There are many ways for you to add music or dance to your academic life at Western. Below is a list of course and performance opportunities for non-Music majors.

Ensembles

Do you play an instrument or sing? Consider auditioning for a place in one of Western's outstanding choral, opera, and instrumental ensembles! All Western students – regardless of major or degree program – are eligible to audition for ensembles.

Learn more

Minors

Dance

Consider taking a Dance Minor at Western or adding a dance course to your studies (current course options available below). View Academic Calendar listing

Music

The Minor in Music can be combined with a wide array of other programs or modules at Western. View Academic Calendar listing

Music Performance Studies

A three-year program designed for students who are also concurrently enrolled in a non-music degree. The Music Performance Studies Minor program is flexible and permits students to focus exclusively on music study. It offers weekly one-hour lessons. Students already at Western should contact Music's Academic Advisor Mary Ann McVicar at mmcvica2@uwo.ca during the Intent to Register period. View Academic Calendar listing.

2026-27 Courses for non-Music Majors

The following courses are available for registration for non-Music majors. Register via Student Central. All course information can be found in the Western Academic Calendar.

Course listings are subject to change. See Western Academic Timetable for date, time, and location of specific courses. See Undergraduate Sessional Dates for more details and deadlines.

Music 1925 - Elective Applied Study 1 (Applied Lessons)

Individual lessons for students registered in a faculty other than Music, and for Music students registered in a year in which Applied Music Study is not required, or who are eligible for the study of more than one principal instrument. Non-Music students must contact the Faculty of Music before classes begin to receive audition information. Prerequisite: Audition or proof of Grade VI conservatory level and permission of the Dean. View Academic Calendar listing.

2026-27 fee: $3,000. Fee is billed upon registration.

Auditions

To arrange an audition, please contact the following instructors:

• Todd Wieczorek, voice twieczor@uwo.ca 
• Bobbi Thompson, winds, brass and percussion bthomp24@uwo.ca 
• Annette Barbara Vogel, strings avogel@uwo.ca 
• Stéphan Sylvestre, keyboards ssylves4@uwo.ca 

Please note: If a student is currently registered in Music 1925 and wants to use their year-end jury as an audition for BMus, they must take the following two steps:

• Inform the Admissions Officer Grace Theriault gwiebe2@uwo.ca of their intent to do this so that the admissions team can get the information into their records and prepare an audition form.
• Inform an Undergraduate Program Assistant in room TC210, or at mpsdept@uwo.ca so that the jurors can be alerted that they will be filling out an audition form for BMus, as well as a jury report form.

Music 1102a Listening to Music (online asynchronous)

A basic course to acquaint students with the materials of music and to give a broad perspective of the history of music. Through guided listening, the student will be exposed to a wide variety of musical styles. Extra Information: 3 hours. May not be counted for credit toward a program/module offered by the Don Wright Faculty of Music. View Academic Calendar listing.

Music 2105a or b – Beginner Guitar (online asynchronous)

This course will enable students with no prior musical training to develop guitar performance skills. Students will perform in a solo guitar format utilizing repertoire from a variety of musical traditions. This course may not be counted for credit toward a program/module in Music. 3 hours, half course. View Academic Calendar listing.

Music 2700b Post World War II Popular Music (Thurs 7 – 10PM)

The history, nature, and function of popular music, with particular reference to rock music. The course will emphasize musical styles, form, instrumentation, vocal timbres, and performing style through a study of representative works. 3 hours, half course. View Academic Calendar listing.

Music 2701A Musical Theatre (online asynchronous)

The contexts and forms of popular theatre in which music plays a vital part. Emphasis will be on such
twentieth-century genres as the Musical, Rock Opera, Musical Comedy, Comic Opera, Operetta and Vaudeville. Extra Information: 3 hours. View Academic Calendar listing.

Music 2703b Introduction to Hip Hop (online asynchronous)

A survey of the musical art-form of Hip Hop. Consideration of artists, sub-genres, performance practice and cultural impact. 3 hours, half course. View Academic Calendar listing.

Music 2801b – Drumming Across Cultures (Thurs 12:30 – 3:30PM)

Open to non-music majors, this course focuses on the rich cultural history and performance traditions of drum music from Africa, Brazil, Cuba and the middle East. Students will perform within small and large ensembles while learning correct playing procedures for a variety of percussion instruments including hand drums, bells, and shakers. 3 hours, half course. View Academic Calendar listing.

Dance 2174a Dance Basics (MWF 2:30 – 4:30PM)

Students with no previous dance training develop movement awareness, coordination and skill through practice and analysis of basic movements and combinations from dance types such as modern, ballet, theatre, character and ballroom. Learning will include rhythm components associated with step and movement patterns. 6 lecture/laboratory hours, half course. Priority to all yrs 2, 3 & 4 dance minor, kinesiology and music students. July 29 priority change: access to all senior students. View Academic Calendar listing.

Summer 2026 Courses

The following online courses were available for non-Music majors this summer. Register via Student Center.

Music 1122a Fundamentals of Music Theory

A concise introduction to music theory that will develop both practical and intellectual fluency with musical skills and concepts. Extra Information: Open to non-music students. Offered as a Distance/Online 0.5 course. May not be counted for credit toward a program/module offered by the Don Wright Faculty of Music. View Academic Calendar listing.

Music 2701a Musical Theatre

The contexts and forms of popular theatre in which music plays a vital part. Emphasis will be on such twentieth-century genres as the Musical, Rock Opera, Musical Comedy, Comic Opera, Operetta and Vaudeville. Extra Information: Open to non-music students. Offered as a Distance/Online 0.5 course. View Academic Calendar listing.