YOUNG MUSICIANS CLASSES



AUDITION INFORMATION FOR FALL 2008

Students interested in participating in a performance ensemble this fall are required to audition for placement. Please contact Keith Johnson, Director of the Young Musicians Program, for audition requirements and to schedule an audition.
Please note: email is preferred.

Email: keith@jazzschool.com Phone: (510) 845-5373.

 

AUDITION SCHEDULE

Middle School & High School Band Auditions – Friday, August 22

For students interested in placement in the following ensembles:

  • Middle School Jazz Ensemble
  • Advanced Middle School Jazz Ensemble
  • Middle School Big Band
  • High School Funk Ensemble
  • High School Jazz Ensemble
  • High School Big Band – “Jazz Lab”

Jazzschool Studio Band Auditions – Saturday, August 23
For advanced high school students interested in auditioning for the 2008-09 Studio Big Band.

Please download required audition materials below:
Audition B Flat
Audition Bass Clef
Audition E Flat
Audition Lead Sheet

Jazzschool Advanced High School Workshop I & II Auditions – Sunday, August 24
For advanced high school students interested in auditioning for the Jazzschool Advanced High School Workshops I & II.

Jazzschool Advanced College Jazz Workshop Auditions – Sunday, August 24
For advanced college students interested in auditioning for the Jazzschool Advanced College Jazz Workshop.

 

Jazzschool Young Musicians Program Faculty
Keith Johnson, Program Director

Joe Bagale                                   Alan Hall                         Jessica Neighbor
Jennifer Clevinger                      Erik Jekabson                Michael Zilber
Larry De La Cruz                        Keith Johnson
Rob Ewing                                   Kasey Knudsen


SMALL PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLES

Middle School Jazz  Ensemble (Grades 6-8)
A small ensemble designed for middle school musicians interested in learning how to play jazz and developing basic improvisation skills. This ensemble covers a wide range of repertoire from John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins to Eddie Harris and James Brown.  Students play innovative arrangements focusing on stylistic accuracy and developing coherent solos in a friendly, non-competitive environment.

Rehearsals: Thursdays 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Instructor: Kasey Knudsen

Advanced Middle School Jazz Ensemble (Grades 7-8)
Designed for advanced-level middle school musicians, this ensemble covers standard jazz repertoire appropriate for the advancing middle school musician. Basic jazz theory and improvisation techniques are covered in class and applied to repertoire in rehearsal and performance. Students accepted into this ensemble should be proficient on their instrument with at least two years playing experience and must be familiar with all of the major scales.

Rehearsals: Wednesdays 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Instructor: Keith Johnson

High School Jazz Ensemble (Grades 9-12)
An intermediate level ensemble designed for advancing high school musicians interested in gaining a greater understanding of jazz theory and developing improvisation skills through the study and performance of challenging jazz repertoire. Students accepted into this ensemble must have at least two years of playing experience, have the ability to read music and be familiar with at least 6 major scales.

Rehearsals: Wednesdays 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Instructor: Larry De La Cruz

High School Funk Ensemble (Grades 9-12)
A high-energy ensemble focusing on the classic funk hits of James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, Earth Wind & Fire, The Meters, Herbie Hancock, Tower of Power and Motown’s Funk Brothers. Vocalists and horns encouraged! (Also open to advanced middle school musicians.)

Rehearsals: Saturdays 10:00am – 11:30am
Instructor: Joe Bagale

Advanced High School Jazz Workshop I & II (Grades 9—12)
This Downbeat award-winning ensemble is designed for the advanced-level high school student player who is competent in the bebop language and wishes to explore with their peers, through rehearsal and performance of relevant compositions, the post-bop harmonic, melodic, rhythmic and formal innovations of artists such as Coltrane, Shorter, Corea, Hancock and Brecker. Students are invited to perform at numerous venues throughout the Bay Area including the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival! Enrollment on a by-audition basis per quarter. Please call the Jazzschool to schedule an audition appointment.

