Explore the different facets of campus you’ll experience throughout your four year degree at King’s.
Select a number to move directly to that part of the journey.
| Section | Year | Year | Year | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academics | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Experiential learning | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Student support | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Skills training | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Campus life | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Move from first-year exploration to upper-year specialization and post-graduation planning.
| Year 1 |
Start your university journey in the Foundation Year Program (FYP) or as a general BMus student. Alongside FYP, you will have space to take one music course per term. Many people will choose their private lessons (Applied Study) to be this class, but the first year Theory and Musicianship courses are viable options too. Students not in FYP will take first year Theory, Musicianship, private lessons, two ensembles and Writing for Performance. |
| Year 2 |
Once you have all required first-year courses completed, you will take the continuation of the Theory, Musicianship, Applied Study and ensemble courses at the 2000 level. There are also Music History courses that you will now have room to take. Students who have completed the 1000 and 2000 level Theory and Musicianship courses can audition for the Performance stream. This concentration would allow you to learn more repertoire, have more coachings, gain more performance opportunities and perform recitals. You can also choose to take part in the Composition program, where you’ll learn to write for a variety of voice and instrument types, and premiere works at recitals. |
| Year 3 |
Start investigating music electives in a more niche area, like learning about how to arrange music for voice and instruments, understanding how body systems assist in singing and more advanced theory courses. Those in the Performance stream will perform an end of year Half Recital, which will be 30 minutes of repertoire. |
| Year 4 |
In your final year, you will have much more space to investigate interesting music electives and take the Musicology seminar. Performance stream students will prepare their end of year Full Recital, which will be one hour of repertoire. Those who stay in the General stream will complete a Grad Project, with more freedom to explore a final performance that represents them. |
Build practical experience through campus jobs, internships and career-focused learning.
| Year 1 |
There are plenty of ensemble opportunities through Dal and King’s that can enrich your musical experience. DalVoice students can try their hand at Opera Scenes or Dalchorus, for credit, and voice and instrumentalists alike can collaborate in ensembles like DalJazz and DalPop. Instrumentalists can take part in the DalStrings ensemble, or DalWind ensemble, depending on their instrument. |
| Year 2 |
Your department heads will constantly be sharing gigging, audition and job opportunities in the performing arts as they come up. There are plenty of ways to get more industry experience through workshops like the Nova Scotia Youth Choir, or Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, for example. Students can also participate in the King’s Chorus, or even study as a Choral Scholar with the Chapel Choir. |
| Year 3 |
Students can apply to work closely with the Joseph Strug Concert Hall and the Rebecca Cohn theatre as Ushers, to get a better understanding of how a performance can be organized, beyond the performing role. You may want to take the Dal Study Abroad seminar in the Czech Republic, where you can learn all about Baroque history, theatre and music. You can earn your music history credit by spending a beautiful month abroad! |
| Year 4 |
Use the connections you’ve made throughout your degree to look for auditions and performance opportunities, as well as connecting with other institutions for graduate studies. Many Music grads may also find themselves practicing Law or Medicine because of their independent work skills. Working within the industry beyond performing could look like audio tech, speech language pathology, audiology, sound design and tech, producing and working as arrangers and technologists. |
Access the people, offices and resources that support your wellbeing and academic success.
| Year 1 |
If you’re feeling stressed or dealing with homesickness, Peer Support meetings could be helpful for you. As you prepare for your upper years, you can access Academic Advising with both our full time and Peer advisors. |
| Year 2 |
If you’re dealing with new experiences in living off campus, the Sexual Health and Safety Office can assist in coping with roommate dynamics, identity exploration or find housing support. You might also want to investigate the King’s Accessibility office, Student Support officer or Academic Accommodations through Dal’s Accessibility office in the Killam Library, so you can be your most successful self. |
| Year 3 |
Find connections that relate to your unique experience by joining one of King’s many societies and support systems, some tailored specifically to the LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous and disabled communities. |
| Year 4 |
Once you prepare to go out into the world post-grad, you can connect with Financial Advising through the student accounts office, Career Advising through Dalhousie and of course using the Dal Health center to access any physical or mental health supports you may need as you transition into a new pathway. |
Develop the academic, leadership and career skills that prepare you for what comes next.
| Year 1 |
Learn to manage your time independently through preparation of repertoire for private lessons and ensemble rehearsals alike, while potentially balancing all this responsibility with the workload of FYP. |
| Year 2 |
Consider what future you might want within your degree program (regarding concentrations such as General Studies, Performance, Musicology or Composition), as well as advocating for yourself and your needs, in order to ensure you can be your most successful and fulfilled self. |
| Year 3 |
While continuing your studies into your niche area of interest, you can learn more about how to connect your work in your degree into “real world” work through internships with the Work Integrated Learning program (WIL). You will need strong communication skills (both written and verbal) in order to obtain these experiences, which you will be able to develop throughout this degree. Some potential internships could be writing and/or performing with Symphony Nova Scotia, and many chances to work with local theatre companies, festivals and music institutions! |
| Year 4 |
As you prepare for your future beyond undergrad, you will use all these opportunities to collaborate with a wide variety of people in varying ways and improve your leadership skills as you work with different ensembles, productions and companies. These leadership and interpersonal skills that you can develop throughout this degree can be helpful of course in Arts Management positions, as well as many other forms of team instruction. Maybe you will use these skills to lead some of the arts events that are special to Halifax someday! |
Find your routines, your people and your place in the King’s campus community.
| Year 1 |
Check out some of the concerts that the music department puts on and see if you can get complimentary tickets to other community shows in the Joseph Strug Concert Hall! There are also plenty of concerts in the King’s Chapel to keep an eye out for as well. |
| Year 2 |
Want to be doing some more collaborative singing or want an opportunity to learn to arrange or conduct? The Unconscious Collective Vocal Ensemble (UCVE) is an auditioned a capella choir open to all Halifax post-secondary students on the King’s campus. It is free to participate in and aims to make music accessible to the wider community. |
| Year 3 |
Visit the Wardroom to dance to your favourite tunes, perform covers and original songs at open mic nights, or have some fun at Queeraoke! Continue to participate in choirs and instrumental ensembles, and keep looking out for concerts near you! |
| Year 4 |
Before you graduate, ensure that you’ve had the chance to participate in some of Kings’ unique college traditions. Make sure you go to a Formal Meal, perform at Big Night or watch a Classics in the Quad production. |