Music
Professional musicians are not only talented artists that are passionate about music; they are also creative, collaborative, and curious individuals who understand the need to develop savvy skills that enable them to build a satisfying career, and make a positive difference in people's lives.
The music world is composed of a broad and diverse range of musical styles. Professional musicians require a wide-ranging understanding of the theoretical, historical, and technical aspects of music in order to perform and create music at a high standard and in a variety of professional settings.
The KPU music program offers students three credentials:
- Bachelor of Music in Musical Arts. A degree consisting of 122 credits of coursework.
- Music Diploma. A two-year diploma is embedded within the degree. It allows students to have an optional exit point after completion of lower-level requirements. The Diploma has six concentrations: General Studies, Comprehensive Studies, Guitar Performance, Orchestral Instrument Performance, Piano Performance and Vocal Performance.
- Associate of Arts Degree. A two-year Associate of Arts Degree in Music prepares students to pursue a number of music-related careers. Students take a variety of general education courses in conjunction with several music-related classes, which provides them a well-rounded and versatile education.
It is recommended that prospective music students attend a music information session where program content and application procedures will be explained. For more information, please visit kpu.ca/music
In this section
Student Profile
Prospective music students come from a variety of backgrounds. You may have taken private music lessons from an early age, or may have discovered music in your high school band, choral or guitar programs. You may have gained musical experience playing or singing in a community or church ensemble. You are now at a point where you want to further your musical interests.
University music students cultivate their skills under the guidance of professional faculty whose lives involve performance, composition, recording, and entrepreneurship.
Prospective students will be asked demonstrate their practical performance skills, rudimentary knowledge of music theory, and basic aural and rhythm skills in an audition/interview and placement test. In addition, students must meet the entrance requirements for the university.
Career Opportunities
The program opens multiple pathways to career options that include music education, performance, studio pedagogy, music therapy, recording, and interdisciplinary arts.
With the Bachelor of Music in Musical Arts degree students have continued into graduate studies in music education, performance, studio pedagogy, music composition, arranging, theory, and musicology at universities across North America.
Bachelor of Music students have also pursued music-related careers such as music librarian, music therapist, audio engineer, digital audio editor, concern promoter, and music producer in the related fields of film, theatre, and television.