Overview

The General major follows a prescribed program of study in addition to the common core courses students take in their first year. Students choose from music options and non-music electives to customize their program. 

Students can remain undeclared or declare a minor:

• Undeclared
• Music Career Management
• Music Education
• Music Technology and Production¹

Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music

Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications
MacEwan.ca/MusicDegree

The Bachelor of Music focuses on the study of jazz and contemporary popular music, responds to the current demands of the industry and combines a high degree of professionalism along with the academic rigour required for further education at the graduate level. The opportunity to study with internationally renowned professionals while pursuing a challenging academic curriculum will give you the skills, insights, competency and credentials to pursue a career as a performer, creator and leader in the evolving music industry.

YEAR 1

All music students share a common curriculum in the first year that focuses on individual study (voice, piano, guitar, bass, drums, winds or strings), performance, theory (jazz and traditional), aural skills, and musicology.

YEARS 2-4

After successful completion of the first year, students pursue a major route (specialized program of study).

Major routes include: Performance, Composition, Recording and Production, and General. Students following the four-year General route also have the opportunity to pursue one of three unique minors: Music Education, Music Technology and Production, or Music Career Management.

Students can obtain a diploma credential after completing their second year.

Career Potential

The Department of Music has been training some of Canada’s most talented musicians for more than 40 years. The Bachelor of Music prepares students for the music profession and for further studies at the graduate level. Graduates have gone on to successful careers as songwriters, performers, accompanists, arrangers, composers, recording engineers and producers, record distributors, sound technicians, educators and academics. The Department of Music has a world-class faculty that includes highly skilled performers, creators, educators and academics, many of whom hold doctorates and master’s degrees in music as well as a variety of regional, national and international awards.

Contact Information

musicdegree@macewan.ca

 Core Degree Requirements 

Core Courses

Overview

Students in the General major, with an undeclared minor, have the flexibility to explore their personal study interests alongside diverse music and professional goals. The program of study includes core BMus courses in performance, theory, aural skills, cultural studies of music, music technology and the business of music.

The General major follows a prescribed program of study in addition to the common core courses students take in their first year. Students choose from music options and non-music electives to customize their program. 

Program of Study

Students must take a minimum of 3 credits in Music Technology Options and a minimum of 3 credits in Music Career Management Options.

Note: Not all option courses are offered in every year.

Music Career Management Options

Music Education Options

Overview

The Music Career Management minor offers a program of study that prepares students to enter the industry in a variety of roles including managers and agents, promoters and marketers, advocates, curators, and consultants. Courses address health issues related to the music profession, the business of music, marketing, branding, promotion, and artist and career development. The program of study includes core BMus courses in performance, theory, aural skills, cultural studies of music, and music technology.

A minor in Music Career Management follows a prescribed program of study in addition to the common core courses students will take in their first year. Students choose from music options and non-music electives to customize their program.

Program of Study

Students must take a minimum of 6 credits in Music Career Management options and a minimum of 3 credits in Music Technology Options.

Note: Not all option courses are offered in every year.

Music Career Management Options

Music Education Options

Music Technology Options

Other Options

Note: Two terms of Performance Ensemble (MUSC 498 & MUSC 499) may replace one 3 credit MUSC option.
Note: Not all option courses are offered in every year.

Overview

The Music Education (MusEd) minor offers a program of study that prepares students to pursue after-degree studies in education with a music focus following completion of the MacEwan BMus degree. MusEd courses including conducting, technique courses in band instruments, and foundational courses required to teach in primary and secondary education. The program of study also includes core BMus courses in performance, theory, aural skills, cultural studies of music, music technology, and the business of music.

The Music Education minor follows a prescribed program of study in addition to the common core courses students will take in their first year. Note that the Province of Alberta requires teachers to have a secondary teaching practice, so this route is designed for students to acquire the appropriate, non-music courses in the elective spaces to help them meet this requirement.

Program of Study

Students must take a minimum of 3 credits in Music Technology Options and 3 Credits in Music Career Management Options

Note: Not all options courses are offered in every year

Music Career Management Options

Music Technology Options

Other Options

Note: Two terms of Performance Ensemble (MUSC 498 & 499) may replace one 3 credit MUSC option
Note: Not all option courses are offered in every year

Overview

The Music Technology and Production minor offers a program of study that prepares students to enter the industry in a variety of roles. Courses in this minor include recording studio and production techniques, acoustics, and applications in music technology. Students acquire professional-level skills in AVID Pro Tools and other essential industry-standard software. The program of study also includes core BMus courses in performance, theory, aural skills, cultural studies of music, and the business of music.

The Music Technology and Production minor follows a prescribed program of study in addition to the common core courses students will take in their first year. Students choose from music options and non-music electives to customize their program.

