Major program in Music and Culture Major (HBA)
Admissions Category: Visual & Performing Arts, Arts Management, and Media
Program Overview
The Music and Culture program provides a comprehensive curriculum with three primary areas of focus: Community Music, Music & Society, and Music Creativity and Technology. The program strives to serve the diverse needs and interests of the UTSC community while providing artistic, cultural, academic, and civic leadership to the GTA and beyond. By combining their studies with other arts and non-arts disciplines, Music and Culture students at UTSC help to create, join, and enliven musical and artistic communities, with a focus on creative music-making, intellectual development, community engagement and participation, health and wellness, and arts entrepreneurship. "Music and..." is also about finding ways to keep music in one's life. It is about recognizing work-life balance by actively seeking out music-making opportunities that help support individual and collective well-being, drawing on music's well-known health and wellness benefits. The Music and Culture program embraces what a university degree should ideally represent: thoughtful engagement with our world. The program does not require entrance auditions or RCM exams, and welcomes acoustic and digital genres.
Complementary Programs:
All programs pair well with the Music & Culture program. You can combine any academic interest with music and carve exciting and innovative career paths. The choice of a pairing depends on the desired result of the coupling.
Check out future career opportunities and skills acquired from completing this program:
Competencies & Skills
- Become fluent in community music-specific language and vocabulary
- Knowledge of the theoretical expertise and practical abilities required to implement successful leadership techniques in the music profession.
- knowledge of the social, historical, and cultural contexts of a wide range of literary works and musical genres, such as jazz, popular, and world music.
- Create a hypothetical entity that could offer music programming with health and wellness intent.
- Ability to use various techniques (e.g. music technology, songwriting, music composition, etc.) to create diverse musical styles.
- Learn how to articulate creative intent through performance, oral critiques, presentations and writing.
- Become knowledgeable of the theoretical frameworks within the cultural studies and diaspora studies fields that influence how we understand music in diaspora.
Careers for Graduates
- Composer
- Songwriter
- Recording/Audio Engineer
- Sound designer
- Conductor
- Accompanist
- Instrument Technician
- Performance Artist
- Educator
- School Administrator
- Production/Licensing Manager
Further Education
- Music Education
- Music and Technology/Business/Wellness
- Conducting
- Ethnomusicology
Program Pathway
Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4Choose Your Courses Wisely
Take 1.5 credits as follows: MUZA80H3 plus an A-level performance ensemble (Band, Orchestra, Choir, or Small Ensemble).
Consider potential areas of focus for years 2-4.
Use the Degree Explorer and meet with the ACM Program Manager to discuss program pairings and to plan your degree.
Attend "Choosing Your Program" events in March to help you with program selection.
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
Develop core musicianship skills that allow for a lifetime of musical participation AND develop understandings of how music evolves as a cultural practice.
Attend Academic Integrity Workshops, Library Workshops, Writing Centre Workshops, and other university services and events.
Schedule an appointment with the ACM Library Liaison for in-depth research assistance with your assignments.
Establish writing support through the CTL Writing Centre.
Apply Theory to Practice
Explore the full range of music-related activities in ACM through ACM Connects, ACMSA, and Music 303.
Attend weekly ukulele jam.
Explore the Career & Co-Curricular Learning Network (CLNx) for all music performances, workshops, and lectures offered by faculty and visiting musicians and scholars
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
Reflect on your own areas of interest and get involved. Join Music 303, Music and Culture's student club.
Enrol in ACM's Engage Certificate program and volunteer for ArtSideOut, UTSC's annual interdisciplinary arts festival.
Explore the international arts festival, Nuit Blanche.
Plan for Your Future Career
Attend a resume/CV workshop and start your professional profile.
Attend networking events with music alumni and professionals to learn about possible fields of study and work, and establish your own professional network.
Become an active volunteer in ACM through music-related organizations or SCSU's Volunteer Network Program.
Year 2
Choose Your Courses Wisely
Take MUZB01H3, MUZB20H3, and MUZB80H3. Enroll in performance courses. Make sure to complete other program requiremens as well
Prioritize your coursework toward one or two areas of focus.
