Jazz Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Music in Performance
Performance (Jazz)
This four-year undergraduate jazz degree provides instruction in aural skills, harmony, jazz history, improvisation, rhythm, and a wide array of jazz, commercial, and global styles. Students acquire a deep understanding of Jazz, including harmony, melody, improvisation, and arranging. Small class sizes, a closely knit community, and ample opportunities for collaboration across years highlight the program. Jazz students become creative, entrepreneurial performers who respect and understand the traditions of music while embracing future directions.
Course Details & Credit Requirements
Jazz Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Music
Interdisciplinary Music Studies (Jazz)
Personalize an exciting learning program with jazz music at its centre! This four-year degree program features a solid, multi-disciplinary core of required music courses and offers students the freedom to design part of their studies around individual interests, whether these span multiple fields within music or include other disciplines. IMS students emerge as independent thinkers, strong musicians, and informed professionals ready to take on the world.
Music Education (Jazz)
A rich and varied offering of courses designed to prepare thoughtful, musically sensitive, passionate, and technically skilled music educators who engage in music teaching and learning at all levels and in many contexts. The goal of the program is to educate students to be critically aware, community oriented and reflective persons who are professionally prepared to be transformative leaders in the education of a musical society. The program is designed to provide students with both breadth and depth in their musical studies.
Music Technology & Digital Media (Jazz)*
A rich and varied offering of courses designed to prepare thoughtful, musically sensitive, passionate, and technically skilled music educators who engage in music teaching and learning at all levels and in many contexts. The goal of the program is to educate students to be critically aware, community oriented and reflective persons who are professionally prepared to be transformative leaders in the education of a musical society. The program is designed to provide students with both breadth and depth in their musical studies.
*This is a new undergraduate program, launching in the 2027-2028 academic year.
Applications will open in the fall of 2026, and are due in early January 2027. Auditions and interviews will take place in February/early March 2027, and Entrance Theory Examinations will be administered online in Spring 2027.
Jazz Graduate Programs
Master of Music (MMus)
Jazz Performance
The Master of Music in Jazz Performance is a two-year, course-intensive graduate degree in jazz performance. Students refine their skills while studying repertoire, performance practice, composition, and arranging in solo, small group and orchestral settings.
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Large Ensemble
Placement Auditions
Auditions to determine placement in vocal and instrumental jazz ensembles (Big Band, 12tet, Hybrid, Vocal Jazz, and Small Jazz Ensembles) will be held at the Faculty of Music, 90 Wellesley location.
Tuesday, September 8
& Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Instrumental Group Auditions
Tuesday, September 8th, 5:00-8:00 pm
Instrumental Group Auditions
Wednesday, September 9th, 11:00 am-1:00 pm
Vocal Placement Auditions
Wednesday, September 9th, 10:00 am-1:00 pm
Large Ensembles
U of T 12tet
Mondays & Wednesdays
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Dir. Jim Lewis
University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra
Tuesdays & Thursdays
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Dir. Shirantha Beddage
Jazz & Classical Hybrid Ensemble
Tuesdays & Thursdays
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Dir. Andrew Downing
Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Mondays & Wednesdays
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Dir. Christine Duncan