Where music intersects with people in a community context, there is bound to be a story. The story of how music inspires, challenges, sustains, enhances and identifies with individuals and groups is at the core of study in the Master of Arts (MA) in Community Music.
Our program is designed for community leaders who are, or plan to be, engaged in creating or making music with diverse populations in schools, places of worship, private studios, seniors’ homes, community centres or other venues where music making occurs. This interdisciplinary program balances theory and practice for the development of leadership skills in community music.
First program of its kind in Canada.
Present a research project in a public community capstone setting.
Part-time option: maintain a full-time job while studying.
Our interdisciplinary Master of Arts (MA) in Community Music balances theory and practice for the development of leadership skills in community music. Offered part-time (two-years) or full-time (one-year), we have designed this degree for community leaders engaged in creating or making music with diverse populations.
Community Music is an emerging academic discipline worldwide, which honours wholeness and health, activism and justice and a variety of informal learning practices within the practice of music making.
Those who are currently in careers will find this program tailored to the deepening of their skills and interests through scholarship and applied experience. Those completing undergraduate programs will find this to be a natural progression that builds on the foundational experiences and developing musicianship.
During this program you’ll complete a research project that will be presented in a public community capstone setting where your leadership is demonstrated in context.
Full-Time: Full-time students will normally complete the curriculum (six courses) in three consecutive terms or nine months (Fall, Winter, Spring/Summer).
Part-Time: As a part-time course of study, the program is designed with flexibility in both sequence of courses (six) and duration of program. The part-time program has a typical duration of six terms or 18 months.
You can develop your program in consultation with the graduate coordinator.
"Community Music is the only program offered in Canada and one of very few offered world-wide. This degree is a total enmeshment in facilitation and music fulfilment. It was life enhancing and changing."
Joan Minnery (MA '22)
Take the first step in your graduate education and apply to one of our graduate programs. Follow our three-step admission process — we’ll walk you through how to apply and prepare for your first day as a graduate student.
Admission to this program is reviewed by the Graduate Program Committee. Admission is based on the collective results of:
After you have submitted your OUAC application, paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from gradadmissions@wlu.ca advising you to upload the additional required documentation to Laurier’s Online Registration and Information System (LORIS).
Note that the application process and the uploading of supplemental documentation, which includes references, typically takes two weeks. To avoid disappointment, please apply early.
An application for admission to our MA program in Community Music must include:
Please note, the application process and the uploading of supplemental documentation, which includes references, typically takes two weeks. To avoid disappointment, apply early.
Visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying.
Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to LORIS.
Questions? Contact Deanna Yerichuk, graduate coordinator, at dyerichuk@wlu.ca
The Laurier Centre for Music in the Community (LCMC) is dedicated to fostering vibrant and inclusive musical communities through evidence-based participatory music practices. We connect Laurier to the wider Waterloo Regional community through musical activities, community research and collaboration
"The program gave me the foundational knowledge and practical opportunity on becoming a welcoming and inclusive facilitator. I was offered the space to explore my musical creativity and to learn how to uniquely engage the broader community in participatory music-making. These skills were instrumental in finding my direction, confidence and passion as a community music practitioner."
Mary Neil (MA '19)
Regardless of the type of graduate degree program you intend to pursue, financial planning is important. At Laurier, we want to provide you with as much information as possible about a variety of scholarship and funding opportunities and equip you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.
Community Music provides you the skills to be successful in a number of careers, including:
ASPIRE is Laurier's professional skills development training program for graduate students. The program helps you craft an individualized, extracurricular learning plan tailored to your professional journey and entry to the workplace.
Learn about the interests of our faculty members. If you are looking for more information about this program, have questions, or want to set up a meeting, contact a member of our team.
Assistant Professor, Community Music
Coordinator, Bachelor of Music in Community Music
Graduate Officer, Master of Arts in Community Music
Director, Laurier Centre for Music in the Community
