Humber’s Bachelor of Music degree program is unlike any other four-year music degree in North America.
By combining the latest recording technologies and entrepreneurial business strategies with performance, production, songwriting and composition in jazz, pop, R&B, Latin and world music, you will be well equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for success in today’s music world.
Founded in 1972, the program has consistently produced many of the most successful commercial and jazz musicians in Canada and the world. With more than 350 students and a faculty of 18 full-time and 80 part-time teachers, our program is one of the largest, most diverse and highly regarded programs of its kind in the country. Long known for the strength of its professors, Humber offers you the opportunity to study privately, in classroom situations, and in several of the more than 50 ensembles directed by a who’s who of Canadian music. As Toronto is the centre of Canada’s entertainment industry, Humber attracts the top professionals in jazz, musical theatre, television, film, commercials and pop.
After two years of core music courses, you will continue with lessons on your major instrument, as well as take classes in music production and music business while also choosing from electives in arranging, composition, advanced improvisation, film scoring, music production techniques, songwriting, ethnomusicology or pedagogy.
You’ll develop musicianship and artistry by presenting your own recital, arranging and composing original material, and recording and marketing your own music.
In addition, you will take courses in music history, theory, aural training and improvisation, and have the opportunity to participate in a variety of ensembles.
All students complete a major recording project/portfolio in their fourth year. The assembled portfolio, which includes a complete press kit and professional-quality recording, as well as other promotional materials, functions as your calling card for entrance into the music industry upon graduation.
No courses available
Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:
Perform, compose, produce music at a professional level for entry to the competitive, global music industry.
Demonstrate a knowledge of diverse musical styles and contextualize themselves within contemporary music history: specifically defined as the idioms of African American musical genres, mainstream pop music, country/folk music, Latin music, music for musicals and film, art music and jazz.
Demonstrate, through performance and composition, a technical and musical mastery of harmonic, melodic and rhythmic structures.
Demonstrate, through performance, an extensive knowledge of contemporary musical repertoire and apply appropriate performance skills in diverse music contexts.
Compose and arrange in a broad range of contemporary music styles.
Record, edit and produce a broad range of contemporary music.
Prepare and present a portfolio of recorded material reflecting a broad range of styles.
Apply computer applications/music technology skills in composition, arranging and production.
Critically analyze and evaluate sound recordings and describe their production characteristics.
Demonstrate, through production and performance, organizational, project management, and implementation skills.
Demonstrate leadership, teamwork, communication, critical thinking, research and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrate a working knowledge of contract law, copyright law, intellectual property rights, royalties, and rules of public domain.
Make use of entrepreneurial music business skills to engage in the competitive contemporary music industry.
Demonstrate professional “freelance” etiquette relating to job seeking and keeping skills.
Demonstrate an ability to research and present findings from primary and secondary sources.
Formulate, articulate and present their own ideas about music, art and society through discussion and writings.
Demonstrate an artistic awareness and understanding of musical aesthetics.
Assess personal strengths, musical and business skills, knowledge, artistic vision, interests, and abilities.
Select an instrument below to show specific program details including availability, admission requirements and how to apply.
Work Placement
You will participate in a work placement designed to mirror the professional music world, which is largely characterized by contract, freelance and part-time employment. You are responsible for accumulating the equivalent of 420 hours of experience which will allow you to establish contacts and relationships with key companies and industry professionals.
The Humber Experience
Critically acclaimed and award-winning Humber Music faculty discuss what they love about teaching music at Toronto's Humber College.
Andrew Kesler is a Los Angeles-based music producer and performer. He graduated from Humber's Bachelor of Music program in 2012.
Students from the Bachelor Of Music Program at Humber College present their final capstone projects to fellow classmates, friends, family, and industry representatives.
Humber's Gospel Choir partnered with Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School to record a track at the Humber Recording Studios at Lakeshore Campus.
Our Professors
You’ll learn from professors who have real-world experience and are active in the industry. Our professors are committed to providing you with practical, hands-on training to help you achieve the career you want.
