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Requirements and Courses (Piano M.Mus.)

Performance (M.Mus.): Piano (Thesis) (45 credits)

Offered by: Music (Schulich School of Music)
Degree: Master of Music
Program credit weight: 45

Program Description

The M.Mus.; Performance Piano program blends performance training with humanities-based scholarship in a vibrant musical environment. The program provides opportunities for chamber music and a range of recital options including solo and chamber music performance, sound recording, and creative interdisciplinary projects.

Students admitted to the M.Mus.; in Performance; Piano program who have undergraduate degrees other than the B.Mus.; Major in Performance Piano from ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ, may be required to successfully complete one or more undergraduate course(s) before completion of the Master's degree. Students with a B.Mus.; Major in Performance Piano degree from ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ may be required to successfully complete ²Ñ±«±Ê¶ÙÌý560 Music Information and Research Skills. before completion of the Master's program.

Required Courses (21 credits)

Course Title Credits
MUGS 605Graduate Performance Colloquium.0

Graduate Performance Colloquium.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Participation in three professional development workshops or research colloquium approved by the department on topics such as performance pedagogy, academic teaching, music production, copyright, business, grantsmanship, etc. Students participate in each semester of residency until requirements have been met.

MUPG 683Piano Seminar 1.1.5

Piano Seminar 1.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Content to include comparative studies of recorded solo and ensemble repertoire, and lecture-recital presentations reflecting knowledge of historical context and performance practice. Analysis and discussion will accompany attendance at specific performing events at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ and beyond, as well as presentations by guest lecturers and piano area faculty.

MUPG 684Piano Seminar 2.1.5

Piano Seminar 2.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

Content to include detailed critiques of in-class teaching, and general discussion of preparation for competitions and academic job applications. Analysis and discussion will accompany attendance at master classes and competitions and beyond, as well as presentations by guest lecturers and piano area faculty.

Thesis Courses

Course Title Credits
MUIN 620Performance Tutorial 1.3

Performance Tutorial 1.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Individual instrumental, vocal, conducting, collaborative piano or operatic tutorial. Technical and interpretive development, preparation of thesis performance projects.

MUIN 621Performance Tutorial 2.3

Performance Tutorial 2.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Additional individual instrumental, vocal, conducting, collaborative piano or operatic tutorial according to area of performing specialization.

MUIN 622Performance Tutorial 3. 13

Performance Tutorial 3.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Individual tutorial according to area of performing specialization. Interpretative preparation of thesis performance projects and development of individual artistic vision.

MUIN 622D1Performance Tutorial 3. 11.5

Performance Tutorial 3.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Individual tutorial according to area of performing specialization. Interpretative preparation of thesis performance projects and development of individual artistic vision.

MUIN 622D2Performance Tutorial 3. 11.5

Performance Tutorial 3.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

Individual tutorial according to area of performing specialization. Interpretative preparation of thesis performance projects and development of individual artistic vision.

MUPG 600Recital Project 1.9

Recital Project 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Solo recital, collaborative piano recital, conducting recital or principal Opera Role (by audition) with program notes.

1

Students may take ²Ñ±«±õ±·Ìý622 Performance Tutorial 3. or ²Ñ±«±õ±·Ìý622D1 Performance Tutorial 3. and ²Ñ±«±õ±·Ìý622D2 Performance Tutorial 3..

Complementary Courses (24 credits)

9 credits from the following:

Course Title Credits
MUPG 601Recital Project 2.9

Recital Project 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Solo recital, collaborative piano recital, conducting recital or principal opera role (by audition) with program notes. May include chamber music providing none of the repertoire was prepared in a chamber ensemble taken for credit.

MUPG 602Recital Project 3.6

Recital Project 3.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Recital, conducting recital or featured opera role (by audition) with program notes.

MUPG 603Recital Project 4.3

Recital Project 4.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Concerto performance with accompaniment or supporting opera role (by audition) with program notes.

MUPG 604Chamber Music Recital.6

Chamber Music Recital.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Chamber Music Recital with program notes. Repertoire may not include works performed in MUEN courses. Various instrumentations permitted as long as student performs in all works.

MUPG 606Interdisciplinary Project 1. 13

Interdisciplinary Project 1.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Research-creation involving collaboration between different disciplines resulting in a new work, interpretation or contribution to knowledge presented in public or through recorded media (e.g., performer and composer; performer and actor/dancer; performer and CIRMMT researcher; performer and sound recording student) with program notes as relevant.

MUPG 607Interdisciplinary Project 2. 16

Interdisciplinary Project 2.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Research-creation involving collaboration between different disciplines resulting in a new work, interpretation or contribution to knowledge presented in public (i.e., performer-composer commission); performance and actor/dancer collaboration, participant as co-researcher in CIRMMT study including participation in analysis of data, etc.) with program notes as relevant.

1

If chosen, students may take either ²Ñ±«±Ê³ÒÌý606 Interdisciplinary Project 1. or ²Ñ±«±Ê³ÒÌý607 Interdisciplinary Project 2..

9 credits at the 500 level or higher, to be chosen from the Schulich School of Music’s seminar offerings; 3 of the 9 credits must have a MUCO, MUGS, MUGT, MUHL, MUMT, MUPP or MUTH subject code.

