1. Be kind, caring, and respectful to all those around you. The School for the Arts will not tolerate any expressions or acts of discrimination towards any other person or group on campus on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ability. Anyone exhibiting these behaviours will be asked to leave the premises.
2. Help to create a positive learning environment by being considerate and aware of your volume in our hallways and classrooms.
3. Be on time! If another commitment or an unavoidable occurrence causes you to be late, please reach out to your instructor or ensemble director.
4. Please leave our spaces clean and in good order. If you move furniture around, put it back in its place before leaving.
5. Do not share key codes with anyone outside of the music program. These key codes are to ensure the safety of everyone in the program and to keep our instruments in good shape.
6. Request permission from the Office Coordinator before circulating information to students or placing any advertisements on the bulletin boards.
7. Recording classes or concerts is only permitted with instructor or ensemble director approval.
8. Only critique the music making of other students if you are invited to by either the student or an instructor. Please keep comments constructive and supportive.
9. In performance, show your appreciation to your audience by acknowledging them and dressing in appropriate concert attire. Please ask your studio instructor or ensemble director for specific dress code information.
10. Be a considerate audience member. Turn off electronic devices, listen attentively, and clap at the appropriate moments. Ask an instructor about audience etiquette if you are unsure.
11. The University of Saskatchewan is committed to the highest ethical standards in all academic endeavors. Cheating, plagiarism, and any other unethical academic practices will not be tolerated. Please review The Regulations on Student Academic Misconduct before classes begin. If you have any specific questions about the regulations or your academic practices, please consult your instructor.

Program-Specific Courses

Please follow the link for your program to view the requirements:

Bachelor of Arts Honours – Music
Bachelor of Arts Four-year – Music
Bachelor of Arts Three-year – Music

Bachelor of Music - Individualized
Bachelor of Music in Music Education – Early/Middle Years
Bachelor of Music in Music Education - Secondary

Bachelor of Music Honours - Performance
Bachelor of Music Honours in Music Education – Early/Middle Years
Bachelor of Music Honours in Music Education - Secondary

Jazz Certificate
Music & Wellbeing Certificate

MUS 129-429: Event Attendance

All B.Mus students are required to take MUS 129-429 in their corresponding academic year (i.e. MUS 129 in their first year, etc.). The syllabus with attendance requirements can be found on Canvas. These courses are Pass/Fail. To obtain credit for attending events, you must ensure that you sign in AND out of each event. Your attendance will be tracked by the Office Coordinator. Please contact them at any time to confirm your current attendance credits.

MUS 160: Keyboard Proficiency

All music students are required to register for MUS 160.0 prior to graduation. The object of this course is demonstration of keyboard proficiency. Upon completion of this course, students will have a grasp of basic keyboard skills and be able to read and play basic keyboard music notation.

Notes:

• Piano majors must register for the course but will be given an automatic Pass without taking the exam.
• You must submit a "Special Approval Override" before you can register for MUS 160. Please list the Office Coordinator as the Approver.

• Course Objectives: This is a Pass/Fail class. In order to receive a Pass, students will be required to prove their proficiency in keyboard by making an appointment and performing three pieces, one from Lists A, B and C at a minimum of RCM Level 4, as well as the Level 4 technical requirements.  No ear training tests and no studies will be required.
• Certificate Alternative: Students who have earned a minimum of level 4 through the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Canadian Conservatory of Music, or an equivalent may pass this course by providing the corresponding certificate of completion. Students with a certificate will still need to register in this course in order to complete the degree requirement.
• Required Materials: Students will be working with materials from the current RCM Level 4 Piano Repertoire syllabus. Materials available for checkout from the U of S Library holdings are compiled on the following USask LibGuide: http://libguides.usask.ca/music/keyboardskills
  
• Additional information: It is recommended that students study with a qualified piano instructor during their undergraduate years of study.  It is recommended that students register in this course when they feel they are fully prepared to pass the test.
• Practice Test: If students wish to do a practice test, they may schedule an appointment with the instructor any time.

Individualized

The Individualized stream is intended for students who wish to have the maximum amount of course selection flexibility within the music-specific part of their B.Mus. degree. Students automatically enter the Individualized stream at their end of their first year if they do not apply to enter one of the other streams.

