Johnson Building . The ensemble audition will be 5-10 minutes long.
Students are required to complete the MUS120Y/220Y application form and submit it by the posted deadline in order to be assigned an audition for the ensemble option. Students applying for the ensemble option should also download the excerpts relevant to their instrument; the excerpts will be available in July on the Performance Office page.
This is an open enrolment program. An Arts and Science student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the music minor program. There is no audition required to enrol in the Music minor, however, if you wish to take MUS120Y1 and/ or MUS220Y1, an ensemble audition is required.
Please see the Arts and Science Academic Calendar at https://artsci.calendar.utoronto.ca/section/Music under Music History & Culture Minor (Arts Programs) - ASMIN0695 for Completion Requirements
The courses with the prefix MUS are open to any student of the University of Toronto with an interest in music to meet distribution requirements (with the exception of those enrolled in the Faculty of Music, and those Arts and Science students enrolled in the Music Major or Specialist). Even students with a strong music background should find them stimulating explorations of the world of music. Access to these courses is through ACORN and they do not require permission for enrolment, with the exception of MUS120Y1 and MUS220Y1 (Vocal & Instrument Ensembles I & II).
Students interested in enroling in MUS120Y1 or MUS220Y1 are required to successfully demonstrate their performing ability in an audition.
Please see https://artsci.calendar.utoronto.ca/section/Music under Music Courses to see courses offered for the given Academic Year.

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A group of three U of T Music Student Ambassadors pose for a picture together on Philosopher's Walk, just outside of the Edward Johnson Building.