Piano Pedagogy Research | Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Piano Pedagogy Research
A large percentage of music majors become piano teachers either in private studios or in specialised music schools and a significant number of
those teachers are interested in continuing their training, either immediately after their undergraduate program or a few years after becoming
integrated into the work force. This Graduate Diploma in Piano Pedagogy Research has been created to meet the needs of those students.
Interest in research into the theory and practice of piano pedagogy is in a growth period. This program will provide an in-depth study of the
research done in piano pedagogy or related disciplines as it contributes to our understanding of the processes involved in learning to play the
piano. This graduate diploma will enable piano teachers to incorporate scientific knowledge into their own practice of piano teaching and will
contribute to developing highly qualified professionals with a strong interest in research in the field.
The Graduate Diploma in Piano Pedagogy Research is offered both on a part-time basis and a full-time basis. Full-time students will normally
complete the Diploma within two terms (sessions) (September to April). All students will be required to complete it within three years.
On completion of the diploma, qualified students meeting admission requirements may apply to the MMus or the MA in Music and, on admission,
complete the requirements for those programs with credit granted for relevant courses already completed in the diploma. The number of units
remaining would be assessed individually with relation to the student's chosen master's program.
Program
Graduate Diploma Piano Pedagogy Research
Professors
Burns, Lori, Full Professor
Music theory and analysis; 20th century theory; gender studies in music; popular music; music and text
Comeau, Gilles, Full Professor
Piano pedagogy: psychology of music; teacher training; new technology (video camera and distant learning; music education: foundations;
creativity; cognitive studies)
Dineen, Phillip, Full Professor
Performance theory; harmony; philosophy of music
Merkley, Paul, Full Professor
Medieval and Renaissance music; film music; 20th century music; history of music theory; religion and music; medieval studies; patronage of
music; the business of music
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Admission
Graduate Diploma
Candidates are required to have one of the following: a BMus; a four-year honours BA in music; an equivalent degree, or diploma. They must have
achieved a 75 per cent (B+) average in their undergraduate degree or equivalent diploma. Students must understand, speak and write either
English or French fluently. In addition, they must have a passive knowledge of Canada's other official language, French or English. According to
university regulations, students can write their parpers and exam in the official language of their choice (either English or French).
A maximum of three units in equivalencies or advanced standing may be granted. To be eligible, the units in question must not have counted
towards the requirements of a previous diploma or degree. Candidates who have already successfully completed some of the compulsory units
may be allowed to replace those units with elective units. For details, consult section B.2.7. of the general regulations of the FGPS.
Transfer from Graduate Diploma to Master’s
Students enrolled in the graduate diploma program can request to transfer to the Master of Music (MMus) or the Master of Arts in Music (MA
(Mus)) in accordance with section A.7.1 of the general regulations of the FGPS.
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Program Requirements
Graduate Diploma
The Graduate Diploma in Piano Pedagogy Research requires successful completion of five courses (15 units), of which 12 are optional courses,
and an oral examination.
Compulsory courses (3 units):
MUS6935 EXAMEN ORAL / ORAL EXAMINATION
and at least one of the following two courses:
MUS6931 THÈMES EN PÉDAGOGIE DE LA MUSIQUE / TOPICS IN MUSICAL PEDAGOGY (3 units)
or
MUS6932 THÈMES EN PÉDAGOGIE DU PIANO / TOPICS IN PIANO PEDAGOGY (3 units)
Optional courses (12 units):
Students are strongly encouraged to take MUS5902 (Practicum) as one of their optional courses. A maximum of six units of EDU courses can
be included with the prior approval of the Director of Graduate Studies in Music. Instead of EDU courses, a student can choose up to 6 units in
another academic unit with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. However, a student must complete a minimum of 6 MUS units
among the optional courses.