View CredentialsAl Kay
Diploma (Music) – Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Professor
Andrew Mullin
MMus (Sound Recording) - McGill University, PQ
BMus - McGill University, PQ
Professor
Andy Ballantyne
BMus (Music Performance – Jazz Studies) – University of Toronto
Diploma (Music) – Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Professor
Brad Klump
MME – Indiana University, Indiana, USA
BMus – McGill University, PQ
Professor
Brian Dickinson
MA (Music) – New England Conservatory, Boston, MA, USA
Professor
Brian O'Kane
MMus (Jazz Performance)- University of Toronto
BMus (Jazz Studies)- Thompson Rivers University
Diploma (Music with Honours)- Humber College
Professor
Bruce Cassidy
BSc - Dalhousie University - psychology, chemistry
Professor
Collin Barrett
MA (Composition) – York University
Professor
Dan Parr
BSc
Mathematics
University of Western Ontario
Professor
Dave Neill
MMus Performance (Jazz) – University of Toronto
BMus Performance (Jazz) – University of Toronto
Professor
David Occhipinti
MA - York University
Professor
Denny Christianson
Diploma in Ed – McGill University, PQ
BFA – Concordia University, PQ
Professor/Program Co-ordinator
Drew Jurecka
BMus - in Violin Performance, the Cleveland Institute of Music
Professor
Geoff Young
Professor
Gord Sheard
PhD (Ethnomusicology) – York University
BFA (Music) – York University
Professor
Joey Goldstein
Professor
Johnny Griffith
MMus Jazz Performance U of T
BMus Thompson Rivers University - performance
Humber college - music diploma
Professor
Jon Maharaj
BMus - University of Toronto
Professor
Justin Gray
MMus - York University
BMus -Thompson Rivers University
BA - Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Professor
Kelsey Grant
MA (Music) – Manhattan School of Music, NY, USA
BMus – McGill University, PQ
Professor
Kevin Fallis
MMus (Sound Recording) – McGill University, PQ
BMus, Honours, Jazz Performance (Double Bass) – McGill University, PQ
Professor
Kieran Overs
Diploma (Music With Honours) Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
BMus (Jazz Studies) - British Columbia Open University, BC
MMus - McGill University, Montréal
Professor
Lisa Martinelli
MA – York University
BEd – University of Toronto
BMus – University of Toronto
Diploma - Humber College Institute of Advanced Learning
Professor
Mark Shannon
BFA (Music) York University
Professor
Mark Kelso
Professor
Mark Promane
BEd – University of Toronto
BA Music – University of Western Ontario
Professor
Matt Brubeck
MMus - Yale (Cello Performance)
BA - Yale (Music)
Professor
Mike McClennan
MA (Music Performance) – University of Toronto
BA (Music Performance) – University of Toronto
Professor
Mike Ardagh
MMus (Sound Recording) - McGill University, PQ
BMus (Performance/Production) - Humber College, ON
Diploma (Contemporary Music & Technology) - Selkirk College, BC
Professor
Mike Downes
MA (Composition) – York University
BMus – McGill University, PQ
Professor
Nancy Walker
MA (Composition) - York University
Diploma (Music) - Humber College
Professor
Nathan Hiltz
B.Mus Humber College (Thompson Rivers) in Performance
M.Mus University of Toronto in Performance
Professor
Nick Morgan
Diploma (Jazz performance) - Humber College
Professor
Pat LaBarbera
Diploma (Arranging/Composition) – Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA, USA
Professor
Peter Cook
MMus (Sound Recording)– McGill University, PQ
BMus – McGill University, PQ
Professor
Peter Johnston
PhD - Ethnomusicology, York University
MA - Composition, York University
BMus - Composition, Dalhousie University
Rebekah Wolkstein
BM violin performance - Cleveland Institute of music
MM violin performance -Cleveland Institute of music
BA English - Case Western Reserve University
Artist Diploma violin performance: Glenn Gould School
DMA violin performance: University of Toronto
Rob Bulger
Diploma (Music) – Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Professor
Shannon Gunn
MA (Composition) - York University
Professor
Shirantha Beddage
DMA – Eastman School of Music, NY, USA
MMus – William Paterson University, NJ, USA
BMus – British Columbia Open University, BC
Professor
Sienna Dahlen
MMus (Music Performance - Jazz) University of Toronto
BMus (Music Performance - Jazz)
McGill University
Diploma (Jazz Studies)
Vancouver Island University
Professor
Steve Szmutni
Diploma (Music) – Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Professor
Steve Mancuso
MMus – York University
BMus – Humber College of Applied Technology & Advanced Learning/Thompson Rivers University, BC
Professor
Tony Zorzi
Diploma (Music) - Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Professor
Will Jarvis
MA – York University
BMus – Thompson Rivers University, BC / Humber College of Applied Technology & Advanced Learning
Professor
Your Career
Chart a freelance career in your favourite area of the music industry, whether as a performing artist, clinician, producer, songwriter, arranger or composer in a wide range of styles and genres.
