Music Performance
Arts and Media
Students come from all over the world to take the Music Performance program.
You’ll learn how to interpret, improvise, and perform contemporary music styles such as country, Celtic, rock, R&B, jazz, world music, and pop. In addition to theory and arranging, you’ll learn the ins and outs of the music business and the lucrative field of music licensing. The Music Performance program uses official curriculum materials from Berklee College of Music in Boston for all core music courses.
You will develop your performance style on stage in the Florence Simmons Performance Hall and SoPA’s coolest rehearsal space, the SoPA Garage, and as a student in the Music Performance program, you will receive a membership to Music Prince Edward Island.
September 2026
Prince of Wales Campus
Program Length
2 Years
Credential
Diploma, Music Performance
Canadian Tuition
International Tuition
Canadian Applicants
Accepting Applications
International Applicants with a Valid Study Permit
Accepting Applications
Other International Applicants
Accepting Applications
This program has degree pathways, giving you the opportunity to receive credit for your Holland College diploma when you continue your education. For a complete list of agreements, visit the Degree Pathways page.
| Partner Institution | Credential | Details of Agreement |
|---|---|---|
| Acadia University | Bachelor of Music | Graduates with a 75% average receive entry into the third year of the Bachelor of Music program. An audition is required as part of the entry process. |
| Berklee College of Music | Bachelor of Music | Graduates may receive up to 57 of the 120 credits required for a Bachelor of Music degree. |
| Humber Polytechnic College | Bachelor of Music | Graduates with a 65% average receive two years of credit toward a Bachelor of Music degree. |
| Mount Allison | Bachelor of Music | Graduates receive two years of credit toward a Bachelor of Music degree. An audition is required as part of the entry process. |
| St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) | Bachelor of Music | Graduates receive two years of credit toward the Bachelor of Music degree. |
| St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) | Bachelor | Graduates receive two years of credit toward the Bachelor of Music degree or the Bachelor of Arts Honours Music degree. |
| St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) | Bachelor of Arts Honours Music | Graduates receive two years credit toward the Bachelor of Arts Honours Music degree. |
| UPEI | Bachelor of Music | Graduates of Holland College's Music Performance diploma can earn up to 60 credit hours toward a Bachelor of Music at UPEI. |
| University of New Brunswick - Saint John | Bachelor of Applied Management | Graduates with a 70% average receive two years of credit toward a Bachelor of Applied Management degree. |
SAFE-1005
An overview of the Occupational Health and Safety Act...
0
MUSC-1000
Examine basic music theory concepts and the common~musical notation used in today's music industry. ~Students learn about the use of major and minor~scales to construct intervals and chords, and also~learn about notating contemporary parts for drums~and bass. Students develop a working knowledge of~basic harmonic analysis, modal harmony, and modal~interchange.
3.00
MUSC-1005
Learn the basic aural skills required to function~as a professional musician. Learn to perceive~common melodic patterns, harmonic progressions,~and basic rhythm patterns. Students demonstrate~their aural skills through musical dictation,~sight-singing, and conducting.
3.00
MUSC-1010
Students learn about the stylistic musical and~interpretation elements that characterize the Rock~genre and the Country genre.
3.00
MUSC-1015
Build on the knowledge gained from Music Styles:~Rock and Country to reproduce the authentic~sounds and performance characteristics of both~the Rock and Country genres. Students will have~an opportunity to use a variety of techniques~such as personal and group rehearsals, part~building and jam sessions to demonstrate their~musical performance skills in these genres.
2.00
MUSC-1020
Students will learn a "hands-on" introductory~approach to the basic knowledge of piano~technique, chords, and chord progressions for~contemporary music.
1.00
MUSC-1025
Students begin to develop techniques for~professional musicianship, solo, and group~performance. Students focus on two areas; their~ability to play or sing with fluency, confidence,~and dexterity, and their ability to arrive at that~point through a structured and logical practice~routine.
2.00
MUSC-1030
Explore diatonic functioning dominant chords,~secondary dominants, extended dominants, and~deceptive resolution. Students learn how to~develop guide tone lines and work with minor key~harmony in terms of available tensions,~subdominant minor, and modal interchange. ~Students develop a working knowledge of the Blues,~melodic scales and intervals, and the~relationships between form, melody, harmony, and~rhythm.
3.00
MUSC-1035
Further develop skills learned in MUSC-1005 Ear~Training II. Continued study on~perceiving common melodic patterns, harmonic~progressions, and rhythm patterns. Students~demonstrate their aural skills through musical~dictation, sight-singing, and conducting.
3.00
MUSC-1040
An outline of all business and creative aspects of~music licensing, from including production~techniques, composing styles, the various media~formats, music libraries, music catalogues, the~role of music in each media format, and other~related material. Students will learn how to~create multiple revenue streams by licensing their~music for various media formats.
3.00
MUSC-1045
Students learn about the stylistic musical and~interpretation elements that characterize the~Rhythm & Blues (R&B) genre and the Pop genre.