MUS4158 PIANO PEDAGOGY I (3 units)
or
MUS4159 PIANO PEDAGOGY II (3 units)
MUS5900 INITIATION À LA RECHERCHE MUSICALE / INTRODUCTION TO MUSICAL RESEARCH (3 units)
MUS5901 PROSÉMINAIRE EN THÉORIE ET ANALYSE MUSICALES / PROSEMINAR IN MUSIC THEORY AND ANALYSIS (3 units)
MUS5902 STAGE / PRACTICUM (3 units)
MUS5903 PROSÉMINAIRE EN MUSICOLOGIE / PROSEMINAR IN MUSICOLOGY (3 units)
MUS5904 MÉTHODES DE RECHERCHE EN PÉDAGOGIE MUSICALE / RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES IN MUSIC PEDAGOGY (3 units)
MUS5911 SÉMINAIRE DE RECHERCHE / RESEARCH SEMINAR (3 units)
MUS6931 THÈMES EN PÉDAGOGIE DE LA MUSIQUE / TOPICS IN MUSICAL PEDAGOGY (3 units)
MUS6932 THÈMES EN PÉDAGOGIE DU PIANO / TOPICS IN PIANO PEDAGOGY (3 units)
MUS6993 THÈMES EN INTERPRÉTATION / TOPICS IN PERFORMANCE (3 units)
MUS6994 ÉTUDES INDIVIDUELLE EN PÉDAGOGIE DE LA MUSIQUE / INDEPENDENT STUDIES IN MUSICAL PEDAGOGY (3 units)
MUS6995 LECTURES DIRIGÉES DANS LE DOMAINE DE LA PÉDAGOGIE DE LA MUSIQUE / DIRECTED READINGS IN MUSICAL PEDAGOGY (3 units)
MUS6996 ÉTUDE INDIVIDUELLE EN INTERPRÉTATION / INDEPENDENT STUDIES IN PERFORMANCE (3 units)
Duration of the program
The requirements of the diploma are usually fulfilled within three years of initial enrollment to the program.
Minimum standards
The passing grade in all courses is C+ and students who fail two courses (six units) must withdraw.
Courses
MUS4158 PIANO PEDAGOGY I (3 units)
Pedagogical principles applied to the teaching of the piano. Technique, repertoire, skills. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department. Previously:
MUS3158. BMus (piano).
MUS4159 PIANO PEDAGOGY II (3 units)
Continuation of MUS4158. Prerequisite: MUS4158. Previously MUS3159.
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MUS5902 STAGE / PRACTICUM (3 units)
Stage dirigé permettant aux étudiantes et aux étudiants de mettre en pratique leurs connaissances et leur expertise. Rédaction d'un rapport
évalué par le superviseur de stage et un professeur du programme. Noté : S/NS. / A supervised practicum designed to allow students to put their
knowledge and developing expertise to work. Students will be required to submit a written report that will be evaluated by the practicum
supervisor and a professor. Graded: S/NS. Préalables : Permission du professeur superviseur de l'étudiant et du directeur des études supérieures;
disponibilité d'un stage jugé convenable par l'École de musique. / Prerequisites: Permission of the student's supervisor and director of graduate
studies; availability of a placement deemed suitable by the School of Music.
MUS5903 PROSÉMINAIRE EN MUSICOLOGIE / PROSEMINAR IN MUSICOLOGY (3 units)
Survol des méthodes de recherche actuelles en musicologie, y compris la musicologie historique, l'étude de genre, la théorie critique, l'étude
critique de l'interprétation et l'étude des médias. / Survey of different current research methodologies in musicology, including historical
musicology, genre studies, critical theory, performance studies, and media studies.
MUS5904 MÉTHODES DE RECHERCHE EN PÉDAGOGIE MUSICALE / RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES IN MUSIC PEDAGOGY (3 units)
Exploration des méthodes de recherche en pédagogie musicale, y compris des approches et des cadres théoriques issus des sciences sociales. /
Exploration of research methodologies in music pedagogy research, including theoretical frameworks and methodologies derived from the social
sciences.
MUS5910 SÉMINAIRE DE RECHERCHE / RESEARCH SEMINAR
Forum de discussion sur la méthodologie, les problèmes et le cadre théorique de la recherche, dans le contexte des recherches poursuivies par
les étudiants et les étudiantes inscrits. / Discussion of research methodology, problems and theoretical frameworks in relation to participating
students' research.
