New Undergraduate Student Handbook

SCHULICH SCHOOL OF MUSIC New Undergraduate Student Handbook

2021 - 2022 PRODUCED BY Music Student Affairs Office

Schulich School of Music McGill University 527 Sherbrooke St. West Elizabeth Wirth Music Building, 7th floor Montreal, Quebec Canada H3A 1E3 Phone 514.398.4541 • Email: [email protected]

Note: Information in this handbook is subject to change. Refer to the eCalendar and/or McGill’s website for the most up-to-date information.

Table of Contents

Contents Online Program Audit (OPA) ...... 1 Program Requirements ...... 1 Practical Instruction / Lesson Quota ...... 2 Performance Exams ...... 2 Ensembles ...... 3 Registration and Withdrawal Deadlines ...... 4 Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) Option ...... 4 Music Library ...... 5 Music Fees ...... 5 Merit-Based Scholarships ...... 6 Financial-Need Based Assistance...... 6 Wellness Program for Music Students ...... 7 Supporting your Success ...... 8 Work Opportunities and Career Counselling ...... 9 Communications & Production, Schulich School of Music...... 10 Student Associations ...... 10 Directory ...... 11 Area Coordinators ...... 12

ACADEMIC LIFE

Online Program Audit (OPA) This is your personalized program plan which keeps track of the exemptions, transfer credits and courses you have completed towards your program. This form is updated by the Music Student Affairs Office at least once a year, usually shortly after the end of an academic year.

You can download a copy to your hard-drive so you can make notes on the form about your future studies.

To access the online program progress chart:

1. Log into Microsoft One Drive for Business site using your McGill Username and Password here: https://portal.office.com

2. Once you are in the Office 365 portal, you should see an excel document with your name, Last Name_Preferred First Name_Program

For advising and graduation review purpose, the Schulich School of Music always refers to your online program plan, labelled Student Affairs Office (SAO) copy, which is saved on One Drive.

https://www.mcgill.ca/music/resources/undergraduate/academic- resources/program-audit

Program Requirements A wealth of information about your program can be found on your program web page. Explore the different sections on your program website to learn more about:

• Program Requirements • Sample Annual Sequence Study Plan • Ensemble Policy • Performance Exam Requirements and Application Deadlines • Teacher Profiles, etc.

You can locate your program website here:

https://www.mcgill.ca/music/programs

Practical Instruction / Lesson Quota Practical instruction is also known as private lessons. All students registered in an undergraduate program at the Schulich School of Music will be assigned a teacher for instrumental or voice lessons. You must submit an online application form before the assigned deadline (usually May 15th) to request for teacher assignment.

Submit an application on this website: https://www.mcgill.ca/music/resources/undergraduate/practical-instruction-muin- courses

Depending on your admission type and the program for which you are enrolled in, you are entitled to specific number of years of practical instruction. To find out more about your lesson quota, visit the eCalendar: https://www.mcgill.ca/study/2021- 2022/faculties/music/undergraduate/ug_music_tuition_instruction_fees_lesson_quot as#topic_4F3E32B5C32041D4847BF67D482E9049

Performance Exams If you are in a performance program, you are expected to successfully complete three performance exams (MUIN 282, 382 and 482 for B.Mus. or MUIN 252, 352 and 452 for L.Mus.). You will consult with your practical instruction teacher to determine when is an appropriate time to apply for each practical exam.

If you are in a non-performance program, you will only have one concentration exam (MUIN 283) to complete.

The faculty has two main performance exam periods: April and December. You will receive an email from the Performance Department each semester to remind you when to apply for a performance exam.

Similar to practical instruction, you cannot register for a performance/concentration exam on Minerva yourself. The Performance Department will add the exam course number to your student records once your application has been approved.

Refer to the “Exams” tab on your program web page for more information on the exam schedules and practical exam requirements.

Ensembles

Each program has different ensemble requirements. Click on “Ensembles” under Program Structure of the McGill website listing your program to learn more about the ensemble requirements for your program.