Music Education

1. By March 15 in Year 1, students must declare their interest in consideration in the Music Education by registering in PAWS for either:

• EDST 130.0: Student Teaching BMus Music Education Elementary 
• or EDST 137.0: Student Teaching BMus Music Education Secondary

This EDST course takes place in late April/early May and is a one-week placement to observe an active classroom. Although it is a program requirement for the Music Education stream, it carries no credit, and therefore no cost to the student. An information session regarding EDST registration and placement takes place early in term 2.

2. After completing the EDST 130.0 or EDST 137.0 students are to provide written responses reflecting on their experience and their rationale for pursuing the B.Mus Music Education. This written response must be submitted to the Music EDST Supervisor by May 15.
3. The Music Education Committee chair will schedule brief individual meetings with applicants during the last two weeks of May.

The Music Education Committee will meet to consider the applications. Student are notified of their application status by June 1.  

Performance Honours

Application Process 

1. Students enrolled in MUAP 145 will perform a jury at the end of the semester which will serve as the audition for the Performance stream. Before the jury, the student will make the jury panel and Performance Area Committee aware in writing that they wish to be considered as a Performance (Honours) major.
2. At the jury the student is also required to present to the Performance Area Committee:
   • A letter of support from the student’s applied teacher, recommending them for the B.Mus. Performance (Honours) stream.
   • A written statement of intent (200-300 words) from student describing why they wish to become a B.Mus. Performance (Honours) major.
3. Students must attain a minimum grade of 80% in MUAP 145.3.

The Performance Committee will review all applications to the Performance (Honours) stream at the end of the semester. Students will be notified of the committee's decision by June 1.

Maintaining Performance Honours Status

Performance majors must achieve final grades of 80% or higher in applied lessons to remain in the performance stream.

In the event that a B.Mus. Performance (Honours) major’s MUAP applied final grade is below 80%, the student will automatically be transferred to the Individualized stream. In this instance, the student could re-apply to re-enter the Performance stream in a subsequent semester. If a student receives a passing grade of less than 80% in their final semester of MUAP applied lessons, then the student can still graduate as a B.Mus. Performance (Honours) major.

To reapply for the performance stream the student must (A) achieve as a minimum, a final grade of 80% in the student’s most recent MUAP applied lesson course and (B) the student must give notice in their most recent fall jury that they wish to re-enter the Performance stream. In this instance, the jury performance will again serve as the audition, and the student must submit a new letter of support from their applied instructor and a new letter of intent.

To request a class override, please complete and submit the Request a Class Override form. Make sure that you have listed the appropriate approvers for your request (i.e. the course instructor and your Undergraduate Chair).

The following is the list of overrides a student can request:

• Special approval: for when a course requires departmental or instructor approval.
• *Class limit override: for when you want to register in a course that is full.
• Class restriction override: for when you want to register in a course outside your program.
• Time conflict override: for when you want to register in a course that conflicts with another course (this is sometimes required for the Event Attendance courses). 
• Lecture/Lab exemption: for when you want to register in a lecture course without the corresponding lab section.
• Pre-requisite / corequisite waiver: for when you want to register in class without having the required pre-requisite or co-requisite course(s).

* Please note that the Class Limit Override cannot be used to extend your own credit limit. To increase your credit limit, please fill out the Permission to Increase Credit Units Form. Please note that you must have at least a 70% average to request a credit unit increase. First year students cannot request a credit unit increase.

The Request a Class Override form can also be used to request a late registration after the course registration deadline. There are variable fees for late registrations.

The following is a list of USask Music Ensembles that are currently offered, including the links to their individual webpages:

B.Mus. students are required to register for at least 1 CU ‘A’ ensemble each year. All ensembles run Sept-April (over both terms).

‘A’ ensembles include: Greystone Singers, Wind Orchestra, University Chorus, Concert Band, and Symphony Orchestra.

'B' ensembles include: Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Ensemble, and Music Theatre Ensemble

Violin, viola, cello, and double-bass students who are successfully auditioned into the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra (SSO) may request permission to enroll in MUAP 205: Orchestra with Strings. This course may also be used as an ‘A’ ensemble credit.