MUS5911 SÉMINAIRE DE RECHERCHE / RESEARCH SEMINAR (3 units)
Forum de discussion sur la méthodologie, les problèmes et le cadre théorique de la recherche, dans le contexte des recherches poursuivies par
les étudiants et les étudiantes inscrits. Préalable : Connaissance passive de l'anglais. / Discussion of research methodology, problems and
theoretical frameworks in relation to participating students' research. Prerequisite: Passive knowledge of French.
MUS6931 THÈMES EN PÉDAGOGIE DE LA MUSIQUE / TOPICS IN MUSICAL PEDAGOGY (3 units)
Les thèmes étudiés comprennent les facteurs cognitifs liés aux habiletés en lecture musicale; le contrôle de la dimension expressive dans
l'interprétation; l'importance de la pratique dans la maîtrise des mouvements techniques; les habiletés développées par une approche fondée sur
l'apprentissage à l'oreille comparativement à une approche basée sur l'apprentissage de la lecture; les mémoires auditive, visuelle et tactile
impliquées dans la mémorisation de la musique. / Themes being studied will include the cognitive factors related to the skills involved in reading
music; the control of expressive aspects of playing; the role of practising in mastering the technical movements; the skills related to an ear
training approach versus a note-reading approach; the aural, visual and tactile memory skills involved in memorising music.
MUS6932 THÈMES EN PÉDAGOGIE DU PIANO / TOPICS IN PIANO PEDAGOGY (3 units)
Les thèmes étudiés comprennent les réflexes conditionnés d'un sujet aux stimuli musicaux complexes impliqués dans l'apprentissage du jeu
pianistique; une analyse approfondie des recherches sur l'efficacité et la pertinence des méthodes de piano déjà reconnues; l'étude des habiletés
motrices impliquées dans le développement de la technique; les questions de santé impliquées dans les blessures liées au jeu du piano. / Themes
being studied will include a subject's conditioned responses to complex musical stimuli in the context of learning to play the piano; in-depth
understanding of the research evaluating the effectiveness and relevance of already established piano methods; study of the motor skills involved
in developing piano technique; health issues involved in the injuries related to piano playing.
MUS6935 EXAMEN ORAL / ORAL EXAMINATION
L'examen oral a lieu à la fin du programme et se tient devant un jury formé de deux membres du corps professoral. Noté S/NS / The oral
examination takes place at the end of the program and is held in the presence of a jury consisting of two faculty members. Graded S/NS.
Préalable : Avoir complété toutes les autres exigences du certificat / Completion of all other certificate requirements
MUS6993 THÈMES EN INTERPRÉTATION / TOPICS IN PERFORMANCE (3 units)
Thèmes liés à l'interprétation et aux différentes habiletés requises : technique, mémorisation, contrôle de l'anxiété liée à la performance. / Topics
relating to performance and the various skills required: technique, memorization, controlling performance anxiety.
MUS6994 ÉTUDES INDIVIDUELLE EN PÉDAGOGIE DE LA MUSIQUE / INDEPENDENT STUDIES IN MUSICAL PEDAGOGY (3 units)
Ce cours comprend une recherche supervisée en laboratoire ou en atelier où l'on explore un sujet au choix en pédagogie musicale. / This course
involves guided research in a laboratory or workshop setting where the student pursues an individual research topic in musical pedagogy under
the supervision of a professor.
MUS6995 LECTURES DIRIGÉES DANS LE DOMAINE DE LA PÉDAGOGIE DE LA MUSIQUE / DIRECTED READINGS IN MUSICAL
PEDAGOGY (3 units)
Ce cours comprend la lecture critique supervisée d'un ensemble de documents en pédagogie musicale choisis par l'étudiant ou l'étudiante.
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L'étudiant ou l'étudiante doit remettre un travail écrit. / This course involves the critical directed reading of a body of appropriate literature in
musical pedagogy determined by the student under the supervision of a professor. Students are required to submit a written report.
MUS6996 ÉTUDE INDIVIDUELLE EN INTERPRÉTATION / INDEPENDENT STUDIES IN PERFORMANCE (3 units)
Recherche supervisée en atelier où l'on explore un sujet de recherche en interprétation sous la direction d'un professeur. / Guided research in a
workshop setting where the student pursues an individual research topic in interpretation under the supervision of a professor.
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