Courses

"Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn. They teach you there’s a boundary line to music. But, man, there’s no boundary line to art." Charlie Parker

Jazz Improvisation/Theory: The faculty will introduce students to scales/modes and chords commonly used throughout Jazz as well as various Improvisational concepts and techniques. Theory and Improvisation will be taught in instrument-specific settings as well as in clinics with the full group.

Listening Skills: Students will learn to recognize styles and basic periods of Jazz history with key players and bands. A familiarity and ability to distinguish between styles and artists will expose students to a deeper knowledge of Jazz and a greater versatility of playing ability.

Performance: Call and Response, Imitating styles, and various principals of performance etiquette will be discussed

Appreciation: Students will learn to recognize styles and major Jazz icons including swing, Latin, bebop, cool, and modern jazz styles.

Mentoring: Guest Artists/Master classes and Faculty Performances will take place throughout the week. This gives the students the opportunity to see and hear professionals in the jazz field perform and provides great inspiration for the students.

Technique lessons: Students will spend time study the fundamentals for their individual instrument through private and small group instruction (e.g. tone production, embouchure, articulation, etc.).

Jazz Combos: Students and teachers will collaborate in forming small ensembles to perform repertoire and learn to communicate musically. All of the topics covered in the theory and technique lessons will be put into practice through the performance with these ensembles.