We expect music students to register for one or more ensembles while they are taking practical instruction. Speak with your Program’s Area Coordinator if you would like to know which ensemble(s) might be suitable for you.

Most ensemble assignments are based on your audition at the beginning of each academic year. Consult the ensemble audition web page for more info: https://www.mcgill.ca/music/ensembles/auditions

Small ensembles (value at 1 credit each) are for students admitted in a performance program only, and are assigned by individual area.

Contact the following professors if you have questions about the small ensembles.

Early Music Ensemble (MUEN 580): [email protected] Jazz Combos (MUEN 570): [email protected] Brass Ensemble (MUEN 560): [email protected] String Ensemble (MUEN 560) – violin, viola and cello – must do the chamber music audition: [email protected] Wind Ensemble (MUEN 560): [email protected] Pianists must do a piano ensemble audition for placement in small and large ensembles: [email protected]

Contact Ms. Egidia DeMichele ([email protected]) at the Music Student Affairs Office if you are assigned to more than one small ensemble in any given term, or require clarification on which small ensemble section you should register for.

It is your responsibility to ensure you are registered in the correct ensemble section before the add/drop deadline. Failure to do so will result in failing grade due to registration error.

Registration and Withdrawal Deadlines You have until Tuesday, September 14th to make changes to your fall registration without fee penalty. Should you find the course load difficult to manage, or that the course is not meeting your expectation, you can withdraw from the course with refund via Minerva by Tuesday, September 21nd.

More key registration dates for the fall and winter semesters can be found on the Important Date website: www.mcgill.ca/importantdates/key-dates

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) Option You are permitted to register for one non-music elective as a S/U option each semester. The S/U option has on effect on the Grade Point Average (GPA). You may not exceed 10% of your total credits in courses with S/U option at McGill to fulfill degree requirements. You must select the S/U option when registering for a non-music elective on Minerva before the add/drop deadline. The S/U grade cannot later be reverted to a letter grade.

Note: S/U option cannot be used on a required course for a minor or major, and is excluded from the credit count for scholarship consideration.

More info on S/U policy is found here. https://www.mcgill.ca/music/resources/undergraduate/academic-resources

Music Library

The Marvin Duchow Music Library, which includes the Gertrude Whitley Performance Library, is located in the Wirth Music Building.

The Music Library is here to support you during your studies!

• Friendly, musically knowledgeable staff are available to answer your questions about research and resources. www.mcgill.ca/library/branches/music/staff.

• Music materials in many formats – scores, audio & video recordings, books, journals – are available for your use, often electronically. Various types of equipment are also available for borrowing. While the Library remains closed to students, most physical items can be requested through the Pickup Service.

• Music Library guides have been created to help you with your research and performance needs: www.mcgill.ca/library/find/subjects/music.

• The Performance Library holds a separate collection of parts and scores to support the needs of Performance Department ensembles.

Follow @mcgillmusiclibrary (Facebook, Instagram) or consult the Library’s website (www.mcgill.ca/library/branches/music) for more information and the most recent updates concerning services.

Music Fees You will be charged a supplemental fee when taking practical instruction in one or more of the following scenarios:

• You are part-time student. (The supplemental part-time lesson fee is waived if you are part-time during the final graduating year).

• You are pursuing private lessons in a second instrument/voice.

• You are taking practical instruction above the lesson quota.

To learn more about the Schulich School of Music fees, visit the Student Accounts website: www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/tuition-fees/non-tuition-charges/other

Merit-Based Scholarships There are no applications for merit-based scholarships. The Music Scholarship Committee convenes once a year in June to assign scholarships to eligible students. You will be notified by email during the summer months if you have been awarded a music scholarship.

You must be registered for a minimum of 27 credits TOTAL in the fall and winter semesters preceding the scholarship award year, excluding Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) courses and summer courses, in order to be considered for scholarships.

More information on scholarships can be found on our website: www.mcgill.ca/music/student-resources/undergraduates/finance

Financial-Need Based Assistance You may also apply for government aid to finance your studies here. McGill’s Scholarship and Student Aid Office also offers McGill loans and bursaries if you qualify for financial-need based assistance. Most of these financial assistance programs are interest-free while you are enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited degree program.

