Fall Term Ensembles start the week of Monday Sept 14th and run until the week of Dec 14th. Students will receive all official calendar and schedule details once registering.

1) Foundations Jazz - Mondays 10:30am - 12:00pm 

Location: Koffman Academy of Music & Dance -  15 Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto                 Street Parking Available on Roncesvalles and Queen St. West.  TTC Accessible

Pre-requisite - Should have at least two years of playing experience on your instrument, be able to read music at a basic level, and be comfortable reading up 2-3 sharps and flats. No comprehensive “Jazz playing experience” necessary - this is the ensemble to get started and learn the ropes! If you have a few years of experience reading bigband charts, but very little experience or confidence with Jazz Improvisation, this is a suitable level for you given the small jazz ensemble focus on improvising.

2) Beginner Jazz - Mondays 12:30pm - 2:00pm 

Location: Koffman Academy of Music & Dance -  15 Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto                 Street Parking Available on Roncesvalles and Queen St. West.  TTC Accessible

Pre-requisite -  Should have at least two years of playing experience on your instrument, be able to read music at a basic level, and be comfortable reading up 2-3 sharps and flats.  Very little comprehensive “Jazz playing experience” is required. If you have a few years of experience with bigband playing or small ensemble playing, but limited experience with Jazz Improvisation, this is a suitable level for you given the focus on improvising.  

3) Intermediate Jazz - Tuesdays 7:30 - 9:00pm

Location:  Lippert Music Centre - 970 Pape Ave. Toronto
Parking Available on Floyd Ave, and parts of Pape Ave.  TTC Accessible 

Pre-requisite -  Should have two-three years of playing experience on your instrument, be able to read music and be comfortable reading up 3 sharps and flats.  Have had some experience playing jazz (either large or small ensembles).  Pianists/guitarists should understand and be able to play simple chord voicings, and Bassist should understand and be able to create a simple bassline (“walking”) over basic chord changes (blues progression, very easy standards), drummers should be able to play swing feel, Rock, Funk/R&B, Bossa-Nova.

4) Intermediate Jazz - Thursdays 10:30am - 12:00pm 

Location:  Tranzac Club -  292 Brunswick Ave. Toronto
Parking Available at Green P lot beside Tranzac Club, on various side streets, and on Bloor St.  TTC Accessible 

Pre-requisite -  Should have two-three years of playing experience on your instrument, be able to read music and be comfortable reading up 3 sharps and flats.  Have had some experience playing jazz (either large or small ensembles).  Pianists/guitarists should understand and be able to play simple chord voicings, and Bassist should understand and be able to create a simple bassline (“walking”) over basic chord changes (blues progression, very easy standards), drummers should be able to play swing feel, Rock, Funk/R&B, Bossa-Nova.

5) Advanced Jazz - Thursdays 12:30 - 2:00pm

Location: Tranzac Club -  292 Brunswick Ave. Toronto
Parking Available at Green P lot beside Tranzac Club, on various side streets, and on Bloor St.  TTC Accessible 

Pre-requisite - Should have 5+ years of playing experience on your instrument, be able to read music and be comfortable reading up 5 sharps and flats. Have experience playing jazz (either large or small ensembles), understand swing feel, comfortable improvising over basic jazz standards and understand functional and diatonic harmony, chord formulas, and typical forms found in Jazz. Pianists/guitarists should understand and be able to play a variety of chord voicings for typical chord qualities found in intermediate and advanced jazz standards, and Bassists should be able to create a bassline (“walking”) over a variety of standards, drummers should be able to play swing feel, Rock, Funk, Bossa-Nova, and a variety of Latin-Jazz rhythms.

6) Blue Note Jazz Ensemble - Mondays 8:00 - 9:30pm

Location: Koffman Academy of Music & Dance -  15 Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto                 Street Parking Available on Roncesvalles and Queen St. West.  TTC Accessible

Pre-requisite -  Should have several years of playing experience on your instrument, be able to read music and be comfortable reading in most keys. Have experience playing jazz (either large or small ensembles), understand swing feel, comfortable improvising over basic jazz standards and understand functional and diatonic harmony, chord formulas, and typical forms found in Jazz. Pianists/guitarists should understand and be able to play a variety of chord voicings for typical chord qualities found in intermediate and advanced jazz standards, and Bassists should be able to create a bassline (“walking”) over a variety of standards, drummers should be able to play swing feel, Rock, Funk, Bossa-Nova, and a variety of Latin-Jazz rhythms.