Contemporary Music and Technology
Overview
Explore a cross-section of musical genres while you develop the skills you need for a career in the commercial music and entertainment industries!
Train for the Music Industry
Our program has been preparing students for the commercial music and entertainment industry for over 30 years, guided by the principle that the study and practice of contemporary music is the best way to prepare for a successful and rewarding career. It’s one of the only programs in Canada based on the world-renowned Berklee College of Music curriculum.
How Does it Work?
The Contemporary Music & Technology Program is a two-year diploma program. All students take a core first year that provides solid grounding in music theory and ear training. For your second year, choose to major in:
What Will I Study?
The curriculum includes individual and ensemble instruction on guitar, voice, bass, drums, saxophone, violin and keyboards, as well as a solid grounding in music theory and ear training.
The primary styles are rock, blues, jazz, folk and world music. Graduates of jazz and classical programs can learn the technology training and popular music concepts that can help them get career ready.
Develop skills in:
- Performance
- Improvisation
- Songwriting
- Composition
- Film scoring
- Recording
- Live sound mixing
Facilities
Study in professional studios, high-end labs and private practice rooms. We have a total of 18 digital audio workstations on campus, all running the industry standard Pro Tools software and hardware and Sibelius music notation software. Laptops loaded with Ableton Live Suite are available.
Careers
Graduates go on to become Performers, Producers, Mixing Engineers, Recording Engineers, Recording Studio Owners, Composers, Songwriters, Film Scorers, Music Educators, and Live Sound & Event Production Professionals.
News
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements to Selkirk College, applicants to the Contemporary Music and Technology program must meet the following requirements to be considered fully-qualified.
- Completion of Grade 12 or equivalent with a minimum of 60% or higher in English Studies 12
Audition
Applicants must pass an audition demonstrating their ability on their primary instrument or voice.
- Accepted instruments include: Voice, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano/Keyboard, Saxophone, Trumpet, Violin/Fiddle and Cello.
When an in-person audition is not feasible, applicants may submit a link to a video recording for review.
Music Foundations
After passing the audition, applicants will be assessed on their:
Understanding of basic music theory through a written assessment that includes music notation, intervals, major key signatures, and triads (major, minor, sus4, augmented, diminished).
Ear training proficiency, including triads, melodic, dictation, rhythmic and interval recognition, and triads (major, minor, sus4, augmented, diminished).
When in-person assessments are not feasible, they may be completed online.
Domestic applicants with a satisfactory audition, but who do not meet the music foundations standard, will attend an online two-week Prep Course in August. Full acceptance into the program will be granted with a Prep Course grade of 70% or higher.
The recommended deadline for completing both the application and audition is May 31 preceding the September intake. Applications received after this date may be considered subject to available space.
Students must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. with no grades below "C-" Specific majors have additional graduation requirements.
Tuition & Fees
All amounts are estimates and are subject to change. Tuition amounts are based on a full-time course load. Please note that many programs have additional costs beyond those listed here. For more information, please visit Tuition & Fees.
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