Music Performance Diploma – COMPOSITION

  • All music courses listed must be taken to complete the MPD or TRU-OL’s B.Mus. program; the yearly outline below is intended primarily as a guide.  General education electives are for the B.Mus. degree only, offered by distance education or credit transfer through Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning (TRU-OL).
  • Students are required to achieve a performance level on an instrument equivalent to RCM Grade 10 by the end of second year. Otherwise they continue instrument lessons, without credit and at additional cost, until their performance level is achieved.
  • Before being admitted to second year in the Composition program, students must submit a portfolio for evaluation. This portfolio consists of at least three completed compositions for varied instrumentations.

First Year 1st Semester

Course Course No. Credits
Music Theory I MUS 101 3
Ear-Training I MUS 121 1
Music History I MUS 131 3
Applied Music MUS 141 4
Introduction to Composition I MUS 153 2
General Education Elective Elective 3
Total Semester Credits 16

First Year 2nd Semester

Course Course No. Credits
Music Theory II MUS 102 3
Ear-Training II MUS 122 1
Music History II MUS 132 3
Applied Music MUS 142 4
Introduction to Composition II MUS 154 2
General Education Elective Elective 3
Total Semester Credits 16

Second Year 1st Semester

Course Course No. Credits
Music Theory III MUS 201 3
Ear-Training III MUS 221 1
Music History III MUS 231 3
Applied Music MUS 241 4
Secondary Instrument MUS 243 2
Performance of an original composition MUS 253 1
General Education Elective Elective 3
Total Semester Credits 17

Second Year 2nd Semester

Course Course No. Credits
Music Theory IV MUS 202 3
Ear-Training IV MUS 222 1
Music History IV MUS 232 3
Applied Music MUS 242 4
Secondary Instrument MUS 244 2
Performance of an original composition MUS 254 1
General Education Elective Elective 3
Total Semester Credits 17

Third Year 1st Semester

Course Course No. Credits
Music Theory V MUS 301 3
Applied Music MUS 341 4
Performance of an original composition MUS 353 2
Orchestration I MUS 371 2
Conducting I MUS 381 2
Total Semester Credits 13

Third Year 2nd Semester

Course Course No. Credits
Music Theory VI MUS 302 3
Applied Music MUS 342 4
Performance of an original composition MUS 354 2
Orchestration II MUS 372 2
Conducting II MUS 382 2
General Education Elective Elective 3
Total Semester Credits 16

Fourth Year 1st Semester

Course Course No. Credits
Career Development MUS 411 1
Applied Music MUS 441 4
Performance of an Original Composition MUS 453 2
Theory VII MUS 491 2
General Education Elective Elective 3
Total Semester Credits 12

Fourth Year 2nd Semester

Course Course No. Credits
Topics in Performance Success MUS 412 1
Applied Music MUS 442 4
Theory VIII MUS 492 2
Graduation Recital MUS 499 6
Total Semester Credits 13