As long as you are registered in at least one ‘A’ ensemble for 1 CU credit each year, you may take other ‘A’ or ‘B’ ensembles for either 1 CU or for zero CU. To meet your for-credit ensemble requirements, you are able to register in each ‘A’ ensemble up to four times (once for each year of your program).

Please refer to your program in the catalogue, as ensemble requirements differ between BMus degrees. Ensemble credit in excess of the requirements for your degree can be applied within the Open Music Elective space in Degree Works. 

Some ‘A’ ensembles require auditions, while others do not. Auditioned ensembles include Greystone Singers, Wind Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble. Non auditioned ensembles include Music Theatre, Concert Band, University Chorus, Chamber Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra.

Ensemble auditions take place during the first week of classes. All B.Mus. students are required to audition for the ‘A’ Ensemble area that best matches their primary instrument (i.e. woodwind players will audition for the band area comprised of Wind Orchestra and Concert Band, voice majors will audition for the choral area comprised of Greystone Singers and University Chorus). Piano and guitar majors may select whichever ensemble area best matches their abilities and/or interests.

The music program owns a large selection of instruments that can be borrowed by music students at no cost. However, any damages to the instrument will result in a charge to cover the cost of repairs. Please speak to your studio or ensemble instructor to select the appropriate model. Once the selection is made, please see the Office Coordinator to sign out the instrument. You will need to fill out an Instrument Loan form and sign off on an inspection of the instrument’s condition. All instruments are to be returned to the music office by April 15 each year, unless special permission has been obtained to keep the instrument over the summer.

Juries occur at the end of each term. All students registered in MUAP 143, 145, 243, 245, 333, 343, 433, and 443 present a jury. Students registered in MUAP 335, 345, 435, 445 present a recital in lieu of a jury. Students registered in MUAP 245 present both a jury and a recital. However, they may perform the same music for both.

Jury times and locations will be assigned and announced by the music office a minimum of three weeks prior to the jury date. If a student is unable to attend their assigned jury timeslot due to an unavoidable conflict, they may request to switch timeslots with another student within the same instrument family (piano, woodwinds, etc.). This switch must be reported to the Office Coordinator no less than one week prior to the jury date and both students involved must express their consent to the switch. Students will need to complete a Repertoire Form to bring to the jury. These can be found in the manila envelope on the bulletin board across from 1047.

Recitals are an integral component of a music student’s university experience. All students registered in MUAP 245, 335, 345, 435, and 445 are required to present a recital. Recitals are optional for students registered in MUAP 145. However, they must obtain permission from their applied lesson instructor if they wish to perform this optional recital.

Music students perform a recital as an assessment of their applied lesson coursework. This is in place of a written final exam. First- to third-year recitals are held in Quance Theatre, and fourth-year recitals are held in Convocation Hall.

Please consult your MUAP course syllabus or the following table to determine your recital requirement:

Process

Each student submits a Recital Request Forms in mid-October and will be notified of their recital date in November. Students who need to change their recital date due to unavoidable circumstances will need to submit a date change request to the Undergraduate Chair, the Performance Committee Chair, and the Office Coordinator.

Student Responsibilities Before the Recital

A minimum of two weeks before their recital, students need to submit the following to the Office Coordinator at music@usask.ca

• Recital setup form - Recital Setup Form
• *Recital Program in PDF format using this template - 2024 Recital Program Template. Please also submit a hard copy signed by your applied instructor. 
• *Program Notes - required for fourth-year students; optional for third-year students (see information below). Please also submit a hard copy signed by your applied instructor.
• Text and Translations - required for fourth-year voice students; optional for third-year voice students (see information below)
• In addition, third- and fourth-year students need to submit a copy of their music, placed in the correct order in a package such as an envelope, file folder, or binder.

*Failure to submit a signed hard copy of the program and program notes two weeks before the recital date will result in an automatic 0% for the program note component of the grade.

Program Notes and Translations:

For information on how to write and format program notes; how to cite sources and format a bibliography using Chicago Style; and how to find useful sources in the library and online, please review this page: http://libguides.usask.ca/music/programnotes

Required elements:

• 12pt Times New Roman, 1.5 line-spacing
• Length:  
  • MUAP 335,345 (optional) - one page
  • MUAP 435 –one page
  • MUAP 445 –two pages (not including translations)
• Song text translations from the program will be made available, properly cited, for the jury panel and audience, apart from the program notes.

