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Professional Music

Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours)
Administered by: RTA School of Media
Program Format: Full-time, four-year program.

O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses including Grade 12 U English.

Notes:

  1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
  2. A grade of 75 percent or higher will be required in Grade 12 U English. 
  3. As part of the admission selection process, applicants must visit the Program page for details about the non-academic requirements.
  4. Admission decisions are made based on meeting the academic requirements, and an assessment of the Non-Academic Requirements (resume, music production demo or business executive summary, written statement, and reference forms) by the Professional Music program department.
  5. A non-academic assessment fee of $50 CAD (non-refundable and subject to change) is required.
  6. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.

The Professional Music BFA is a unique four-year undergraduate program located in the heart of Toronto. The cross-disciplinary program enrols students in courses that include studio and live production, music fundamentals and the business of music.


The curriculum is designed to prepare the modern music-minded person for a career in digital audio recording, live entertainment, entrepreneurship and a variety of other music industry positions. Professional Music will equip students with the skills necessary for the ever-evolving music industry, providing an experiential learning environment in the centre of Canada’s music industry.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Theoretically describe digital music production and creative production requirements and apply those principles within a digital music production context.
  2. Theoretically describe the concepts and relationships between melody, harmony, and rhythm, the fundamental aspects of musicianship, and apply those relationships in a digital music production context.
  3. Theoretically describe the concepts and the implications of music and media business practices and instruments including contracts, negotiation, financial documents, sales & marketing, and apply those insights and processes in a music industry and entrepreneurial context.
  4. Theoretically describe and apply digital media production skills and requirements.
  5. Draw on existing skills through self-awareness, awareness of context, and theory to engage in entrepreneurial practices, risks, and opportunities.
  6. Professionally communicate verbally, in writing and other media.
  7. Be sensitive and open to diversity in terms of people and cultures, with consideration of specific issues of equity, social justice, and inclusion in media and the music industry.
  8. Be aware of and consider the patterns and ongoing implications of technological, cultural and economic forces which have shaped the media and music industry in Canada and around the world.
  9. Interact and professionally engage with industry.
  10. Think, create and iterate in the music industry by operating at the nexus of context, skills, theory and self.
  11. Critically recognize and analyze ethical problems to effect practical solutions within consideration of context.

Graduate Career Path Possibilities

Students develop holistic 21st-century skills and competencies necessary for the modern music industry across creativity, commerce and community. There are a variety of potential career paths available to graduates:

  • Business and Management:
    Artist management, concert promotion and production, music publishing, business development, public relations, film and television production, technology, advertising and marketing
  • Musician:
    Recording, performing, songwriting, production, session musician, composition, film and television scoring
  • Community:
    Education, governance, journalism, non-profit, activism, leadership
  • Professional and Graduate School:
    Graduates will be prepared to pursue further postsecondary education, including research-based education, (including media, education, cultural studies) and professional education (including law school, MBA)
  • Entrepreneurship:
    Students will be encouraged to pursue entrepreneurship and launch their own ventures, with support from on campus incubators such as the Transmedia Zone and the Music Den

Liberal Studies

Students must take three lower level liberal studies courses and three upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website.

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions:

MUS and RTA courses are not available for credit.

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions:

MUS and RTA courses are not available for credit.

Minors

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Toronto Met (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education Certificates

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website for complete details.

1st & 2nd Semester

1st Semester

REQUIRED:

  • BPM 101 Modern Music Fundamentals I
  • BPM 201 Digital Music Production I
  • CRI 100 Creative Industries Overview

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Creative Industries Table I, RTA Table II, Performance Table III, or Music Table IV.

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Creative Industries Table I, RTA Table II, Performance Table III, or Music Table IV.

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from the Business Core Elective Table V

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • BPM 302 Performance Production II
  • CRI 400 Entrepreneurship in Creative Industries

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from the Business Core Elective Table V

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B – Upper Level Liberal Studies

5th & 6th Semester

5th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • CRI 300 Digital Design Studio 
  • CRI 710 Creative Industries Methodologies

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Creative Industries Table I, RTA Table II, Performance Table III, or Music Table IV.

OPEN ELECTIVES: One Open Elective

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B – Upper Level Liberal Studies

6th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • CRI 620 Concert and Festival Management
  • RTA 937 Business of Music II

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Creative Industries Table I, RTA Table II, Performance Table III, or Music Table IV.

OPEN ELECTIVE: Two Open Electives

7th & 8th Semester

7th Semester

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Creative Industries Table I, RTA Table II, Performance Table III, or Music Table IV.

OPEN ELECTIVE: Two Open Electives

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Creative Industries Table I, RTA Table II, Performance Table III, or Music Table IV.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B – Upper Level Liberal Studies

Thompson Egbo-Egbo
Artist, Founder
Thompson T. Egbo-Egbo Arts Foundation

Angelika Heim
Partner
Stohn Hay Cafazzo Dembroski Richmond LLP

Dalton Higgins

Publicist, Festival Producer, Journalist, Author

Mike McCarty

Chief Membership and Business Development Officer
SOCAN

Stephen McGrath
Artist & Audience Development Manager
The Corporation of Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

Greg Mills
Head, Global Equities (Retired)
RBC

Toni Morgan
Founder, The Beat Academy
Manager Director, Northeastern University School of Law

Gary Moss
President & CEO
Yangaroo

Vel Omazic
Executive Director
Canada’s Music Incubator

Gilles Paquin
President & CEO
Paquin Entertainment Group

Cherie Sinclair
Owner/Executive Producer
The Field

Mike Tanner
Music Sector Development Officer
City of Toronto