The Division of Music History and Culture offers a wide selection of courses including those required of all students to electives that range from Gregorian Chant to the Beatles, from sub-Saharan Africa to Stravinsky.... The core requirement is two full courses that include an introduction to Music in Western and non-Western cultures as well as a survey of music from the Middle Ages to the present day. Advanced courses include electives for all music students, some with a performance element in them, as well as those designed to probe in some depth the history of a particular period or genre and to introduce students to research in that area.
Students can major in music history and theory by choosing either a programme combining the two or a specialist programme in one or the other. The history and theory faculty - including musicologists, ethnomusicologists, theorists, and composers - is the largest of any music school in Canada.
Students also have the opportunity to take part in our many performing ensembles, including orchestras, wind ensembles, choirs and other vocal ensembles, early music groups, and a large variety of world music ensembles. The Faculty of Music plays host every year to a wide range of renowned artists and scholars through its various distinguished residency and visitor programmes, as well as in the Graduate Colloquia series.
Degrees Offered
Faculty
- William Bowen, Associate Professor
- M. Celia Cain, Assistant Professor
- Caryl Clark, Associate Professor
- Robin Elliott, Professor, Jean Chalmers Chair in Canadian Music
- John Haines, Professor & Canada Research Chair, Assistant Professor, Divisional Coordinator
- Gregory Johnston, Associate Professor
- James Kippen, Professor
- Sherry Lee, Assistant Professor (Scarborough)
- Ken McLeod, Assistant Professor (Scarborough)
- Jeff Packman, Visiting Assistant Professor
- Joshua Pilzer, Assistant Professor
- Mary Ann Parker, Professor
- Annette Sanger, Lecturer (Scarborough)
Graduate program in Ethnomusicology
Established in 1966 by SEM co-founder Mieczyslaw Kolinski, the University of Toronto’s Ethnomusicology Programme remains at the forefront of North American ethnomusicology. We train students in the intellectual history, theories, practice, and methodologies of ethnomusicology and musicology. We provide a thorough grounding in ethnographic methods and writing and offer courses in diverse musical traditions from around the world. Noted graduates include Beverley Diamond, Robin Elliott, George Sawa, and Robert Simms.
We encourage students to engage in ethnomusicological performance through private lessons, instrumental courses, and the World Music Ensembles, such as African Drumming & Dancing, Balinese Gamelan, Tabla, and Taiko. Other World Music ensembles are available on a rotating basis, including Steel Pan, a Klezmer Ensemble, a Chinese Ensemble and a Georgian Choir.
The Faculty of Music includes renowned scholars and performers, a Music Library ranked as one of the best in North America, the Institute for Canadian Music, the Toronto Ethnomusicology Archive, and the Hindustani Music Archive.
Alumni
Our distinguished alumni include:
Gregory G. Butler, Professor of Music, University of British Columbia
Eric Chafe, Victor and Gwendolyn Beinfield Professor of Music, Brandeis University
Beverley Diamond, Canada Research Chair in Traditional Music / Ethnomusicology, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Cliff Eisen, Associate editor, New Köchel Catalogue, King’s College London
Don McLean, Dean, Schulich School of Music, McGill University
Collaborative Programs
Book History and Print Culture
The graduate departments of English, History, French Studies, Italian Studies, and Fine Art; the Faculties of Information Studies and of Music; the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, the Centre for Medieval Studies, and the Centre for Comparative Literature, in conjunction with Massey College, sponsor an interdisciplinary program in Book History and Print Culture (BHPC) in which the rich physical and human resources of the University of Toronto are brought to bear on multiple aspects of the creation, transmission, and reception of the written word. Students register first for a master's or doctoral degree in their home units and then apply to the Collaborative Program (Home units are the participating departments, faculties, etc. listed above.). If they satisfy the requirements of both programs they receive their degree with a notation on the transcript "Collaborative Program in Book History and Print Culture".
For more information, go to bookhistory.fis.utoronto.ca
(opens in new window)