A draft of the program notes must be presented to the Applied Music Instructor at least one month prior to the actual recital date. These notes will be properly researched and cited using Chicago Style. Applied Music instructors will provide feedback and will ensure that issues regarding proper citation are addressed. Plagiarism is considered a serious instance of academic misconduct.

Program notes should consist of one to two brief paragraphs per composition/composer in your program. Avoid creating a ‘road-map’ of the works or the composer’s life. Look instead to provide interesting information about the work and its features and/or relevant details about the composers/poets/librettists, etc. that might heighten the concert experience for the audience.

Room bookings for rehearsals, sectionals, and other Music-related events can all be completed online through the University's room booking system (25Live) found below. 

All USask students and staff can request room bookings online and will receive a confirmation once the booking is approved. Please note that busy performance spaces like Quance Theatre and Convocation Hall may take up to a two-weeks for any booking to be approved, and non-Music bookings do not show up on this system (e.g. Quance or Convo may look free in this system, but it might already be booked by another group on campus). As a general rule, please submit booking requests at your earliest convenience.

Access Codes: Most Music rooms have access code locks, please check with the Office Coordinator to obtain the current keycodes as needed. 

Keys: Some spaces require keys to access (Quance, Convocation Hall, etc) - signing out keys requires a refundable $20 cash deposit. Keys must be returned immediately after use has concluded. Lost keys are the responsibility of the individual to whom they are signed out. If a key is lost, the School for the Arts (Music) will require a payment of $250 per door in order to get the locks re-keyed. Please contact the Office Coordinator at music@usask.ca to arrange for a key.

Music Spaces

Click on any of the room options below to check availability and book through 25Live.

• EDUC 1031 (Classroom)
• EDUC 1033 (Classroom)
• EDUC 1036 (Classroom)
• EDUC 1046 (Meeting Room)
• EDUC 1101.4 Grand Piano Practice Room
• EDUC 1101.7 Grand Piano Practice Room
• EDUC 1003 (Quance Theatre)
• PMB 120 (Convocation Hall)
• ADMIN C280 (Convocation Green Room)

Review My Pending Bookings

Review My Confirmed Bookings

NOTE: You will be prompted to log-in with your NSID before booking any room.

Practice Rooms

Practice Rooms are utilized on a first come, first served basis. There are two main practice room areas: 1101 and 1104 in the Education Building. Both spaces house multiple individual practice rooms. The practice room areas can be found at the entrance to the Northern wing of the Education Building on the ground floor. Both spaces are keypad protected. Please reach out to the Office Coordinator to find out the key code for the current academic year and do not share this practice room key code with any non-music students. Please report any practice room misuse or damage to the Office Coordinator.

There are two practice rooms that house grand pianos, which are reserved for piano majors. These rooms are EDUC 1101.4 and 1101.7. Both require a physical key to open. Piano majors can request a personal key for these rooms for the year from the Office Coordinator.

Percussion practice rooms are found in the Education Building basement, in the same hallway as the music lockers. They also require a physical key to open. Percussion majors can request a personal key for these rooms for the year from the Office Coordinator. Please speak to the percussion instructor for specific information regarding the different percussion instruments in each practice room.

Lockers

Lockers can be found in the basement next to the staircase that descends from beside the music office. Every music student is entitled to request a locker for each academic year (September-April). Locker assignments may be extended into the spring and summer terms upon request. These lockers are a privilege so please treat them with respect. Do not leave garbage or anything that could result in unpleasant smells in your locker.

Locker requests are currently handled by the Office Coordinator. Please e-mail music@usask.ca with your name, NSID, and locker number. If you are not a music student, please include a reason for your request (e.g., Concert Band).

Students are required to provide their own locks. Please ensure that your lock meets basic quality standards to avoid potential theft. While the building is very secure and monitored by protective services at night, this does not absolutely guarantee that lockers will not be the target of theft. The university is not responsible for items stolen from student lockers.

There are a number of larger wooden lockers (the SR series) that are key operated, specifically for students with larger instruments (i.e. tuba and double bass). Please see the Office Coordinator to request a key if you need one of these lockers. There is a $20 deposit required for an SR locker key.

Lockers that are occupied without the music office’s knowledge will have their locks cut off.