<p>Hi: I'm interested in experience anyone has with either a double-degree program at McGill (BA/BM) or a double-major (jazz performance/history or english). My son plays jazz trombone, is a good student, and would like to pursue a solid liberal arts education while still being able to grow muscially. While he was auditioning at Oberlin last week, he spoke with a number of other kids who were enthusiastic about McGill. Any students or parents out there have any experience they'd be willing to share about either a double-degree or double-major program at McGill?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any advice you share.</p>
<p>Hey, Cambridgemom! My jazz son (Oberlin) also auditioned at McGill. McGill is a very well-respected university, and its music school is top notch. It is a beautiful, VERY large school (>30,000), and I think you can pursue a double degree program. Montreal is gorgeous, but very cold in the Winter. And its price tag is very attractive. However, it is a very different experience than a smaller school like Oberlin would offer, so you would defintiely want to check it out. There are parents here who have more direct McGill experience who can contact you. Their website - and the Schulich school website–can answer a lot of questions as well.</p>
<p>A sampling of the McGill titled threads. There are more, and also additional comments within other threads if you search by post rather than title.</p>
<p>This is not highly informational in terms of the specific info you seek, but a general endorsement for consideration IMHO, depending on your son’s likes/dislikes. McGill itself is awesome, especially in terms of comparative value if that is germane. Montreal has a great jazz scene (I lived there a long time ago and still have working musician friends there). Yes, it is very cold. Next to Vancouver, it is one of my favorite cities nonetheless.
Schulich is very well regarded – pretty much up there in top 3 for Canada at least in terms of music grad programs (U of Toronto, U. British Columbia). My s. would have considered attending there, possibly instead of U of Michigan, for music technology had they not obliterated the undergrad degree last year – still one of the strongest grad programs in his field. (He also plays jazz.) His department head from University of Michigan SOM / PAT is a graduate of McGill, as are many top notch profs. Lots to love. That said, I’d expect a much more metro kind of experience compared with Oberlin.</p>
<p>On another note, about dual degrees in general, since that’s usually the approach required when you’re satifying a BMus at any SOM…My s. was determined to do a dual degree at his school, and was admitted to each program etc. But it’s really really true that the music school dominates the first two years, especially with theory, piano, musicology prereqs plus his major classes and program requirements. Out of an 18 credit load, four of those credits are a required English program – that’s it.</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with the plan but completely expect that it will take 5 years *(or more, depending on scheduling) and that your son may feel a little restricted in his options/course selections as a result. Also note that theory will lean toward tough-ish at McGill, because in Grade 12U credits Canadian kids get a university prep level of music theory and composition (unheard of at my s.'s urban school), and the Royal Conservatory program also emphasizes theory considerably more than the U.S. programs my son was involved in.</p>
<p>Thanks Violadad and kmccrindle for your replies. I had found the prior threads about the Schulich program but was hoping to find out how integrated the dual degree and/or dual major programs are. One advantage of Oberlin is that it seems as if they have a core group of students in the dual degree program. It also seems as if Oberlin college and conservatory work hard to make successful completion of both degrees possible. Any students or parents of students in the dual degree/dual major from McGill out there? </p>