Take your music program to the next level with expert-led workshops, clinics and mentorship opportunities.
The Mount Royal Conservatory offers:
- Instrumental and choral clinics (Grades 5-12, adults and community groups)
- Start-Up/Head Start workshops
- Clinicians and guest conductors for your band camp or retreats including concert band, jazz band, jazz combos, choral, strings/orchestra, jazz choir, percussion ensembles and drum lines
- Concert and jazz band sectionals
- Online clinics
- Small ensemble coaching
- Jazz improvisation
- Clinician recitals
- Performance-based Q&A sessions
- Artist-in-residence opportunities
- Recruitment, outreach and feeder school initiatives
- Professional development for music teachers
- Individualized mentorship programs
Why choose MRU custom workshops?
Mount Royal University Conservatory is committed to supporting non-profit music education and providing exceptional learning opportunities for young performers. Our expert clinicians and conductors — some of Canada’s top performing instructors and educators — bring professionalism, organization and a strong commitment to community engagement.
We tailor workshops for ensembles of all sizes and budgets, available year-round at MRU or on location at your school, camp or retreat. Whether you need guest conductors, sectionals, professional development or outreach support, we’ll design a program that meets your needs.
Book a clinic
Experience the Conservatory difference
Work with Western Canada’s most experienced and comprehensive performing arts school while enjoying access to exceptional facilities — all within the City of Calgary:
- Workshops customized to your needs and budget
- Well-equipped rehearsal spaces in a world-class facility
- Professional performance theatres
- On-campus catering and food service options
- Optional access to MRU recreational facilities, including the Aquatic Centre, Stanley Gymnasium and Climbing Centre
- Diverse programming for all ages
- A LEED-certified, award-winning facility recognized for accessibility
For more information or to discuss your requirements, email clinics@mtroyal.ca.
What our clients say
How to book a clinic or workshop
When you are ready to book a clinic, please complete the clinic request form and submit via email, or reach out directly to clinics@mtroyal.ca.
What to expect on the day of your workshop
When you arrive
All chairs, stands, large percussion and setups will be ready in advance, and we will meet you outside on the front steps of the Bella Concert Hall entrance or in the Bella Lobby.
Student organization
We will review the building rules, such as no gum and keeping emergency exits clear. Students will then be organized into clinic groups and sent to their spaces, keeping the lobby clear for clinician briefings.
Clinician preparation
Clinicians will arrive 10 minutes before the session to discuss goals and clinic details. To maximize productivity and maintain social distancing, you can distribute music or scores to them in advance.
Teacher/chaperone responsibilities
Teachers and supervisors play an important role in ensuring a positive learning experience by managing student behaviour, as clinicians are not responsible for addressing behaviour issues. To support you, we will provide a briefing for teachers and chaperones, covering safety, security, emergency procedures and where to find coffee.
Tips for maximizing your workshop budget
Prepare in advance
- Ensure clinician forms are filled out with all necessary details to make the most of your time
- Have rooms set up and ready if the clinic is off-site or at your school
- Provide a copy of the music or scores to clinicians in advance — this will help them work more efficiently and understand how parts integrate within the group
- Make sure students are properly prepared, including having extra reeds for wind players, to minimize delays and interruptions
Save on travel costs
Consider booking clinics at MRU to avoid the additional costs of travel and accommodation for out-of-town retreats
- Staying within the city limits reduces transportation costs (bus costs for in-town vs. out-of-town rates)
- Keeping clinicians off the highway reduces mileage costs — and winter driving challenges
- Savings from reduced travel and logistics can be reinvested into additional clinics or programming opportunities for your students
School board master agreements
MRU Conservatory has master/service agreements with the Calgary Board of Education, the Calgary Catholic School District and Rockyview School District. MRU is listed on the CBE Artist Roster and adheres to strict instructor requirements, including current police checks with a Vulnerable Sector Search (VSS) on file. All MRU instructors sign master teaching agreements that align with the MRU Code of Ethics and the Clinician Handbook. MRU also carries comprehensive liability insurance and maintains coverage through WCB. CBE fillable service request forms are available upon request.
