A new generation of music makers is transforming the industry and Concordia's Department of Music is keeping pace, with sweeping curriculum changes and new opportunities for artists.
"For a long time, students have been asking for hands-on production training and better professional coaching," explains Joshua Rager, associate professor and department chair.
"We've found a way to shift our programs so that students can still get a solid foundation in instrumental, theoretical and historical knowledge while being prepared for how the music industry really works today."
Traditionally, students applying to Concordia's music programs were required to audition on a classical or jazz instrument. That's no longer the case for two of the department's programs: the Major in Music and the Specialization in Music Composition, which will be renamed the Specialization in Music Composition and Production next year.
Instead, applicants can now submit portfolios of songs, tracks or film scores in place of or in addition to a traditional instrumental audition.
Building a modern music career
"We'll be welcoming a whole new cohort of songwriters and music producers about two-thirds of our incoming students many of whom are also interested in scoring for film and video games," adds Georges Dimitrov, course lecturer.
To support this shift, the department is rolling out courses such as Music Production Fundamentals I and II (MPRD 201/202), which give students technical training in recording, mixing, and digital audio workstations.
Another major addition is Managing a Career in Music (MUSI 321), launching this fall. The course will be taught by Ryhna Thompson, CEO of Envision Management, who brings over two decades of experience managing artists.
The course will help students navigate contracts, promotion and the realities of building sustainable careers.
An expansive approach to theory and history
Dimitrov explains that music theory and history courses will also be receiving an overhaul.
"Harmony and aural perception will now be taught in classes that mix classical and jazz approaches. This modern perspective decentres the Western European canon and looks at pop music, world music, electronic music, film and video game scores," he says. "We will bring together students from the general music and jazz areas, encouraging interactions."
A new course set for 2026-27, Music, Sound and Society (MHIS 205), will reimagine music history not as a chronological timeline, but as a cross-cultural exploration of how humans have created and experienced sound.
"It's a revolutionary way of approaching music history," Rager says. "It's about looking at human-made sound as creative developments, rather than limiting ourselves to genre-specific timelines."
Growing connections
Concordia's music students will have more opportunities to engage directly with the professional music scene. This year, a major guest artist will join a class, providing mentorship and feedback as students develop new creative work.
"Music composition classes are becoming more transversal, bringing together students from both the Major in Electroacoustic Studies and the Specialization in Music Composition and Production," adds Dimitrov.
Students will have the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines like theatre, dance, and other performing arts programs, creating projects together.
"We have come a long way since we offered our first music degree," Rager says. "We've built something exciting and sustainable a place where the next generation of musicians, producers and composers can thrive."
Find out more about Concordia's Department of Music.
