Laurier’s reimagined Bachelor of Music marks a new era in post-secondary music education. Our flexible and inclusive curriculum educates classical and contemporary musicians to the highest standards, while supporting opportunities for cross-training.
Whether you’re a composer, conductor, singer-songwriter, performer, producer, educator or forging your own path, you’ll find the space, support and expert guidance to grow. Learn one-on-one from expert faculty with deep industry ties and gain hands-on experience that prepares you for a sustainable, creative career.
Book a campus tour, request a trial lesson or explore how to apply and audition and discover how your music matters at Laurier.
Your future professors work hard to keep your education relevant, well-rounded and career-focused. Here’s what you can expect:
Here are some of the top ways our students love applying what they learn throughout their degree:
We know your passion for your instrument or voice is a big part of what defines you. Find your instrument below to learn what makes studying it at Laurier unique and check out audition advice and repertoire requirements.
Don’t study an instrument listed above? Contact musicauditions@wlu.ca for audition information.
In Laurier’s Bachelor of Music program, you can shape your education around what matters most to you. Choose from a wide range of specializations to focus your studies or explore multiple areas to keep your path flexible.
You can:
It’s your music and your future - customize your degree to match your goals.
Discover the rich musical traditions of African diasporas in the Americas, Caribbean and Europe. This specialization includes courses that music and non-music majors are welcome to take, with a focus on genres like jazz, reggae, gospel, hip-hop and more.
Connect Music to Culture and Identity - Study the cultural, political and social roots of Afrodiasporic music through courses like History of Jazz, Gospel Music History and Reggae in Canada. Learn how these genres express identity, resistance and celebration.
Community and Collaboration - Learn from expert faculty and participate in projects with local community organizations. Explore how Afrodiasporic music lives and thrives in real-world spaces.
Sample Courses - Afrodiasporic Spoken Word, Music of the Afro-Diaspora, Jamaican Dancehall Gospel, Music of Afrodiasporic Divas, Jazz Arranging, Hand Drums for Group Music Making
If you're passionate about using music to connect communities and create change, Laurier’s Community Music specialization will help you build the skills and experience to lead inclusive participatory music making. In Community Music, the term “community” is broad, encompassing schools, neighbourhoods, cultural groups, healthcare settings and more.
You’ll build hands-on skills in facilitation, project planning and musical collaboration through songwriting, improvisation, group singing and more. With off-campus placements in third year, you’ll gain real-world experience leading music-making in a variety of community contexts. In your fourth-year capstone, you’ll design and implement your own community music project, from idea to execution, applying everything you’ve learned to create social impact through music.
This specialization is ideal for musicians committed to social justice who want to integrate community-engaged music into their careers. Courses in Community Music also complement the learning of students pursuing the Music Education specialization, with overlapping courses that count toward both areas. You’ll graduate with a strong portfolio and the experience to launch meaningful musical work.
Foundations for Future Community Musicians:
Practical Facilitation Skills:
Career-Ready Experience:
Planning a career as a music teacher? Our Music Education specialization will prepare you with the skills, experience and confidence you need, along with the academic foundation required to apply to a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) program and earn your formal teaching credentials after graduation.
You’ll be prepared to pursue B.Ed. programs at the Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate or Intermediate/Senior levels upon graduation. If you're planning to teach at the Intermediate/Senior level, you'll have the flexibility in your course schedule to earn a second teachable subject.
Laurier also offers a Bachelor of Music + Teaching Option, available for application through OUAC. This option includes additional general teaching courses and provides a direct-entry pathway into Laurier’s Bachelor of Education (Primary/Junior or Junior/Intermediate).
Foundations for Future Music Educators:
Holistic and Inclusive Education
Practical Teaching Skills
Become an informed musician and apply the knowledge you gain in this specialization to support your interests in composition, performance, teaching or to further academic studies.
Get a glimpse of what you will study throughout your degree. See what your first-year classes will look like through sample courses and start exploring what your upper academic years can offer.
*Non-piano majors with RCM Level 3 piano proficiency or a contemporary equivalent may be eligible for an exemption.
**Intended for piano majors.
***Separate sections for vocalists and non-vocalists.
Explore a variety of courses, specializations and pathway options that let you shape your degree around your unique interests and goals. Find out how you can customize your experience and prepare for what’s next.
Apply to a direct entry pathway to the Bachelor of Education program (BEd). Students applying for an honours degree with the Teaching Option will be considered for admission directly into the BEd program. The Teaching Option is designed to provide you with a variety of courses and hands-on learning opportunities to prepare you for future studies and a rewarding teaching career.
Apply directly to Music with Teaching Option on OUAC by choosing ‘Teaching Option’ as your program enhancement.
The Management Option is for students interested in adding management-specific education to their degree. This is a direct-entry, 4.0-credit option that includes courses covering all the core pillars of business and economics.
Apply directly to Music with Management Option on OUAC by choosing ‘Management Option’ as your program enhancement.
Interested in combining music with another field? A double degree is possible in many areas. Contact us at choosemusic@wlu.ca to learn more.
Earn both a Laurier Bachelor of Music degree and a Audio Production & Engineering Diploma from Metalworks Institute—combining traditional music training with cutting-edge, hands-on experience in audio engineering. Complete both programs in as little as four years.
Two Pathways to Choose From (subject to individual student progress and planning):
Want a taste instead of the full pathway?
A la carte Metalworks courses are also available to Laurier music students.
Earn both a Laurier Bachelor of Music and a Performing Arts Diploma from Randolph College for the Performing Arts, where you’ll train in acting, singing and dance—all in a condensed time frame designed to launch your career faster.
