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Professional Music - BFA (Hons)

Is it for you?

This one-of-a-kind program is designed to let you tap into your passion for music and equip you with the skills to thrive in the modern music industry. Carve out your unique journey, combining a diverse range of skills that span from performance to production to  business. Study in Toronto, the heart of the Canadian music industry, where you will have countless networking opportunities with Canada’s leading music and media organizations including record labels, management and live events companies, technology startups and more! 

Join our diverse and unique community of students who have come together to form bands, release albums and initiate new ideas. Contribute to music innovation or build a music startup through the Music Den, an incubator bringing together students, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals to build the next great music companies.

Program info

Faculty: 
The Creative School

Program format(s): 
Full time: 4 Year

Degree: 
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours)

Grade range: 
Low 80s1

Requirements: 
Grades-Plus 

Experiential learning: 
Mandatory internship


Tuition and fees 

For detailed fees information, visit tuition and fees by program.

Full-time format 2023-2024:

Ontario students fees range: $7,232 - $7,738
Out-of-province students fees range: $8,060 - $8,582
International student fees range: $33,462 - $33,881

First-year courses

Here is a preview of first-year courses based on the available undergraduate calendar information.

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.

Your future

  • Talent management
  • Venue management
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Production
  • Marketing and communications
  • Music label
  • Live entertainment
  • Audio recording
  • Production

Thinking of applying? Make sure the program is still accepting applications.


Requirements

Academic requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent with a minimum of six Grade 12 U or M courses including the following program specific requirements.

Typically, a minimum overall average of 70% establishes eligibility for admission consideration; subject to competition individual programs may require higher prerequisite grades and/or higher overall averages:

  • English/anglais (ENG4U/EAE4U preferred)
  • The minimum grade required in the subject prerequisite (normally in the 70-75% range) will be determined subject to competition.

Academic admission requirements for all other applicants are available on the admission requirements page.


Non-academic requirements 

This is a Grades-Plus program. In addition to meeting competitive academic requirements, you are required to submit the following non-academic requirements. Your ability to follow and adhere to the requirements is part of the assessment of your application. 

Fall 2024 non-academic requirement due date:
February 1, 2024 or 10 business days from your application submission date, whichever comes later.

Prepare a current resumé/curriculum vitae highlighting education, musical experience, work experience, volunteer experience, and extracurricular activities. 

 Please save your resumé as a .pdf file and upload this file with these submission instructions.

Why are you interested in a career in music, and what draws you to this industry? Explain why you are pursuing a university education and why you believe you are a good fit for this program (250 words)

 Please save your statement as a .pdf file and upload this file with these submission instructions.

We're looking for students who are truly passionate about music. This program is not only for aspiring musicians and performance artists. Whether you want to be a recording artist or a sound engineer, a band manager or an event producer, work in A&R, promotions or marketing, become an entrepreneur, or take on any of the many growing roles in the technology-enhanced global music business, this is the program for you. You will take comprehensive business and marketing-oriented courses and be exposed to areas like:

  • Music production and the music-making process
  • Intellectual property policy and practice
  • Live audio production

As a part of your application, please select ONE of two options below:

Option 1: Artistic submission (songwriter, performer, producer, etc)

Submit a link to a demo of original recorded material (not a cover). This is a music DIY project created by you. It can be a single piece or a compilation containing a solo performance, a group/band performance, electronic music, a beat, a production, or an arrangement. You may have collaborators. This demo is your opportunity to present your musical identity. We encourage you to submit material created within the past two years. It is a chance for you to show us your passion and experience in music.

  • Your demo should not exceed four minutes in length and must be your original work.
  • The link can be to an audio or video format/file.
  • To support your demo, please compose a statement (up to 500 words) about the genre you chose for your demo, its historical antecedents, musical structure, and what about this genre attracts you and others to it. Include a brief explanation of the creative process behind your music project.

Indicate that you have selected Option 1 (within your document). Please upload your statement and link to your demo as one .pdf with these submission instructions.

Option 2: Music business submission (non-artist applicants)

Please write an essay up to 500 words in length, plus citations, based on the following prompt:

The music industry is rapidly changing. Consider the many ways music consumers discover new music. Discuss two of the best methods of music discovery, and from a business perspective, explore the pros and cons of each method.

 Indicate that you have selected Option 2 (within your document). Please save your work as a .pdf file and upload this file to the demo option in the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal with these submission instructions.

Reference forms are a requirement for admission consideration. Two forms must be completed and submitted:

  • One must be from a current or past academic reference (e.g. guidance counsellor, teacher, professor). This form is titled, Academic Reference 1, in the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal
  • Your second reference form may be from an additional academic reference or a collaborator, supervisor, or employer — this can be any individual who works with you in a musical or professional capacity. This form is titled, Reference 2, in the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal.

 These are your submission instructions.

The non-academic requirements assessment fee is $50 CDN and must be paid in order for your submission to be reviewed. Here’s how to pay:

  1. Access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account (instructions to access the portal can be found below under Submission Instructions).

  2. Click on the button to link to the eForms Centre.

    eForms Centre button highlighted in the applicant portal account
  3. Next, click on the eForms Center tile.

    eForms Center button highlighted in the bottom right corner of MyServiceHub.
  4. Then click on the Non-Academic Fee Form link.

    Non-academic Fee Form highlighted in the eForms Center page.

Applicants are required to submit all components of their non-academic requirements via the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal. Due to the volume of applications received and our system performance, we strongly encourage you to submit your documents well in advance of the noted deadlines.

Here’s how to access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account:

  1. Get your TMU Student Number in the email acknowledgement of your application
  2. Activate your TMU Online Identity. Fill in the Activation Form on the Accounts website. When asked for your Student/Applicant ID, enter your nine-digit TMU Student Number. Keep a record of your user name and password
  3. 24 hours after activating your TMU Online Identity, visit the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal

Complete the following steps to submit your Reference Forms:

  1. Input your references’ contact information via the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal. Please ensure that all reference information is inputted accurately. If you wish to amend your reference information (e.g. change reference, change email address) please complete and submit the  (google form) Upload Help Form (external link, opens in new window) .
  2. Have your references complete the Reference Form. Your references will receive an email giving access to the Reference Form and instructions. If a reference has not received the email, please ask your reference to review their “trash” or “junk mail.” To request that the email be sent again, please complete and submit the  (google form) Upload Help Form (external link, opens in new window) .
  3. Confirm that your references have completed the Reference Form. A Reference Form is complete once its status on the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal indicates “Received.” It is your responsibility to ensure each reference completes their Reference Form by the noted deadline.


Student spotlight

Professional Music student streams to success in L.A., Vegas and more

See how Ashley Sienna streamed her way to a billboard in L.A., a festival in Las Vegas and even struck a deal with Disney Plus for one of her songs. 

Read more: Ashley Sienna becomes Session’s top performer, named ‘Rising Star’

Videographer: Jake Stendel 


More ways to explore TMU

  

Notes:

  1. Actual minimum grade ranges required for fall 2024 admission/wait list consideration will be determined based on grades and qualifications presented by the applicant pool as they become available. Required grade ranges may fluctuate from year to year (up or down) as a result of competition. Applicants not educated in Ontario may present the equivalent of the Ontario requirements. TMU reserves the right to determine equivalency at its sole discretion.

Disclaimer: 

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy on this site, in the event of a discrepancy, TMU's current Undergraduate Calendar is the official reference.