Program of Study

Students must take a minimum of 3 credits in Music Career Management Options in addition to other Music Option credits.

Note: Not all option courses are offered in every year.

Music Career Management Options

Music Education Options

Other Options

Note: Two terms of Performance Ensemble (MUSC 498 & MUSC 499) may replace one 3 cr MUSC option.
Note: Not all option courses are offered in every year.

Program Regulations

Declaration of a Major and Minor (Concentration)

Students are required to declare a major and minor concentration, where applicable, by the time they have successfully completed all Year 1 core requirements per the Program of Study. Students are required to consult with the appropriate section head and the department's university advisors in determining their major or minor choice.

Students who declare a major in Performance, Composition, or Recording and Production should note that these majors are competitive.

Students who declare the General major may choose to declare a minor in Music Technology and Production, Music Career Management, or Music Education. Students should note that the minor in Music Technology and Production, and Music Education are competitive.

Graduation Recitals – Performance and Composition Majors

Students in the Performance and Composition majors must undertake juried public graduation recitals in the fourth year of their program.  

• The Performance major recital involves a program of works performed on the major (principal) instrument in ensemble and solo settings that demonstrates the student’s technical ability, musicality, creativity, professionalism, comprehension of jazz and contemporary popular genres and styles, and comprehension of other contemporary and near-contemporary genres and styles. 
  • Students in the Performance major must also successfully complete an area examination in preparation for their graduation recital.
• The Composition major recital involves a program of original works and arrangements for a variety of instruments (ensemble and solo, instrumental and vocal) that demonstrates the student’s technical ability, musicality, creativity, professionalism, comprehension of jazz and contemporary popular genres and styles, and comprehension of other contemporary and near-contemporary genres and styles.

The proposed program of works intended to fulfill the Composition and Performance graduation recital requirements must receive prior approval from the appropriate section head.

Graduation recitals for the Performance and Composition majors are graded as credit/non-credit. For Performance majors, failure to complete this requirement also constitutes a failure in Principal Instrument VIII.

Performance Ensembles

All students must participate in required Performance Ensembles as noted in the programs of study. The Performance Ensemble requirement for Year 1 Core and Year 2 all majors (Fall & Winter terms) are 0 (zero) credit. The Performance Ensemble requirements for Year 3 all majors (Fall & Winter terms) are 1 credit per term, and Year 4 (Performance major or as music option, Fall & Winter terms) are 1.5 credits per term.  

For all majors, students may choose to participate in a maximum of two performance ensembles per term but will only be enrolled in and earn credit for one ensemble per term. The second Performance Ensemble will be 0 (zero) credit in any term. To avoid jeopardy, students may be advised to withdraw from a second Performance Ensemble if the directors detect that the students are overburdened and cannot cope with the additional responsibility.

Junior- and Senior-Level Courses

Courses numbered from 100 to 199 are considered junior level and courses numbered from 200 to 499 are considered senior level.

Elective Requirements

Elective requirements in each of years 2, 3, and 4 of the program must be non-Music, baccalaureate level coursework, with a minimum of 9 credits earned at the senior level for all majors (Performance, Composition, Recording and Production, and General). Students are encouraged to consult with the department’s university advisors for guidance on selecting elective courses. Program courses cannot be used to fulfill elective requirements.

Music Option Requirements

All Bachelor of Music students must successfully complete one additional Music Technology and Production course beyond the introductory course and one additional Music Career Management course beyond the introductory course as part of their core requirements.    

Students must select from a list of MUSC courses to fulfill music option requirements in their declared major or minor. Specified music option courses may also be required courses in one or more of the program’s majors or minors, therefore, registration priority will be given to students who must take these courses as part of their specific Program of Study. Students must consult with the department’s university advisors for guidance and availability of music option courses prior to registration.

Arts and Cultural Management (AGAD) Courses

Students following the General route with a minor in Music Career Management (which requires three Arts and Cultural Management courses defined in the Program of Study), as well as students seeking to use approved Arts and Cultural Management courses as Other Music Options must take MUSC 361 (Introduction to Music Career Management) before entering Arts and Cultural Management (AGAD) courses.

Progression of Studies

Students are responsible for ensuring they meet the prerequisite and/or co-requisite requirements as noted on all courses that may fulfill Bachelor of Music program requirements. Any student who discontinues registration in degree courses for twelve months will be required to re-apply for admission.

Diploma Requirements

Students are eligible for a diploma after the completion of Year 2 of the Bachelor of Music degree Program of Study, any route. Students who have obtained the diploma, or are otherwise eligible to do so, may continue with the degree. Obtaining the diploma does not require a student to exit the degree program; however, any student who discontinues registration in degree courses for twelve months will be required to re-apply for admission.