Music & Technology

The Selkirk College Music Program has been preparing students for the commercial music and entertainment industry for over 25 years.

A diverse cross-section of musical styles is offered allowing students to explore the best that each genre has to offer from rock and blues, to jazz, folk and world music.

Develop Your Skills

• Performance
• Improvisation
• Songwriting
• Composition
• Film Scoring
• Recording
• Live Sound Mixing

**New in Fall 2019 - Private Lesson Instruction and Video Game Composition: Our Music & Technology programming is evolving to provide valuable skills to students addressing these huge elements of the music industry.

Program Overview

The Contemporary Music & Technology program at Selkirk College is a two-year diploma program developed to train musicians for the commercial music and entertainment industry. It’s the only program in Canada based on the world renowned Berklee College of Music curriculum and its guiding principle that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through the study and practice of contemporary music. For graduates of jazz and classical programs, Selkirk College can offer the technology training and popular music concepts they might be missing in order to become more employable.

Study your instrument and related skills in the first year and choose a major in the second. An initial core year that provides solid grounding in music theory and ear training is followed by one of six program majors:

• Core (Year 1)
• Performance (Year 2)
• Production (Year 2)
• Composition (Year 2)
• Songwriting (Year 2)
• Directed Studies (Year 2)
• General Music (Year 2)

Curriculum

The Contemporary Music & Technology program trains musician performers for the commercial music industry. The curriculum includes individual instruction on guitar, voice, bass, drums, saxophone, violin, and keyboards, as well as a solid grounding in music theory and ear training. Individual and ensemble instruction and practice is offered throughout both years of the program. Rock, blues, jazz, folk and world music are the primary instructional styles. 

Facilities

Professional studios, high-end labs, and private practice rooms are available all in beautiful Nelson. We have a total of 18 Digital Audio Workstations on campus all running the industry standard Pro Tools software and hardware and Sibelius music notation software. There are also laptops loaded with Ableton Live Suite for student use.

Careers

Graduates go on to become performers, recording engineers, composers, songwriters and teach private lessons.

At Selkirk College, with classrooms and communities nestled within the welcoming West Kootenay and Boundary regions of British Columbia, students feel like home.

Since 1966, Selkirk College has been providing innovative and unique learning opportunities through 60+ nationally recognized programs. Selkirk International is committed to welcoming students from around the world and providing opportunities for all Selkirk College students to have an international experience as a part of their studies.

At Selkirk College, Canadian and international students study side by side in over 60 different programs. Selkirk College is located in the Kootenays, a spectacular region of rivers, lakes, waterfalls, beaches, mineral hot springs, alpine meadows, and snow-capped mountains that is home to four of British Columbia's seven national parks.