Music (BMus)

Unleash your musical passion at Laurier, where you’ll learn from our acclaimed faculty through personalized and supportive feedback. Whether you want to perform, research, compose, teach, or heal, you’ll find a concentration that matches your passion and ambition. You can also apply to the Bachelor of Music Therapy program in your second year. Auditions are required for entry to the Bachelor of Music. 

Looking ahead to a career in education? Apply to the Music with Teaching Option program.

Apply Your Learning

As a first-year student you will enjoy weekly private lessons, ensemble playing, masterclasses and lectures that teach you the fundamentals of music theory and history. Our program helps you grow your musical skills and confidence with generous personal attention from your instructors. When you join Laurier, you become part of a distinguished community that values your academic and mental well-being and helps you throughout your four years of study to pursue the path that meets your goals.

Program Highlights

  • At Laurier, you will enjoy the advantage of having subsidized and skilled coach-accompanists who will support and enhance your musical development and performance.

  • The Navigating the Music Industry Ecosystem Certificate at Laurier is a unique opportunity for any music student to gain insider knowledge, practical skills, and professional connections that will help them thrive in the music industry. 

  • Opera Laurier showcases the talents of singers and musicians in two captivating performances every year – a selection of scenes in the fall and a complete opera in the spring.

Take the Stage

Laurier offers endless opportunities to pursue your performing interests. Each year, you will be part of one of our ensembles and learn from our experienced Conductors, who will mentor and support you as a performer. You can also showcase your solo music skills by participating in our student recital concert series. No matter your comfort or experience with performing, you will join a motivating community that will improve your level of performance.

Ensembles include:

  • Laurier Symphony Orchestra
  • Laurier Wind Orchestra
  • Laurier Concert Choir
  • Vox Experimental Show Choir 
  • Improvisation Convergence Ensemble
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • Percussion Ensemble
  • additional chamber groups

Beyond the Classroom

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you. Volunteer work, campus clubs, leadership programs, studying abroad, work experience – there are so many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world. Learn more about experiential learning through the Music Experience and Career Guide.

 

2022 graduates who secured employment or went on to postgraduate studies

 

Laurier ranks in the top 6 percent of universities worldwide*

 

students who gained hands-on learning experiences at Laurier in 2022

*Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)

Admissions

Format: full time      Duration: four years     Start: September (fall term)     OUAC code: UM (Music); UNT (Music with Teaching Option)

Admission to the Bachelor of Music is based on the collective results of meeting academic requirements, successful audition, interview with a faculty member, reference and an optional portfolio.

Program Options and Courses

Instruments

We know your passion for your instrument or voice is a big part of what defines you. Find your instrument below to learn what makes studying it at Laurier unique, as well as audition advice and repertoire requirements.

Don’t study an instrument listed below? Contact musicauditions@wlu.ca for audition information.

First-Year Courses

  • Music and its Contexts
  • Foundational Vocal Techniques
  • Musical Skills Lab I
  • Theory I
  • Theory II
  • Ensemble
  • Practical Study (lessons and masterclass)
  • 1.5 electives

Sample Upper-Year Courses

  • Composition
  • Introduction to Music Therapy
  • Conducting
  • Introduction to Elementary Music Education
  • The Business of Being a Professional Musician
  • Introduction to Accompanying and Keyboard Skills
  • Acting for Singers I
  • Studies in the History of Opera

Similar Programs

Bachelor of Education Pathway

Top-ranking Music graduates are guaranteed admission to Laurier’s Bachelor of Education (BEd) program, as long as they meet the minimum admission requirements for the BEd program.

Metalworks Institute Pathway

Blend a Laurier music degree and a Metalworks diploma, receiving state-of-the-art, hands-on audio engineering experience from Metalworks alongside the traditional and innovative music degree options at Laurier in as little as four years.

Randolph College for the Performing Arts Pathway

Earn a Laurier Bachelor of Music and a Performing Arts College Diploma focusing on acting, singing and dance from Randolph College for the Performing Arts in a condensed time frame.

Teaching Option

Interested in a direct pathway to a Bachelor of Education?

Laurier’s undergraduate Teaching Option consists of 4.0 credits throughout your degree: five core half-credit courses offered through the Faculty of Education, plus three elective half-credit courses from an approved list. 

If you're admitted into and complete this Teaching Option pathway, you'll have earned a guaranteed spot in our Bachelor of Education (BEd) program, provided you meet all the admissions requirements, including:

students-at-whiteboard.jpg

Concentrations

You'll start your Bachelor of Music (BMus) with a year of well-rounded music foundations, giving you the flexibility to delve deeper into all areas of music before choosing your concentration in second year.

Concentrations are offered in composition, integrated musical arts, music education, music history, theory and critical analysis, performance and self-directed studies.

You may also apply to the Bachelor of Music Therapy after second year instead of choosing a concentration.

Once you are a music student at Laurier our academic advisor is always available to help you determine which concentration is the right fit for your career goals.

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

Faculty of Music Scholarships

On top of any entrance scholarships you may earn, a Faculty of Music auditon scholarship. Roughly $100,000 in Music scholarshps are awarded to first-year students each year. Financial success doesn’t end in first year; scholarships are available to upper-year students by application.

Our top first-year scholarships based on audition include the $5,000 Ken Murray Entrance Scholarship and the $2,000 Martens-Falk Voice Scholarship.

"The Music program at Laurier is highly respected and renowned due to the many opportunities it provides to students, whether that be performing in the community, within the faculty or sponsoring students to pursue their own entrepreneurial pursuits, including competitions."

Naomi Brito, Music graduate

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • musician/performer
  • conductor
  • composer
  • producer
  • teacher
  • music therapist
  • music/arts journalist
  • sound technician

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Waterloo Campus

The Waterloo campus is tucked into about one city block, so you’re steps away from your classes, food and your new favourite study spot.

There are many ways to tour our Waterloo campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

"It’s so great to be taught by such distinguished musicians, many with performance histories circling the globe. I enjoy building my skill and seeing my abilities develop as a singer. I love being able to witness my peers learn and grow during masterclasses."

Ashley Sherk, Music graduate

Interested in More Info?

Email choosemusic@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all Music faculty and staff.