Student Profile Bea

Creative Classes

One of Bea’s favourite classes has been a second-year course called “Jazz Theory”. She cites her professor as being a highlight of the course, as he was a bassist who ran an ensemble group of his own. She also liked the class projects, which had specific outlines and rubrics, but were also abstract enough to allow students to express their creativity. 
 

Jazz Residency: Gaining Real-World Experience

Through the Faculty of Music’s “Jazz Residency,” students are put into small ensembles and rotate through performances every Monday night at The Rex, one of the oldest jazz bars in Toronto. This gives students experience on stage and the chance to meet and network with other people in the Jazz world. Building off the skills she gained in this residency, Bea later led a band at Frankie’s Jazz Club in Vancouver while she was home for the summer. Reflecting on the experience she says: “through being at U of T and being exposed to such a diverse community, it pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me become more confident in my playing, in collaborating with other musicians and in putting on own show.”
 

Living on Residence

Though students in the Faculty of Music aren’t affiliated with a college, some may live in a college’s residence. During her first few years of undergrad, Bea lived in Victoria College, and participated in lots of activities there, such as Vic’s orientation, events at the student lounge The Cat’s Eye, and various clubs. She says these events, and the convenience of her dorm to the dining hall and her classes, helped to ease her transition to university.