Music Studio courses offer individual instruction in voice, piano, organ, all orchestral instruments, saxophone, and acoustic guitar.
Music studio courses are MUSIC 226, 227, 326, 327, 426, 427, and 428. Only students applying to take Music Studio for the first time (MUSIC 226) need to audition.
Anyone in any undergraduate program may take MUSIC 226 and 227 after a successful audition. However, see availability to majors/non-majors for details. A final mark of at least 65% must be obtained in order to proceed to the next term of Music Studio, except in the case of Music 426 when the student intends to proceed to Music 428 (senior grad recital), where a mark of at least 85% is required from both the instructor and each juror.
There are currently scholarships open to studio students (both music majors and non-majors) for vocal and string players.
Auditions
Admittance to take your first Music Studio course: MUSIC 226 (individual lessons) is by audition. The audition is meant to ensure the faculty that the student has achieved a certain degree of accomplishment and shows sufficient promise to merit this kind of instruction for credit. If there may be more qualified students auditioning than we have places available, the faculty will select the best candidates on a competitive basis. The auditions also provide a basis for faculty to evaluate the progress of a student during subsequent studies. See performance standards within the auditions for current students page for more information.
Scheduling and information
See the music studio auditions page for more information on:
- scheduling your audition
- audition dates
- performance standards
- audition requirements
- required audition materials
- procedures
- piano accompaniment
- results and scholarships
Enrolment
Procedure
Students who have been accepted by audition into Music Studio will be contacted in order to obtain a permission number that will allow them to add it to their timetable on Quest. Before this is provided, be sure to do the following:
- Register online for a Music Ensemble (MUSIC 116, 117, 216, 217, 316, or 317; see Music ensemble courses for which number to take), which is the co-requisite for Music Studio. (Any exceptions must be cleared by Professor Karen Sunabacka, Undergraduate Officer)
- Provide a copy of your timetable (in calendar format off Quest) to give to the Department of Music administrative assistant in the music office. This will be used to schedule you for master classes and student recitals. (Note: this is only if you have other synchronous classes or labs.)
- Pay the Music Studio fee (online banking or credit card). Instructions will be emailed.
- Lesson times will be arranged.
Studio fee
In addition to tuition, there is a fee of $350.00 (Spring 2024-Winter 2025) to take Music Studio. This fee covers the higher cost of providing one-on-one instruction to students as well as the use of a piano accompanist and master class instruction. This must be paid before any lessons are given.
Ensemble participation requirement
All students who enroll in Music Studio must participate in an ensemble for that term, or have a previous term of ensemble. There is a separate audition to be admitted into an ensemble. See ensembles for more information.
NOTE: You must also audition separately for and be accepted into a music ensemble in addition to having registered and/or begin to participate in an ensemble (MUSIC 116, 117, 216, 217, 316, 317, 416, 417)
Please also carefully read the course outline for more detailed information on the Studio courses.
Lessons
Students enrolled in Music Studio receive nine (9) hours of instruction, normally taught as twelve (12) 45-minute lessons.
Instructors
Visit the profiles web page for a list of our studio instructors and view our list of instruments taught.
Master class
Master class refers to group performance classes. In addition to individualized instruction, all Music Studio students are required to attend scheduled master classes. For example, a group of instrumental students might meet with a studio instructor for two hours one day to perform for each other, receive constructive critique, and learn new techniques.
Recitals
Music Studio students typically perform in a student recital for their peers and the greater public at the end of the term. Participation in a student recital is encouraged, but not required for students in MUSIC 226 and 227. Student recital participation is required for MUSIC 326, 327, 426, 427 and 428.
Honours and joint honours music students may wish to perform a graduation recital as part of their degree. This is done by taking MUSIC 428.
See our Events Website for upcoming dates once the term has started.
Accompanist
All Music Studio students (except pianists) are entitled to one hour per term with an accompanist in order to prepare for recitals, master classes and final performance exam.
Evaluation
Music Studio students are evaluated based on the quality of their work and attendance at lessons, the quality of their work and attendance at master classes, the quality of their jury performance (the jury is a performance-based "final exam" at the end of the term), and attendance at student recitals.
Availability to majors and non-majors
The following limits apply to the number of Music Studio courses students may take for credit:
Honours and joint honours music
Six terms
MUSIC 226, 227, 326, 327, 426, and 427 or 428 (with grad recital)
Music 4-year general
Five terms
MUSIC 226, 227, 326, 327, and 426
Music 3-year general
Four terms
MUSIC 226, 227, 326, and 327
Music minor
Three terms
MUSIC 226, 227, and 326
Music Studio as an elective
Two terms
MUSIC 226 and 227
*MUSIC 326 is available to Music Minors only after the Minor has been declared and MUSIC 270 has been completed.
**If a student changes his or her academic plan to one whose Music Studio course limit is lower than the number of courses already taken, only the lower number of courses may be counted toward the Music requirements for the degree(e.g., Honours to 4-year General).