Program Overview

Harness your passion for music and transform it into a rewarding, creative career in the music and recording industry. If you’re looking to study music and gain employable skills in the business of music, the Music Recording Arts program is for you. This five-year collaborative degree program combines a Bachelor of Music degree from Western University with a diploma in Music Industry Arts from Fanshawe College.

Program Details

Program Code
MRA
Credential:
Ontario College Diploma
Degree

Your Learning Experience

This unique, highly competitive program combines the best of both worlds, at two of the most highly-competitive music programs in the country. The first two years of study are spent at Western University’s Bachelor of Music program, followed by three years in a combination of courses from both the Bachelor of Music program and Fanshawe’s Music Industry Arts program. Upon graduation, you will be armed with both a Bachelor’s degree and an Ontario diploma in just five years.

 

Immerse yourself in your music strengths, learning music theory, history, skills, composition, teaching and learning, while becoming critically aware of all aspects of music and the music industry such as audio engineering and the entertainment business. You’ll also gain the practical, employable skills to communicate with clients, employers and artists.

 

The Music Recording Arts (MRA) program is a five-year, integrated program. The program is intended to produce students who are articulate, informed and critically aware of all aspects of music and the music industry, including audio engineering and the entertainment business. Graduates will acquire high-level performance skills in the hands-on techniques and processes related to specific music performance, recording technologies, music production and industry best practices.

 

Career Information ​​​​​​

Graduates of Fanshawe’s entertaining and exciting Music Recording Arts program can pursue a career in a wide variety of areas, including: production, post-production, engineering, film, TV, video games, live/musical performance and education. They may start their career as: 

  • sound engineering technicians
  • audio forensics specialists
  • audio-video recording technicians
  • music production copywriter
  • professor
  • sound designer
  • broadcasting technician
  • studio operator

Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario? 

Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Music Recording Arts program:

Audio and Video Recording Technician
Record, mix and edit multi-media for films, television, radio, videos, recordings and live events.

Studio Operator/Audio Recording
Set up, operate and adjust audio using industry leading equipment to record, edit and reproduce sound input.

Sound Designer
Help create and implement sound elements to enhance the video game experience.

 

Program Coordinator:

Dan Brodbeck

 
International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
More Information

Applicants must meet the admission requirements for the BMusA/BMus program at Western, which include an audition and an interview.

Up to ten students will be admitted to the collaborative MRA program each year. Students will apply for admission at the end of the second year of the BMusA program. Final date for application to the MRA program shall be March 31.  Students will be evaluated for admission based on their academic standing, an interview, and a supplemental portfolio, by a joint committee from the two institutions. Attainment of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the MRA program. Entry to the collaborative program is competitive. The joint admissions committee will review requests for admission on a case-by-case basis.

Those students not offered a place in the MRA collaborative program may continue in the BMusA program, provided they meet academic progression requirements, or may apply to the Fanshawe College diploma program in Music Industry Arts, through OCAS.

Academic requirements

Beginning in year 3, students must maintain an overall weighted average of 70% with no more than 1.0 unsatisfactory course attempts in any given academic year.

Important note

Applicants to this program must apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre. As well, applicants need to meet the University of Western Ontario’s admission requirements as stated by the Don Wright Faculty of Music.
 

Info about admission requirements from Western University.

Courses

Year 1, Western
5.0 BMus courses + Ensemble (see BMus program details)

 

Contact/Questions