3.00
MUSC-1050
Build on knowledge gained from Music Styles:~Rhythm & Blues (R&B) and Pop to reproduce the~authentic sounds and performance characteristics~of both the Rhythm & Blues (R&B) and Pop genres.~Use a variety of techniques such as personal and~group rehearsals, part building and jam sessions~to demonstrate musical performance skills in~these genres.
2.00
MUSC-1055
Students further develop skills aquired in~Keyboard Harmony: Introduction. Students advance~their knowledge of piano chords and increase their~skills with keyboard accompaniment for~contemporary music.
1.00
MUSC-1060
Students further develop professional~musicianship, solo, and group performance~techniques learned in Private Lesson 1. Students~focus on two areas; the ability to play or sing~with fluency, confidence, and dexterity, and their~ability to arrive at that point through a~structured and logical practice routine.
2.00
MUSC-2000
Building on Harmony: Introduction, students gain~an understanding of diatonic functioning chord~scales, dominant chord functions, diminished chord~patterns, and modulation considerations.
3.00
MUSC-2005
Students learn the musical concepts of melody,~rhythm, harmony, and form, as applied to the~principles and techniques of writing and arranging~for the rhythm section, and a lead-line in a solo~instrument, two horns, or voice. Students explore~various contemporary musical styles and musical~concepts that comprise them, including writing~from the "bottom up" (groove-driven), and "top~down" (working with a melody in a lead instrument~or voice).
3.00
MUSC-2015
Students learn about the stylistic musical and~interpretation elements that characterize the~Celtic genre and the World Music genre.
3.00
MUSC-2020
Building on knowledge gained from Music Styles:~Celtic and World Music, students learn to~reproduce the authentic sounds and performance~characteristics of the Celtic and Acadian Music~genres. Students use a variety of techniques such~as personal and group rehearsals, part building,~and jam sessions to demonstrate musical~performance skills in these genres.
2.00
MUSC-2025
Develop skills improvising music in contrasting~styles such as Rock, Country, R&B and Pop using a~variety of techniques such as personal and group~rehearsals, part building and jam sessions.~Identify personal goals, review progress and~implement strategies for improvement.
2.00
MUSC-2030
Students further develop professional~musicianship, solo, and group performance~techniques learned in Private Lesson 1 and 2. ~Students focus on two areas; the ability to play~or sing with fluency, confidence, and dexterity,~and their ability to arrive at that point through~a structured and logical practice routine.
2.00
MUSC-2050
Students learn about the stylistic musical and~interpretation elements that characterize the Jazz~genre and the Latin genre.
3.00
MUSC-2055
Build on knowledge gained from Music Styles: Jazz~and Latin to reproduce the authentic sounds and~performance characteristics of both the Jazz and~Latin genres. Use a variety of techniques such as~personal and group rehearsals, part building and~jam sessions to demonstrate musical performance~skills in these genres.
2.00
MUSC-2060
Further develop improvisational skills learned in~Ensemble: Improvisation Introduction. Demonstrate~improvisation techniques at a more complex level~using a variety of techniques such as personal~and group rehearsals, part building and jam~sessions. The focus will be on improvisation in~contrasting styles such as Celtic, World, Jazz~and Latin.
2.00
MUSC-2065
Students further develop professional~musicianship, solo, and group performance~techniques learned in Private Lesson 1, 2 and 3. ~Students focus on two areas; the ability to play~or sing with fluency, confidence, and dexterity,~and the ability to arrive at that point through a~structured and logical practice routine. Students~take on a leadership role, creating their own~graduation recital, in collaboration with others.
2.00
MUSC-2070
Building on Harmony: Intermediate, students gain~an understanding of harmonic situations that do~not fit into "normal practice" of popular musical~styles. Students become familiar with different~dominant 7th chord resolution situations, modal~interchange, pedal point, ostinato, modal harmony,~compound chords, and constant structures.
3.00
MUSC-2105
Third in a series of four courses, this course~continues to develop the students aural perception~of intervals, 7th chords with tensions, common~melodic patterns, harmonic progressions and~rhythmic patterns. Areas of exploration and focus~include: Secondary and Substitute Dominants,~Related II's, Modal Interchange, Diminished Chord~patterns and Minor Key progressions and melodies. ~Rhythmic studies will include 2/8, 3/8, 6/8, 12/8,~cut time, and 5/4 time signatures. The rhythmic~devices explored in Ear Training II will continue~to be developed, with additional attention given~to syncopated 16th note practices. Students will~demonstrate their aural skills through musical~dictation, sight-singing, and conducting.
3.00
ANAT-1000
An introduction to the structure and function of~the body in its normal, healthy state. It serves~as the basis for understanding pathophysiology~and altered body states caused by illness. ~Students examine individual body organ systems,~their components and processes, and how they~interrelate.
3.00
ANAT-1247
The intent of this course is to provide students~with an understanding of the structure and~function of the human body. Emphasis is placed on~the study of the cardiovascular, skeletal,~muscular, nervous, and respiratory systems.
3.00
ARTS-1030
An introduction to the development of art in the~19th and 20th centuries, and the identification of~well-known artists throughout history. Explore the~key stylistic characteristics of major artistic~movements. Using the Feldman method of art~criticism, learn to discuss and evaluate various~forms of creative expression. Gain a wide variety~of artistic experiences to help move from the role~of observer to one of active engagement in the~world of art.