Program Availability
| START DATE | LOCATION | STATUS | INTERNATIONAL STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2020 | Lakeshore | Open | Open |
Bachelor of Music
Watch the video to see why Humber's Bachelor of Music program is unlike any other four-year bachelor degree in music in North America.
Noon Concert: Hilario Duran Contumbao
Humber
Wed, October 30, 2019 | 12:15 PM
Lakeshore
Humber Music hosts a free noon-hour concert series. This week will showcase Hilario Duran Contumbao.
Multiple JUNO Award-winner Hilario Durán grew up in Havana in a musical family surrounded by a variety of diverse musical influences on a daily basis. He began working as a professional musician in Cuba’s Los Papa Cun-Cun Ensemble and in a variety of musical formats. Later on, in the 70s, Durán was Chucho Valdés’ chosen successor in Cuba’s most modern big band, Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna. Hilario toured worldwide and performed with Dizzy Gillespie and Michel Legrand, among many others, and as part of Arturo Sandoval’s band where he was pianist/keyboardist, arranger and musical director for 9 years. Hilario is an adjunct piano professor and ensemble director at Humber College. Contumbao is his most recent recording as a band leader.
- When: October 30, 2019 at 12:15 pm
- Where: Lakeshore Auditorium - Lakeshore Campus, A128 (3199 Lakeshore Blvd. West, Toronto, ON M8V 1K8)
- Cost: Free
Bria Hiebert Wins 2019 Tim Sims Encouragement Award
Wed, September 11, 2019
Bria Hiebert may have graduated from Humber only this spring, but she’s already making a name for herself as a stand-up comic, writer and actor.
No news at this time.
Fall 2019 Open House
Humber
Sat, November 16, 2019 | 10:00 AM
All Campuses
Come to Open House and get a solid understanding of what it's really like to be a Humber student.
Visiting the campus is one of the best ways to make a decision about college, so join us and speak to faculty and current students, see the labs and take a tour!
General Sessions & Campus Tours
The journey to college brings many questions about your future career, but what about residence, athletics, transfer options or financial assistance? General sessions are designed to help answer these questions and many more. Find the General Sessions related to your campus and come take a tour with us.
School Program Sessions, Tours and Information Booths
Don't just imagine where you'll be studying at Humber, come see for yourself. Program sessions and lab tours offer a better understanding of the learning environment. Staff will provide detailed information about your program, the scope of the industry today and where your education could take you. Feel free to ask questions about your program, curriculum, career and placement opportunities.
Radio Humber and BRTV Collaborate to showcase Indie Canadian Artists
Thu, June 13, 2019
96.9 Radio Humber teamed up with the Broadcast Television/Videography Program to bring Canadian artists on campus for an interview and performance.
No news at this time.
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On June 29, 2018, the Provincial Government of Ontario announced the renaming of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD) to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU). Both names may appear on this website.