Music (Bachelor of Music)

The Bachelor of Music Program is a four-year program (120 semester hours) designed to provide students with sufficient flexibility to reflect their interests. The first two years are common to the Bachelor of Music Education Program.* During years three and four, students may choose from a variety of music electives. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to continue studies at the graduate level in a wide array of specializations, including performance, musicology, conducting, music theory, composition, music therapy, sound recording, music education, ethnomusicology, collaborative piano, pedagogy, music technology, arts administration, and more.

*Note: Only students with the Bachelor of Music Education degree will qualify for music teacher certification on Prince Edward Island.

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Meet Dr. Magdalena von Eccher, performing artist and assistant professor in UPEI's Music department.

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Note: Current UPEI students should refer to Student Planning in myUPEI and the UPEI Academic Calendar governing their entry year, and speak to an academic advisor about course requirements. The course structure presented for this program is a recommended, unofficial progression for prospective students.

Note: As per Academic Regulation 1h, all undergraduate degree programs require successful completion of IKE-1040 (new for students beginning or returning after re-application in Fall 2022); one of UPEI-1010, UPEI-1020, or UPEI-1030, and a Writing Intensive Course. 

Year I

NOTE: ENSEMBLE REQUIREMENTS: All students enrolled in a music program must satisfactorily complete the requirements for participation in a minimum of six full-year ensembles for the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education Degrees as follows:

• Brass/Woodwind/Percussion majors - 2 years Concert Choir, 4 years Wind Symphony
• Piano majors - 4 years Concert Choir, 2 years Collaborative Piano*
• Voice majors - 4 years Concert Choir, 2 years Diction Lab & 2 years chamber Singers
• Jazz & Classical Guitar majors - 2 years Concert Choir, 4 years of another recognized ensemble**
• String majors - 2 years Concert Choir, 4 years of another recognized ensemble**

* Pianists who have reached the 3000 level in applied piano are required to take Collaborative Piano as their ensemble in lieu of large ensembles unless they are performing as pianist in those large ensembles. Placement is at the discretion of faculty.
** Possible ensembles include the UPEI Jazz Ensemble, UPEI Percussion Ensemble, UPEI Wind Symphony; or a community ensemble for which permission must be granted by the Department Chair. The community ensemble will be titled "Recognized Ensemble" on students' transcripts.

NOTE: Unless the ensemble requirement is fulfilled, graduation will be denied.

YEAR II

(common to both Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education Programs)

NOTE: Ensembles required (see note at end of Year I).

Year III

NOTE: Ensembles required (see note at end of Year I)

Year IV

NOTE: Ensembles required (see note at end of Year I)

Students wishing to receive a Minor in Music must complete a total of twenty-one semester hours of music courses, selected from the following list (or others in consultation with the Chair), with at least nine semester hours at the 2000 level or above: Music 1130, 1140, 1150, 1170, 1230, 1240, 2130, 2140, 2150, 2170, 2230, 3150, 4120, 4220, or 4230.

Students should check with the Chair of the Department in which they are majoring to ensure that these courses may be counted as electives. Note: some of these courses are not offered every year.

Students interested in the Minor in Music are encouraged to contact the Music Department for course advisement. Those students wishing to register for Music 1130 (Music Theory) OR Music 1150 must take a diagnostic test to determine the level of learning support that might be needed prior to (or during) the course(s), and should contact the Music Department before 10 July to arrange an appropriate time to take the test.

High School Graduates

Canadian High School Equivalency Chart

Successful completion of Grade 12 examinations in a University Preparatory Program with an overall average of at least 70% (75% for Quebec Secondary V students) in the following subjects:

• English;
• one Social Studies or Language;
• any 3 other academic courses. Grade 12 math recommended.
  Note: Grade 12 Math is a prerequisite for some 1st year Arts courses.

In addition to these entrance requirements, candidates for the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education will demonstrate technical proficiency, musical expression, and learning potential on their instrument or voice.

A personal interview, audition, and diagnostic tests in theory and aural skills will be arranged prior to registration for each student wishing to enter a Music program. An audition is not required for entrance into the BA Program with Major in Music.

Please refer to the UPEI Academic Calendar for complete information.

UPEI's undergraduate tuition is the second-lowest in the Atlantic region, and we offer millions of dollars in scholarships and awards.

Tuition

$7,170 per year, based on 30 credit hours ($717 per 3 credit course).
International students pay $8,410 per year in addition to full-time student tuition.

For a complete breakdown of part-time or full-time study as a student in the Faculty of Arts, visit our Tuition and Fees page.

Scholarships and Awards

UPEI supports you and your educational goals. We administer millions of dollars in scholarships and awards to our undergraduate and graduate students every year. Depending on your faculty or program, and year of study, you may be eligible for available awards.

Search the complete list of scholarships for information and application forms.  

Celebrating Student Achievement

Including Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships and Academic Excellence Awards, these awards recognize the academic achievements of all students who meet the eligibility criteria while studying towards their first undergraduate degree.

Visit the Scholarships site for complete information.

UPEI has about 250 faculty—exceptional scholars, teachers, and mentors, with more being hired each year as we open new, progressive, and unique programs. But the story isn’t just in the numbers. It’s in the quality of our people. Award-winning faculty from around the globe have made UPEI home. Here, you’ll learn directly from these world-class professors and researchers in small classes where you’ll have easy access to them.

Karen Axworthy - violin / viola
Stephen Bouey - voice / diction
Krista Bryson - percussion
Richard Covey - composition / aural skills
Adam Hill - double bass
Rob Reid - classical guitar
Morgan Saulnier - flute / aural skills
Sung Ha Shin-Bouey - voice / choir
Amy Simon - clarinet
Dale Sorensen - brass (trumpet / horn / trombone / euphonium / tuba) / Wind Symphony
Nicole Strum - saxophone / theory
Magdalena von Eccher - piano
Natalie Williams Calhoun - cello
Andrew Zinck - musicology

Questions?
Contact:
Marlee Saulnier
Department of Music
music@upei.ca
902-566-0507