Undergraduate courses

Advanced study of the techniques of contemporary dance.

Study of the theory and practice of Afro-Urban and Afro-Contemporary fusion forms

Basic scenography including set, props, lighting and costume design theory,
process and technique for a variety of theatre forms and performance styles.

A practical exploration of collaborative music making between piano and voice. Singers and pianists will work in duos and build rehearsal strategies and performance skills around the nuances of poetry, musical style, language, and expression.

This course is intended for the third- or fourth-year B. Mus. student and will examine the role of nationalism in European music from approximately 1800 to 1918. Emphasis will be placed upon a listening knowledge of a representative sample of the music of this historical period. The classes will discuss the major composers and ideas involved in the development of romantic nationalism and will include the analysis of selected musical works. These works will be discussed against the backdrop of relevant issues in social and political history.

A theoretical and practical investigation of the phenomenon of space in sound and the role of space in music and sonic art. 

A practical exploration of collaborative music making between piano and voice. Singers and pianists will work in duos and build rehearsal strategies and performance skills around the nuances of poetry, musical style, language, and expression.

This course is intended for the third- or fourth-year B. Mus. student and will examine the role of nationalism in European music from approximately 1800 to 1918. Emphasis will be placed upon a listening knowledge of a representative sample of the music of this historical period. The classes will discuss the major composers and ideas involved in the development of romantic nationalism and will include the analysis of selected musical works. These works will be discussed against the backdrop of relevent issues in social and political history. A detailed syllabus of weekly lectures, readings, and listening assignments will be provided. One term paper is required; details will be provided in class.

A theoretical and practical investigation of the phenomenon of space in sound and the role of space in music and sonic art. Students will explore diverse perspectives from several fields of study regarding the functions of sound in everyday space (architectural acoustics) as well as in artistic practice (soundscape studies, multichannel acousmatic composition and performance). Students will experiment with spatial design and create sound compositions demonstrating spatial techniques.

This Block Week course for SCPA students from all disciplines will cover the history, theory and practical application of sustainability and regenerative practices in the performance sector.  In this hands-on course taught by Canada’s leading experts in the field of sustainability and performance, students will gain experience using Creative Green Tools to understand and measure the carbon footprint of SCPA performance activities and help design new regenerative practices.   This course is the first of its kind in Canada and is for any graduate or senior undergraduate student who wants to understand the impact of their discipline on the environment and be part of future strategizing to address the climate crisis. 

Description coming soon. 

Description coming soon.

Formal study of the technologies of Drama and Artificial Intelligence. Students work with AI in a game-jam model to create projects following the principles of Drama and Performance. A rapid iteration process integrates professional practices from studio-based arts and creative technologies.  

This Advanced Topics seminar will focus on playwriting by women from the 1990s to the present, identifying key concerns and theatrical/dramaturgical strategies that distinguish their work, as well as critical perspectives that illuminate their plays.

Formal study of the technologies of Drama and Artificial Intelligence. Students work with AI in a game-jam model to create projects following the principles of Drama and Performance. A rapid iteration process integrates professional practices from studio-based arts and creative technologies.  

An introductory course to vocal pedagogy focused on the basic anatomy, physiology, and coordination of the vocal instrument, as well as teaching concepts and strategies appropriate to both solo and choral applications.

This course is intended for undergraduate music students and for graduate students currently teaching private students or looking towards acquiring private students in the future. The course will examine various pedagogical methods, curriculum, and approaches to teaching in a private lesson. Topics covered will include learning styles, adaptive teaching methods, lesson planning, repertoire sequencing, approaches to technique, aspects of studio business management (including marketing, scheduling, financial matters, and contracts), best practices for studio management and considerations in teaching children with special needs. Through observation, application, self-reflection, and group activities, we will apply aspects of the curriculum. The course will include selected readings on the topics studied, graded observations, activities, and self-reflection. One term paper is required for graduate students. 

An introductory course to vocal pedagogy focused on the basic anatomy, physiology, and coordination of the vocal instrument, as well as teaching concepts and strategies appropriate to both solo and choral applications.

This course is intended for undergraduate music students and for graduate students currently teaching private students or looking towards acquiring private students in the future. The course will examine various pedagogical methods, curriculum, and approaches to teaching in a private lesson. Topics covered will include learning styles, adaptive teaching methods, lesson planning, repertoire sequencing, approaches to technique, aspects of studio business management (including marketing, scheduling, financial matters, and contracts), best practices for studio management and considerations in teaching children with special needs. Through observation, application, self-reflection, and group activities, we will apply aspects of the curriculum. The course will include selected readings on the topics studied, graded observations, activities, and self-reflection. One term paper is required for graduate students. 

A multimedia survey course exploring the genre of popular music known as Progressive Rock. The course will include an examination of Progressive Rock’s early history from its psychedelic beginnings, through its heyday in the 1970s, and its legacy in the 1980s and beyond. Discussions will center on a survey of some of Progressive Rock’s most well-known icons and will include detailed analyses and in-depth discussions of their works. All lectures will be presented online in video format.

This course is intended for upper-division undergraduate music students and for graduate students. The course will examine the history of jazz music from its origins in blues and ragtime in the nineteenth century through its evolution during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The course will include an examination of the music itself, the artists who have driven its development, and the social, cultural, and political context of its distinct time periods and stylistic expressions. 

This course is intended for upper-division undergraduate music students and for graduate students. The course will examine the history of jazz music from its origins in blues and ragtime in the nineteenth century through its evolution during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The course will include an examination of the music itself, the artists who have driven its development, and the social, cultural, and political context of its distinct time periods and stylistic expressions.