Selkirk College

Choose from one of the five majors offered at Selkirk College’s Contemporary Music and Technology Program.

Composition Major

This major explores a wide range of styles and compositional techniques as well as providing students with the tools necessary to embark on a future in contemporary niches such as film scoring, music in advertising and songwriting. Access to modern production/recording technology gives students the ability to create a large portfolio of recorded music. Emphasis is put on developing each students unique compositional identity while focusing on the skills that are at the core of the compositional process. At the end of the fourth semester each student is responsible for organizing a 1/2 hour graduating recital that showcases their abilities.

Film Scoring: As well as Songwriting, Composition and Music in Advertising, the Composition department offers one of the most complete and current filmscoring courses found anywhere in Canada. The instructors Gilles Parenteau and Don Macdonald are both working composer (see faculty pages) and as such offer a great deal of current technical and compositional expertise. In Nov 2001 they attended a workshop held by Scott Smalley, one of Hollywood’s top orchestrators (Batman, Mission Impossible). His insights into the world of Film Music have supplied the courses with a wide range of compositional ideas that are straight from the scores of industry icons such as composers Danny Elfman, Jerry Goldsmith and John Williams.

Engineering Major

Engineering majors receive extensive hands on training in a state-of-the-art recording studio that employs industry standard equipment. All aspects of the engineering process are covered in detail including recording, mixing and mastering and at several points within the course timetable students are encouraged to design and complete their own studio project. Enrollment is limited to 10 students per year in order that each student may receive the best individual instruction. Entrance into the program is based on grade point average in addition to criteria outlined in the calendar.

Performance Major

As a performance major, emphasis is put on achieving a high level of proficiency on your principal instrument and experience in a wide range of styles will give you the skills necessary to be an effective member of any ensemble. Students perform in a variety of performance venues ranging in size from intimate jazz clubs and restaurants to large auditoriums and theatres.

Over the years, students have performed to rave reviews in concerts alongside such respected artists as Bill Henderson (Chilliwack), Dee Daniels, Levon Ichkanian, Joelle Rabu, and Shari Ulrich. Each individual will study and experience the evolution of a performance from conception to completion including the business aspects of booking a gig; creating a demo and signing contracts, to music preparation; arranging and rehearsing, and finally to the performance itself where all the aspects of a professional presentation are explored.

Reviews from the pro’s:

"By bringing in high profile performers to workshop and perform in concert with their music students, Selkirk is providing them with ‘real world’ experience and extraordinary challenges and opportunities for learning. It’s a great concept and I think it should be standard practice for music education in British Columbia." -Bill Henderson

"The accompanying Selkirk students truly embodied the essence of professional musicians: being handed some music you’ve never heard before, and be expected to perform it flawlessly on stage in just a few weeks. I’ve had the same band for 15 years, and this is the first time I’ve ever played without them," she explained. "But I really don’t miss them!" -Joelle Rabu

Songwriting Major

Students enrolling in the Songwriting Major will have a well-rounded educational experience that focuses on performing, writing and recording. Songwriting majors will be enrolled in a number of the performance related classes that will allow them to gain confidence through numerous performing opportunities at the college and in the community. By taking the Harmony course and the Songwriting course they will strengthen their lyric writing and harmonic understanding and songs can be recorded at any of the 20 Pro Tools equipped recordings stations.

Directed Studies

This major was created to address the diverse interests of students who are entering the music program. It provides access to a wide range of courses and students must design their own special project that serves as a focal point for their year of study. Every two weeks students will meet one on one with a faculty member for mentorship, where students receive guidance on issues relating to their project and are assessed by the instructor. Examples of Directed Studies projects include; creating a CD of original material, creating a filmscoring demo, rehearsing, performing and recording with your own band.