The Diploma in Music is a two-year program designed for students intending to pursue further studies in the fields of performance, composition, or music education. The program is designed to ensure that students master the rudiments of their chosen area of study and receive a thorough grounding in core subjects. Students receive intensive one-on-one studio instruction on their chosen instrument with the goal of introducing them to new repertoire and techniques, enhancing their practising skills and technical fluency, and developing excellence in performance.
Delivery of the Course
Diploma in Music program is offered over four 14-week semesters (two years) running from September to early April of each year. However, students should be prepared to dedicate both daytime and evening hours to scheduled courses. All courses are taught on the Victoria Conservatory of Music campus.
Courses are also open to qualified students from the community who are not in the Music Diploma Program. MUS is the prefix for Music courses and JAZZ is the prefix for Jazz courses. Both MUS and JAZZ courses can be taken in any of the three credit programs.
For a list of courses, please see the Camosun College Calendar
Course descriptions are available electronically upon request from the Conservatory’s
Registrar of Post-Secondary Programs
Fuchsia Shier, 250-386-5311, ext 2360
post-secondaryregistrar@vcm.bc.ca
Program Completion Requirements
Students must receive a grade equivalent of 70% or better in core MUS courses and maintain an overall GPA for all JAZZ and MUS courses (core and elective combined) of 4.0 (B-) to receive the Diploma in Music.
Credential Awarded
Diploma in Music
AVCM Certificate
Students completing the Diploma in Music will also complete many of the requirements for AVCM in Teaching and AVCM in Performance. Students wishing to incorporate the full requirements for either or both of these credentials into their Diploma in Music programme are advised to follow the links above to determine full requirements for these additional credentials.
For further information, please contact the Registrar of Post-Secondary Programs.
Transferability
The website of the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer will indicate which courses are transferable with Camosun College as the sending institution. For out-of-province or foreign country transferability, the receiving institution will make a decision on a course-by-course basis.
The Victoria Conservatory of Music/Camosun College make no guarantees that every course will be transferable to every receiving institution.
Upon completion of the Diploma in Music, graduates are well-prepared to continue post-secondary studies at other institutions and in some cases to begin to develop a professional music career.
Majors
Students may choose to major in classical performance or composition.
Majors include:
- Composition
- Keyboard: piano, pipe organ, harpsichord
- Voice
- Classical Guitar
- Woodwinds and Brass: bassoon, clarinet, flute, horn, oboe, classical saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba
- Percussion
- Strings: violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp
Diploma in Music students also study music theory, music history, musicianship (aural skills), complete two semesters of college English, and participate in ensembles.