6 credits from the following:

Course Title Credits
MUEN 540Chamber Music Project 1.0.5

Chamber Music Project 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Chamber music ensemble for various instruments.

MUEN 541Chamber Music Project 2.0.5

Chamber Music Project 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Chamber music ensemble for various instruments.

MUEN 553Vocal Chamber Ensemble.1

Vocal Chamber Ensemble.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Vocal ensemble repertoire written after 1800.

MUEN 560Chamber Music Ensemble.1

Chamber Music Ensemble.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Ensemble for chamber music - various instruments.

MUEN 5612nd Chamber Music Ensemble.1

2nd Chamber Music Ensemble.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Chamber music of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.

MUEN 568Multiple Ensemble 1.1

Multiple Ensemble 1.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Special arrangement ensemble. Topic varies by year.

MUEN 569Tabla Ensemble.1

Tabla Ensemble.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Performance and practice of the tabla of North India.

MUEN 578Song Interpretation 1.1

Song Interpretation 1.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Normally open only to Voice and Piano Performance students. Study of the standard song repertoire with emphasis on the singer and pianist as partners. A public recital will be given at the end of each term.

MUEN 579Song Interpretation 2.1

Song Interpretation 2.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Study of song repertoire for singers and pianists.

MUEN 582Piano Ensembles.1

Piano Ensembles.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Ensemble playing in two-piano and piano 4-hand repertoire.

MUEN 584Studio Accompanying.1

Studio Accompanying.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Highly qualified collaborative partners will be assigned to work independently with studio teachers and their students.

MUEN 585Sonata Masterclass.1

Sonata Masterclass.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Exploration of the vast literature for sonatas with piano and instrument, including multiple issues of ensemble preparation and performing.

MUEN 588Multiple Ensemble 2.1

Multiple Ensemble 2.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Special arrangement ensemble. Topic varies by year.

MUEN 590¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ Wind Orchestra.2

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ Wind Orchestra.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Large ensemble for wind instruments.

MUEN 594Contemporary Music Ensemble.2

Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Ensemble for contemporary music - instruments and voice.

MUEN 597¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra.2

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Ensemble for orchestral instruments.

MUEN 688Multiple Ensembles.2

Multiple Ensembles.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Student participation in more than one ensemble in different concert periods over the course of a term.

MUPD 580Piano Pedagogy Practicum.2

Piano Pedagogy Practicum.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Observation of studio and master class teaching, videotaped private instruction, and adjudication of student performances.

MUPG 571Free Improvisation 1.1

Free Improvisation 1.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

Introduction to the creative practice of improvisation for performers. The course focuses on the development of listening as applied to the practice of collective and solo improvisation.

MUPG 572D1Free Improvisation 2.0.5

Free Improvisation 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

This course is designed for performers who want to develop their skills as advanced improvisers. Both collective and solo contexts are addressed as performance practices, touching upon the history of improvisation as well as current trends.

MUPG 572D2Free Improvisation 2.0.5

Free Improvisation 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

This course is designed for performers who want to develop their skills as advanced improvisers. Both collective and solo contexts are addressed as performance practices, touching upon the history of improvisation as well as current trends.

MUPG 670Advanced Continuo 1.2

Advanced Continuo 1.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

A historically-oriented study of the principles of figured bass. Standard idioms from historical treatises will be introduced. Preparation of operatic excerpts from the standard high Baroque repertory is required.

MUPG 670D1Advanced Continuo 1.1

Advanced Continuo 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

A historically-oriented study of the principles of figured bass. Standard idioms from historical treatises will be introduced. Preparation of operatic excerpts from the standard high Baroque repertory is required.

MUPG 670D2Advanced Continuo 1.1

Advanced Continuo 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

For description see MUPG 670D1.

MUPG 671Advanced Continuo 2.2

Advanced Continuo 2.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

A study of the many different styles of figured bass accompaniment as revealed in contemporary sources. The emphasis will be on realization at the keyboard of representative 17th- and 18th- century operatic recitatives and arias.

MUPG 671D1Advanced Continuo 2.1

Advanced Continuo 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

A study of the many different styles of figured bass accompaniment as revealed in contemporary sources. The emphasis will be on realization at the keyboard of representative 17th- and 18th- century operatic recitatives and arias.

MUPG 671D2Advanced Continuo 2.1

Advanced Continuo 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

For description see MUPG 671D1.

MUPG 687Collaborative Piano Repertoire 1: Song.1

Collaborative Piano Repertoire 1: Song.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Issues in collaborative piano song repertoire and performance in different genres and musical styles.

MUPG 688Collaborative Piano Repertoire 2: Instrumental.1

Collaborative Piano Repertoire 2: Instrumental.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Issues in collaborative piano instrumental repertoire and performance in different genres and musical styles.

MUPG 689Collaborative Piano Rep.3: Orch. Reduction, Opera, Oratorio.1

Collaborative Piano Rep.3: Orch. Reduction, Opera, Oratorio.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

Issues in collaborative piano orchestral reduction, opera, oratorio and performance in different genres and musical styles.

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