Flexible Pathways (subject to individual student progress and planning):
Enhance your Laurier Bachelor of Music by completing the two-year Suzuki Pedagogy Program through the Suzuki String School of Guelph. This specialized training prepares you to teach young violin, viola or cello students using the internationally recognized Suzuki Method. Students who complete the program can also earn 1.0 music elective credits toward their Laurier degree.
OUAC Code: UM
Optional: Applicants are welcome to submit a portfolio showcasing original compositions, performances on their major instrument, additional instruments or work across genres.
Applicants are welcome to submit a portfolio showcasing original compositions, performances on their major instrument, additional instruments or work across genres. On occasion, if there are concerns about an audition outcome, a separate faculty panel may review your portfolio materials to help determine your potential and suitability for the program.
Students applying to this program from a Canadian province outside of Ontario are encouraged to review our course equivalents by province chart. This chart will show you what courses from your province are equivalent to the admission requirements listed under the Ontario High School Admission Requirements section.
Students applying to this program from an international curriculum must present the following:
Optional: Applicants are welcome to submit a portfolio showcasing original compositions, performances on their major instrument, additional instruments or work across genres.
Students applying to this program from an international curriculum are encouraged to review our curriculum-specific requirements. You will find which courses from your country's curriculum are equivalent to the admission requirements listed above. If your country or curriculum is not listed, please reach out to international@wlu.ca.
Laurier's language of instruction is English, and so we may require you to provide evidence of your English proficiency to help make sure you are successful in your academic courses.
Your three most recent years of full-time education must be in English without taking any ESL (English as a Second Language) courses. If you do not meet this requirement, you must provide evidence of your English proficiency.
We reserve the right to request an English-language test from any applicant.
If you do not meet Laurier's English proficiency requirement but are academically qualified for your program, you may be eligible for a conditional offer of admission.
The Academic Transition Pathway (ATP) program is offered through our affiliated institution, Wilfrid Laurier International College, and provides an option for meeting our English-proficiency requirement. If you have received an offer to Laurier with a condition to meet our English-proficiency requirement, you can meet that condition by successfully completing the ATP program.
Students applying to this program from another post-secondary institution are encouraged to review our transfer-specific requirements. This page will show you the admission requirements for your unique transfer situation and provide more details about transferring to Laurier.
Additional requirements:
Optional: Applicants are welcome to submit a portfolio showcasing original compositions, performances on their major instrument, additional instruments or work across genres.
College graduates applying to Laurier’s Music program may be eligible for admission with one of our articulation agreements with specific college partners.
Learn more about our college pathway opportunities.
Visit our admission requirements section to find specific requirements for transfer students, indigenous applicants, mature learners, homeschooled applicants, senior citizens, refugees, and more.
Auditions and interviews are held in person on Laurier’s Waterloo campus, typically scheduled on the same day for your convenience. Virtual options are available for applicants who live more than 400 km away or have extenuating circumstances.
Auditions are scheduled from January to April, with available dates posted in the Audition Portal.
You may bring your own accompanist, or request one of Laurier’s professional coach-accompanists at no additional cost for in-person auditions.
Once we receive your application, you’ll receive an email with login details for Laurier’s Faculty of Music Audition Portal.
Audition Repertoire
Prepare your audition repertoire according to the specific requirements for your instrument. If you have any questions about repertoire, feel free to contact us at musicauditions@wlu.ca.
Auditions and interviews are held in person on Laurier’s Waterloo campus, typically scheduled on the same day for your convenience. Virtual options are available for applicants who live more than 400 km away or have extenuating circumstances.
Interviews are relaxed, conversational meetings with a Faculty of Music professor, designed to help us learn more about your musical interests and goals. Your interviewer will not be part of your audition panel.
Applicants must provide contact information for one reference who can speak to their musical abilities. This information is submitted through the Audition Portal and Laurier will contact your reference directly with a set of questions to be completed and submitted electronically.
You’ll receive login details for the Audition Portal once we’ve received your application.
You may choose to upload an optional portfolio to the Audition Portal, featuring past performances, composed works or original music, using video or audio links. This does not replace your audition.
In some cases, if there are concerns about an audition outcome, a separate faculty panel may review your portfolio materials to help assess your potential and suitability for the program.
You’ll receive login details for Laurier’s Faculty of Music Audition Portal once we receive your application.
It’s not only about the journey; the destination matters. Let us help you get set up for a meaningful career.
Laurier's Bachelor of Music graduates pursue both traditional and non-traditional career paths, leveraging their versatile skills beyond music-specific roles.
Many alumni venture into fields such as medicine, law and technology, applying their creativity and discipline in unexpected ways.
Note: Additional training and education may be required.
Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.
Getting a university education is an investment in your future.
At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.
In addition to entrance scholarships, you’ll automatically be considered for a Faculty of Music audition scholarship—no separate application required. These awards are based on your audition and recognize students who demonstrate strong musical ability, academic achievement, extracurricular involvement and/or financial need. Audition scholarship results are communicated at the same time as your audition results.
Top first-year awards include the $5,000 Ken Murray Entrance Scholarship and the $2,000 Martens-Falk Voice Scholarship. Each year, we award approximately $100,000 in scholarships to incoming students.
Scholarship opportunities continue beyond first year, with additional awards available through an application process.
Join us on campus and experience university life firsthand.
You can complete your program primarily through in-person courses where you will attend classes in a physical classroom on scheduled days and times, which you will see and choose from when you register for courses.
Connect face-to-face with your professors, learn alongside your classmates and be part of the campus community from day one.
Want to know what it’s really like to be a Laurier Golden Hawk? Student Life at Laurier is your social media source to get unfiltered content, first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.
Questions? Email choosemusic@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all Music faculty and staff.
Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?
