 Born in Paris, Durand was a fellow student of Paul Dukas and Claude Debussy at the Conservatoire de Paris, where his only reward was an honourable mention ("2e accessit") in harmony in 1884.Jacques Durand was first associated with his father Auguste Durand in 1886 as director of the music publishing house Durand-Schönewerk & Cie at 4, Place de la Madeleine in Paris.On 19 November 1891, the company changed its name to Éditions A. Durand & Fils.