Use Degree Explorer and consult with the ACM Program Manager to ensure you are on track with your degree and program requirements
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
Enrol in ACM Engage and take advantage of academic workshops geared to ACM students.
Attend the ACM Research and Creative Practice Student Symposium.
Seek out and attend talks and lectures by guest speakers, both within ACM and beyond.
Apply Theory to Practice
Become a facilitator for the weekly ukulele jam, and volunteer for Make Music Day and UTSC's annual student arts festival, ArtSideOut.
Join and/or lead student initaitives such as Music 303, UTSC Jazz Band, or Glee Club.
Participate in different campus activities and assocations such as ACM Engage or ACMSA.
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
Follow the department website and social media to discover our calendar of events.
Experience live music events in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.
Check CLNx to search for Work Study or volunteer positions on campus; volunteer with community music/arts organizations.
Plan for Your Future Career
Apply for awards that recognize research potential in students enrolled in music.
Attend as many music related events/performances on/off campus to build your network.
Considering grad school? Speak to professors and advisors early so you are on track.
Year 3
Choose Your Courses Wisely
Take at least 2.0 credits of Music and Culture courses at the C-level.
Develop your music facilitation skills by taking MUZB02H3 and study community music in the GTA in MUZC01H3. Further your musicianship skills in MUZB81H3. Explore composition in MUZC40H3 and digital music music in MUZC41H3. Continue participating in large and small ensembles.
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
Develop your musician-scholar-leader profile.
Apply for an ACM Equity and Diversity in the Arts grant.
Apply to present at the ACM Undergraduate Symposium.
Consider applying for a Jackman Humanities Institute Scholars-in-Residence fellowship for students or work study positions on CLNx specific to your areas of interest.
Apply Theory to Practice
Apply for Work Study positions and intensive volunteer opportunities where you work alongside Music and Culture faculty on musician-scholar events and projects.
Explore different musical styles and genres through collaboartive music-making and form your own groups.
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
Submit a proposal to the ACM Reseach and Creative Practice Student Symposium.
Assist in leading the Make Music Day, and engage the broader community in ....
Explore volunteer or overseas work opportunities to expand your network through International Student Centre’s (ISC) Global Learning programs.
Plan for Your Future Career
Speak with professors from Music & Culture and staff at the AA&CC for advice about possible career paths, application materials, and deadlines for graduation.
Apply for the UTSC Undergraduate Research Prize.
Check CLNx for possible networking events or information sessions to attend.
Consider attending Open Houses for graduate programs
Year 4
Choose Your Courses Wisely
Take at least 0.5 credits of Music and Culture courses at the D-level.
Take electives in your area of focus and continue participating in large and small ensembles.
Use Degree Explorer and consult with the ACM Program Manager to ensure you are on track with your degree and program requirements. Declare your "Intent to Graduate' on ACORN by the deadline.
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
MUZD80H3 offers students the opportunity to develop individualized projects and interests (e.g.: platforms for social entrepreneurship or scholarly works oriented towards graduate school applications).
Attend academic and professional development conferences both on and off campus. Attend graduate school fairs, and participating in professional networking events.
Apply Theory to Practice
Partner with community organizations to develop your leadership skills in a variety of musical contexts, and gain an appreciation of the administrative and management activities involved in music promotion and marketing.
Submit arts entrepreneurship ideas to The Hub or apply for grants to support professional projects.
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
Attend and participate in the International Make Music event on campus.
Apply your skills, passion and knowledge by sitting on the board of a nonprofit organization dedicated to an issue you care about or get involved in an election campaign of a political candidate you want to support.
Plan for Your Future Career
Attend Academic Advising and Career Centre Get Hired job strategies conference in April/May.
Attend Jobs for Grads orientation to access Full-time and Part-time opportunities on CLNx relevant to your field.
Discuss graduate school plans early with professors and AA&CC staff; get your Personal Statement for your Grad School application reviewed in the AA&CC.