3.00
BIOL-1100
An introduction to applied microbiology including~a practical and theoretical introduction to~structure and function of micro-organisms. The~diversity of the microbial world is examined by~comparing bacterial, fungal, protozoan and viral~organisms. The growth, reproduction and~enumeration of micro-organisms are studied as~well as the effects of environmental conditions~on microbial growth. The laboratory component~provides hands-on experience in the isolation,~cultivation and enumeration of micro-organisms as~well as in the preparation of microbiological~media.
3.00
BUSI-2030
Explore the basic principles and concepts of~micro and macro economics. Learn the concepts of~demand and supply, the theory of the firm, and~distribution of income, including the study of~business behavior and decision making under~various market conditions. A macroeconomics view~includes the examination of national income~levels, employment and prices, the business~cycle, factors affecting economic growth and~monetary and fiscal policies.
3.00
CHEM-1000
A survey of general chemistry, starting with the~properties of the basic elements and their~chemical reactions and progressing to the~behaviour of organic compounds. Students study~acid/base chemistry, chemical equilibrium and~reductive/oxidative reactions.
4.00
COMM-1002
Develop professional writing that is concise,~clear, and grammatically correct. Students will~acquire competency with focus placed on grammar,~punctuation, proofreading, editing, and word~usage in the first portion of the course. In the~later portion, focus will be placed on developing~reports and research projects consistent with~academic and professional standards.
3.00
KINE-1146
This course provides students with both a basic~understanding of the structure and function of~the human body and an understanding of the~expected responses and adaptations the body makes~during acute exercise. Topic areas include;~homeostasis, bioenergetics, neuroendocrinology,~the nervous system, the musculoskeletal system,~the circulatory system, and acid-base balance.~Students examine acute body systems responses to~various forms of exercise and chronic adaptations~resulting from participation in regular exercise~training.
4.00
MATH-1290
This course provides students with an~introduction to the basic concepts of descriptive~and basic probability, sampling techniques and~inferential statistics. Topics include; proper~sampling techniques, measures of center and~variation, basic probability concepts, normal~distribution, confidence intervals for means and~proportions, hypothesis testing, paired samples~as two independent samples, contingency tables,~introduction to analysis of variance, linear~regression and correlation. Students are~introduced to a statistical computer package.
3.00
MKTG-2065
Gain knowledge and understanding of the marketing~and promotion skills required to successfully~launch and sustain a career in the music industry.~Students learn methods of self-promotion and~working with promoters, agents, and managers. ~Students examine the methods and benefits of~promotion of their recordings, projects, concerts,~and merchandise, and how to successfully forward~their career through best practices in marketing~and promotion.
3.00
MUSC-1065
An introduction to the various ways in which music~technology is incorporated into the production of~music. Students gain a working knowledge of~Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI),~sequencing, the use of virtual instruments (VSTs),~effects, editing, and mixing. Students gain a~working knowledge of music composition for~multiple media formats including television, film,~video games, and advertising, sound design, DAWs,~Foley, and musical notation utilizing Finale.
3.00
MUSC-2200
A thorough exploration of the business practices~required to be successful in the music business. ~Students learn about the role of various~professionals, their influence and impact, and how~they will interact with them during their career. ~Students apply financial planning, project~planning, and business planning principles to~create a business plan related to their own~career.
3.00
PSYC-1001
The theory, methods and research within the~science of psychology will be examined, including~sensation and perception, consciousness,~conditioning and learning, memory, and thinking~and intelligence. In addition, the history of~psychology and the connection between biology and~psychology will be explored, with a Canadian~research perspective highlighted when~appropriate.
3.00
PSYC-1002
The theory, methods and research within the~science of psychology will be examined, including~lifespan development. emotion and motivation,~personality and stress. Additionally,~psychological disorders, therapy and treatment~will be explored.
3.00
Auditions are by appointment. Please email Adam Hill to schedule your audition. You must have applied to the Music Performance program before you can audition.
Detailed list of Music Performance Audition requirements.
Holland College is a proud Berklee Global Partner.
The Berklee – Holland College Pathway program provides students who have been accepted to Berklee College of Music with an exciting opportunity to take part in a one- to two-year Music Performance program at Holland College in beautiful Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
Our instructors are musicians and professionals still working and performing in the industry. They'll ensure that your training is current and relevant to the music industry and help you build your professional network. Meet our Instructors
Please note: This program accepts Mature Student applications.
As a SoPA student you will have the opportunity to submit your music to SoPA Sonic Records, SoPA's student-run record label.
Find out more about SoPA Sonic Records.
Students in our School of Performing Arts have access to specialized campus facilities. Check out our virtual tours for a glimpse of the program space.
Tour our SoPA Garage
Tour the Florence Simmons Performance Hall
2025 JUNO-nominated Inn Echo was formed by SoPA grads Tom Gammons (’20), Tuli Porcher (’19), and Karson McKeown (’14).
Since their beginnings on PEI, they have performed across three continents and hit the stages of prestigious venues like Australia’s Woodford Folk Festival and Scotland’s Shetland Folk Festival.