For more information, visit the Student Aid and Scholarship website: www.mcgill.ca/studentaid

Wellness Program for Music Students The Schulich School of Music has Local Wellness Advisor (LWA).

Email: [email protected]

The role of the LWA is to promote awareness, prevention, and early intervention of wellness-related issues for Schulich students. The LWA:

• Is an access point and bridge to care (to on an off-campus resources)

• Meets with students 1:1 for consultation and to create a wellness plan with students

• Delivers workshops on wellness and academic success

• Coordinates wellness programming at Schuluch, including

o Alexander Technique lessons

o Feldenkrais sessions

o Sports Massage

o Schulich support group

o Guest speakers

o Various and ongoing wellness events and program development catered to the needs of Schulich students

More details can be found on our website: www.mcgill.ca/music/student-resources/undergraduates/student-life

And at the Student Wellness Hub website: https://www.mcgill.ca/wellness-hub/

Supporting your Success Aside from the Wellness Programs mentioned above, you can attend workshops and/or seek counsel from McGill Student Services to support your academic and personal success.

McGill Writing Centre

This centre offers one-on-one writing support tutorial services and academic writing courses. If you do not have a strong English foundation, we recommend you to take an academic writing (CESL) course offered by the Writing Centre before taking music history (MUHL) courses. The skills you will acquire from the CESL course will help you meet the academic expectation for the MUHL and other humanities courses. The credits earned from a CESL course can be used as an elective to meet your program requirement. www.mcgill.ca/mwc

Student Wellness Hub

Many university students experience some form of academic difficulty which may serve as a barrier to the attainment of their goals. Issues include procrastination, time management, exam anxiety, study skills, loss of motivation and problems with concentration. If these or similar issues are adversely affecting your academic work, the Student Wellness Hub can help you.

Brown Student Services Building 3600 McTavish St. Tel.: (514) 398-6017 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mcgill.ca/wellness-hub

Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD)

The OSD works with students who have documented disabilities, mental health issues, chronic health conditions, or other impairments. These may be temporary, permanent or episodic. We encourage you to book an appointment with an Access Service Advisor to discuss your barriers and to determine what resources or accommodations will help make your time at McGill a success.

1010 Sherbrooke St. West, Suite 410 Tel: (514) 398-6009 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mcgill.ca/osd

To book an appointment with an advisor at the OSD, please head to their website for the Online Bookings Calendars: https://www.mcgill.ca/osd/contact-us

Work Opportunities and Career Counselling

Career and Placement Services (CaPs)

Our CaPS Music Career Advisor is available to meet with students to discuss topics including: • Career goals, ideas & questions • Options both within the music industry and beyond • Strategies and resources to find jobs, internships, gigs & volunteering opportunities • Future education plans • CVs & application documents

CaPS also presents workshops and organizes many networking and career events throughout the year where you can meet with working professionals and stay informed on career-related opportunities.

Jan Bottomer Music & Arts Career Advisor Email: [email protected] Tel.: (514) 398-3304, ext. 0768 Website: https://www.mcgill.ca/music/resources/career-planning

Browse myFuture https://caps.myfuture.mcgill.ca for job opportunities and to register for events and workshops!

Communications & Production, Schulich School of Music

The Schulich School of Music offers job opportunities as ushers, stage hands, box office attendants, etc. You must be accepted to the Work Study Program to be eligible to apply for these positions.

Visit the Work Study Program website for more info: www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/work-study

Follow Schulich on social media for up to date news about concerts, student/faculty/alumni accomplishments, and more: @schulichmusic

Student Associations Enjoy a plethora of activities organized by your student associations!

McGill’s Music Undergraduate Students’ Association (MUSA) https://www.mcgillmusa.ca/

Music Education Undergraduate Students’ Association (MEDUSA) https://www.medusamcgill.com/

Aside from the two music student associations, you can also join many other student clubs and interest groups at McGill. Visit https://www.mcgill.ca/engage/for more info.