The School of Music at the University of Ottawa is one of the country's leading music schools. It is the ideal place to nurture your passion for all things musical and to pursue the rigorous training needed for an active and successful career in the field. We maintain close ties with renowned institutions such as the National Arts Centre (NAC) and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. Our program boasts state-of-the-art music facilities and internationally recognized professors who perform around the globe and publish in leading academic journals. We are a full-service music school offering comprehensive training in performance, composition, music education, theory and musicology.
Although any of our programs can pave the way for a career in education, musicology, music journalism or arts administration, the Bachelor of Music (BMus) is designed specifically for students wishing to become career musicians. Admission to the BMus therefore requires that you audition on your main instrument and demonstrate an intermediate or advanced level.
This program is offered in English and in French.
Additional requirement: admission to the BMus requires an audition. Consult the School of Music guidelines.
All non-keyboard majors must submit to a proficiency exam set by the School of Music at the end of the 2nd year. This exam must be completed successfully by the end of the 4th year to obtain the BMus degree.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Skills | ||
| ENG 1100 | Workshop in Essay Writing | 3 Units |
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study in the Arts 1 | ||
| Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study in the Arts 1 | ||
| Selected Topics in Literature and Composition | ||
| Compulsory courses at the 1000 level | ||
| MUS 1032 | Applied Music I: Performance BMUS 2 | 6 Units |
| 3 course units from: 3 | 3 Units | |
| Sight-Singing and Dictation I: General | ||
| Sight-Singing and Dictation I: Enriched | ||
| Compulsory courses at the 2000 level | ||
| MUS 2032 | Applied Music II: Performance BMUS 2 | 6 Units |
| MUS 2306 | Theory and Analysis I 3 | 3 Units |
| MUS 2307 | Theory and Analysis II | 3 Units |
| MUS 2331 | Forms and Styles I: Middle Ages and Renaissance | 3 Units |
| MUS 2332 | Forms and Styles II: Baroque and Early Classical | 3 Units |
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Sight-Singing and Dictation II: General | ||
| Sight-Singing and Dictation II: Enriched | ||
| Compulsory courses at the 3000 level | ||
| MUS 3306 | Theory and Analysis III | 3 Units |
| MUS 3307 | Theory and Analysis IV | 3 Units |
| MUS 3333 | Forms and Styles III: Late Classical and Early Romantic | 3 Units |
| MUS 3334 | Forms and Styles IV: Late Romantic and Early Modern | 3 Units |
| MUS 3335 | Twentieth-Century Music | 3 Units |
| Ensemble courses 7 | ||
| 12 course units of ensemble from: | 12 Units | |
| Orchestra | ||
| Wind Ensemble | ||
| Opera Production | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Guitar Ensemble | ||
| Piano Ensemble | ||
| Optional Courses | ||
| 6 course units from: | 6 Units | |
| Applied Music III 2 | ||
| Applied Music III: Performance BMUS 2, 8 | ||
| 6 course units from: | 6 Units | |
| Seminar I 1 | ||
| Selected Topics in Score Analysis 1 | ||
| 33 optional course units in music (MUS) with the possibility of taking 12 course units of ensemble courses from the list of optional ensemble courses 5, 6 | 33 Units | |
| 3 elective course units in a discipline other than music (MUS) | 3 Units | |
| 3 course units in French as a second language (FLS) 4 | 3 Units | |
| 6 elective course units, except for ensemble courses | 6 Units | |
| Total: | 120 Units | |
Note(s)
- 1
This course has variable topics. Students may take this course twice.
- 2
Students failing an applied music course (MUS 1032, MUS 2032, MUS 3030, MUS 3032) will be asked by the School of Music to withdraw from the BMus.
- 3
A written test at the beginning of MUS 1191 and MUS 2306 will determine if a student must participate in an additional weekly lab.
- 4
An exemption from this requirement is given to students who obtain an equivalency for the language proficiency test or who pass a music (MUS) course offered in French. The course is then to be replaced by 3 elective course units.
- 5
The course AMT 3105 can count towards this requirement.
- 6
A maximum of 3 course units from MUS 4371, MUS 4372, MUS 4391 and MUS 4392 can count towards this requirement.
- 7
Students may repeat ensemble courses for credit. Ensemble units over the required 12 units count as optional music courses (maximum of 12 additional units for a maximum of 24 ensemble units).
- 8
Students who successfully complete MUS 3032 will be granted permission to enrol in MUS 4032 or MUS 4035.
List of optional ensemble courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 3901 | Orchestra | 3 Units |
| MUS 3902 | Wind Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3903 | Opera Production | 3 Units |
| MUS 3904 | Choral Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3905 | Calixa-Lavallée Choir | 3 Units |
| MUS 3907 | Guitar Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3908 | Jazz Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3909 | Brass Choir | 3 Units |
| MUS 3910 | Brass Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3911 | Woodwind Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3913 | Percussion Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3914 | Contemporary Music Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3915 | Mixed Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3916 | Piano Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3917 | Accompaniment | 3 Units |