Music as a Second Language was founded in 2009 by Mitchell Wong, a graduate from the University of Toronto with a joint degree in music and philosophy. Mitchell created the program to introduce classically-trained musicians to the practice of improvisation. He first started teaching the program as an extra-curricular activity to high school students at the University of Toronto Schools (UTS). He later expanded the program to five other high schools and middle schools in the GTA.

In 2010, Music as a Second Language opened its own studio space at 842 Yonge Street in downtown Toronto. At this time, the program became available to musicians of all ages. The studio features a 30 x 30 ft teaching space complete with a piano, drum set, and amplifiers for guitar, bass and keyboard.

Since January 2010, over 200 musicians have learned how to improvise with Music as a Second Language. The program and its instructors are committed to providing the best improvisation instruction in Toronto and all throughout Canada. Their goal is to make improvisation a widespread practice so that all musicians can engage with the creative side of their art. They wish to inspire confidence, creative thinking and communication through the teaching and practice of improvised music.