For more information or to discuss your requirements, email clinics@mtroyal.ca.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations within seven days of a scheduled clinic or workshop will be subject to a cancellation administration fee, except in the following cases:
- Poor weather conditions
- Health or safety concerns for MRU instructors
MRU reserves the right to cancel services within 48 hours of the scheduled event due to inclement weather or to ensure the health and safety of instructors.
If a school cancels services within seven days without rescheduling, MRU Conservatory may apply a cancellation administration fee at its discretion.
Requesting changes to clinics/workshops
Requests by schools to shorten the duration or modify a confirmed service may, at the discretion of MRU Conservatory, be subject to an additional admin fee.
Cancellation fees
Cancellation fees will be determined in consideration of the location, timing and complexity of the booking.
Frequently asked questions
To make the most of your clinic, ensure your clinician has all the necessary information by filling out a clinician form in advance. Helpful details include:
- Your goals for the clinic
- The music your group is working on
- Specific problem passages
- Any technical aspects you would like covered
- Observed strengths and weaknesses within the section
If the clinic is at your school or an off-site retreat, have rooms set up and ready to go. This includes ensuring there is adequate space, separate rooms for different clinics and the correct number of stands and chairs.
Provide a copy of the music or scores for the clinician. This helps them understand how individual parts fit into the whole piece. This is especially useful for instrument groups with multiple parts. Percussion clinicians typically prefer to have a full score.
Ensure students are adequately prepared by having:
- Extra reeds for wind instruments
- Blank manuscript paper for exercises or notes
- A pencil for each student
- Students use the washroom before the clinic to minimize disruptions
Important: If your clinic is onsite at MRU, please inform the clinician where they can find the teacher or supervisor. It is not the clinician’s responsibility to manage student behaviour. Teachers, directors, and supervisors should be available to support the best learning experience possible.
The more lead time, the better the results. For clinics at schools or retreats, at least two weeks' notice is required. However, some clinicians may be booked six to eight months in advance, so early booking is recommended.
For workshops at MRU, you can book dates into the next school year. Last-minute bookings can sometimes be accommodated up to three weeks before the workshop, but earlier bookings are preferred.
For more information or to discuss your requirements, email clinics@mtroyal.ca.
When you submit the fillable form, we will provide a quote for your approval. Should you require a CBE Service Agreement, we can also forward that after approvals.
Clinic groups should rarely exceed ten students to one clinician.
For more information or to discuss your requirements, email clinics@mtroyal.ca.
You can adjust a clinic booking up to seven days before the scheduled date. Last-minute changes may result in an additional administration fee, which will be determined based on the location, timing and complexity of the booking.
For more information or to discuss your requirements, email clinics@mtroyal.ca.
MRU Finance will email invoices after the event. Schools are responsible for making payments according to the instructions provided.
For cheque payments, remit to:
Mount Royal University
Financial Services
4825 Mount Royal Gate SW
Calgary, AB T3E 6K6
For Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments, contact treasury@mtroyal.ca for banking details. Direct deposit and wire transfers are accepted, but email e-transfers are not.
For online banking bill payments, add “Mount Royal University - Vendor” as a payee and use your client ID number (found on your invoice) as the account number. To ensure your payment is applied, send a remittance notification to treasury@mtroyal.ca.
For Visa/MasterCard payments, contact MRU’s Finance Cashier at 403.440.8924. The cash office is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
For more information or to discuss your requirements, email clinics@mtroyal.ca.
Yes, you can request specific clinicians or conductors when booking. Keep in mind that popular clinicians are often booked months in advance, so the earlier you request, the better the chances of availability.
For more information or to discuss your requirements, email clinics@mtroyal.ca.
Students are expected to:
- Refrain from chewing gum
- Consume food and drink only over hard surfaces (not over carpet)
- Respect the MRU building, classrooms and campus
- Be courteous to peers, MRU instructors, staff and other students on campus
- Store instrument cases and personal belongings in a way that does not block emergency exits
A clinician feedback/info form allows you to prepare detailed instructions for clinicians based on instrumental sections. It also provides a way to collect feedback from clinicians for future reference. This helps streamline the process and allows clinicians to leave more efficiently after the session.
For more information or to discuss your requirements, email clinics@mtroyal.ca.
To apply, email clinics@mtroyal.ca for more information.
Questions?
For more information or to discuss your requirements, email clinics@mtroyal.ca.
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If you need a hand registering or have a question about our programs, we would love to help you!