The Community Music program allows students to explore diverse musical styles, genres and music-making approaches across various instruments. They will then apply these practical skills in leading and collaborating with their peers on musical initiatives with a social impact.
Through considerable hands-on experience, the program will prepare students to become a professional musician specializing in facilitating music-making with everyone from non-musicians to professionals in various community contexts.
Wilfrid Laurier University's Bachelor of Music in Community Music is based on a world-recognized model of music as social intervention where it is harnessed towards social change, including but not limited to: working with marginalized communities; using music for individual or community development; and using music toward systemic change. Community music as a professional discipline values the diversity of musical cultures and sees all music as cultural practices.
Students will have a significant amount of freedom to design their program to suit their interests, curiosities, and career goals. They will learn a broad suite of skills, from playing various instruments to designing lesson and rehearsal plans to conducting needs assessments for business plans but still have some flexibility to narrow their focus in specific areas of interest.
Students are not required to play multiple instruments to be accepted into Community Music, but they will receive training in voice, drumming, and either piano or guitar. Students may also choose to learn other instruments through the technique courses.
Students will receive the opportunity to participate in experiential learning placements in a variety of contexts. From schools to nursing homes to libraries to community ensembles to teaching music lessons at community music schools. In their first two years, they will observe or support community musicians already working professionally. In senior years, students will propose, design and implement music programming under the supervision of faculty.
In fourth year, with guidance from a Wilfrid Laurier University instructor, students will have the freedom to create a capstone project that puts their strengths and interests into action. Capstone projects are music initiatives with a social impact.
