Extensive individual and ensemble performance training, as well as ample opportunities to perform in solo, chamber, ensemble, and orchestral settings, comprise the core of this four-year brass performance degree. Students receive instruction in Classical, Romantic, twentieth-century, and contemporary repertoire. They focus on orchestral excerpts to be played at auditions. Small class sizes, a closely knit community, and ample opportunities for collaboration across years highlight the program. Strings students become creative, entrepreneurial performers who respect and understand the traditions of music while embracing future directions.
Why it stands out
Students receive individualized attention from internationally renowned faculty with wide experience as educators, performers, entrepreneurs, and researchers. The program provides multiple performance experiences in solo, chamber, ensemble, and orchestral settings on and off campus. Students join a community of exceptional, mutually supportive peers taught by accomplished faculty and distinguished guest performers. Weekly gatherings of students, faculty, and guest string players are essential to the program. Weekly coaching and rehearsal sessions augmented by up to eight distinguished visitors annually comprise the Strings program. Inspirational Masterclasses focus on chamber music for strings ensembles or playing specific instruments in the strings family.
Who it's for
Students seeking careers as freelance performers, orchestral players, and/or private studio or institutional teachers are well suited for this degree. The program is ideal for curious, motivated, collaborative, and versatile students who are are passionate about music, demonstrate potential for musical growth, and are willing to take advantage of the many opportunities that are available to them.
Outcomes
Opportunities for study
Students engage in private applied learning, participate in masterclasses by resident and guest teachers, and benefit from a wide choice of performance electives. They acquire a thorough understanding of performance styles and literature. They have options of exploring pedagogy, music from other traditions, conducting, performance skills, and classes that focus on the business aspects of music, health and technology.
Opportunities after graduation
This program will train students to respond to the changing landscape in musical fields by preparing for a diverse set of career paths. Graduates typically pursue careers as solo, ensemble, or orchestral players. Some build careers as artist-teachers or as leaders in arts organizations in which a broad musical background is an asset.
Postgraduate opportunities
Students qualify to apply for admission to graduate strings performance programs. Students also pursue a wide range of other programs after graduation, depending on their interests. Graduates could apply to pursue further study within Music, or professional programs such as business, medicine and law.
My time at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music was marked by exceptional instruction, warm community, and joyful music making. The collegial nature of the professors and encouraging student body allowed me to refine my craft with focus and confidence. The close-knit community of the faculty created a safe space for me to grow as a musician and as a person. I am grateful for all the dedicated faculty within the Faculty of Music who truly cared about my growth and education, and also for the wide variety of UofT courses I was able to take outside the music faculty, while completing a performance degree. UofT music provided my colleagues and I with a multitude of performance opportunities in masterclasses, chamber music, and orchestra - just to name a few - preparing us well for a future career in performance. On top of that, courses on business, entrepreneurship, and healthy practices for musicians also equipped me for a future career in the music industry, including freelancing and teaching. The experiences I had, faculty I learned from, and fellow students I met have been invaluable to my growth as a well-rounded artist, and my future as a professional musician.
– Elise Wiesinger
Bachelor of Music in Performance 2024 - Violin
One of my favourite things about U of T Music is the sense of community. Whether it's your best friend or someone you just met, everyone is always eager to connect and grow together, from going to concerts together to sharing gig opportunities or even having a jam session together after class! It's refreshing to have a strong, supportive community in what can be a very competitive industry, and my friends at U of T have inspired me to become a better musician because of it.
Core courses focus on music history and culture, music theory, musical skills and keyboard harmony or skills. Students also receive individual instruction in their major performance medium and participate in major ensembles.
Students participate in the Instrumental Performance Classes, every year, which explores various approaches to performance and repertoire in instrument specific groupings. This is complemented with Applied lessons, Major Ensembles, Chamber Music, and Orchestral Studies. Other performance options include participating in the Faculty of Music’s Oasis Series, free concerts presented in non-traditional venues across the university. They also include playing in concerts held regularly at the Faculty of Music. Performing concerts at high schools throughout the Greater Toronto Area is an essential part of the curriculum of Strings chamber class.
Music & Breadth Electives
All programs require the completion of a specific number of Music Electives and Breadth Electives. A Music Elective is any Faculty of Music course (excluding Basic Music Courses) that is not required for a specific program. A Breadth Elective is a course offered by the Faculty of Arts & Science; however, up to one full credit of designated Music courses can be counted towards this requirement. Students have the opportunity to benefit from the diverse course offerings, that span different areas and traditions of music. Some examples include courses such as the the Business of Music, The 21st Century Creative Performer: An Interdisciplinary Inquiry to Performance and Performance Practice, Performance as a Freelance Artist in North America, Introduction to Computer Applications in Music to Japanese Taiko Drumming!
Options within the Degree
Music: Certificates are offered in conjunction with a degree. Currently there are Certificates offered in Health Applications in Music, Music Technology, Popular Music Studies and Ethnomusicology, and Piano Pedagogy.
Currently there are Minor programs offered in History and Culture, Composition, and Historical Keyboard. (The Minor in Composition is not available to students in the Bachelor of Music in Composition.)
Arts & Science: Within the Breadth Electives, students have the option of completing requirements towards a Minor or a Major from the Faculty of Arts & Science, in a discipline that sparks their interest.