Rehearsals: Section I, Mondays 6:15pm – 7:45pm
Instructor: Michael Zilber

Rehearsals: Section II, Mondays 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Instructor: Erik Jekabson

Advanced College Jazz Workshop
This unique ensemble is designed for the advanced-level college-age player who is competent in the bebop language and wishes to explore with their peers, through rehearsal and performance of relevant compositions, the post-bop harmonic, melodic, rhythmic and formal innovations of artists such as Coltrane, Shorter, Corea, Hancock and Brecker. Students are encouraged to write and arrange for the group and have opportunities to record on occasion. Enrollment on a by-audition basis per quarter. Please call the Jazzschool to schedule an audition appointment.

Rehearsals: Mondays 8:15pm – 9:45pm
Instructor: Michael Zilber

LARGE PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLES

Middle School Big Band (Grades 6-8)
A big band open to advanced middle school musicians.  Students develop knowledge of jazz style and an ability to improvise through rehearsal and performance. This class focuses on playing together as an ensemble utilizing a wide range of jazz standards and original compositions appropriate for the middle school musician. Students have several performance opportunities each quarter. Prerequisite: full school year commitment is required for this ensemble.

Rehearsals: Saturdays 10:00am – 11:30am
Instructor: Keith Johnson
Instrumentation: 5 saxes; 4 trumpets; 4 trombones; piano; bass; drums; guitar.

 

High School Big Band – “Jazz Lab” (Grades 9-12)
An intermediate-level big band open to advancing high school musicians interested in exploring challenging big band literature. Students develop a greater understanding of jazz style along with basic concepts for soloing through group rehearsal and performance of jazz standards and contemporary big band literature. Students have several performance opportunities each quarter. Prerequisite: full school year commitment is required for this ensemble.

Rehearsals: Saturday11:45am – 1:15pm
Instructor: Keith Johnson
Instrumentation: 5 saxes; 4 trumpets; 4 trombones; piano; bass; drums; guitar.

 

Advanced High School Big Band – “Studio Band” (Grades 9-12)
An award-winning ensemble that provides training and performance opportunities to advanced high school musicians from throughout the Bay Area. Students develop technique, knowledge of jazz style and an ability to improvise through standard and contemporary big band literature and performance. This ensemble performs frequently throughout the Bay Area and participates in national jazz festivals and competitions throughout the United States. Performances have included Yoshi’s Jazz Club, Savanna Jazz, in addition to jazz festivals in California, New York, Seattle and Idaho. Students also have the opportunity to participate in clinics and workshops wit leading Bay Area jazz educators. Prerequisite: full school year commitment is required for this ensemble.

Rehearsals: Fridays 4:45pm – 7:00pm
Instructor: Keith Johnson
Instrumentation: 5 saxes; 5 trumpets; 5 trombones; piano; bass; drums; guitar.

VOICE CLASSES

Vocal Jazz Performance for Young Musicians

Drawing from the "Great American Songbook," this hands-on class for middle and high school boys and girls focuses on singing classic jazz repertoire. Performance techniques include correct use of the microphone, stage presence, simple breathing and learning to sing with a rhythm section. This class concludes with a performance for family and friends in the Jazzschool's Hardymon Hall!

Rehearsals: Mondays 4:45pm – 6:15pm
Instructor: Jessica Neighbor

MUSICIANSHIP CLASSES

Jazz Piano

An introduction to jazz piano, this class covers basic rhythmic, melodic and harmonic terminology with an emphasis on improvisation over 12-bar blues and other simple jazz forms. Instructor addresses all aspects of interpreting a "lead sheet" and provides students with a basic approach to playing and improvising over a jazz "tune" in both solo and group formats. Students learn major, dominant, minor, half-diminished and diminished seventh chords, simple open voicings, and voice-leading techniques. Instructor introduces the major, minor and blues scales, provides an introduction to functional harmony and also addresses the concept of "comping." Chord extensions and rootless voicings may be covered as progress allows. Prerequisites: two years of piano lessons and ability to read music. Knowledge of major scales helpful.

Rehearsals: Sundays 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Instructor: Jessica Clevinger

 

Rock & Funk Drumming

This class serves as an introduction to basic rock and funk grooves. Class plays along with CDs and students are encouraged to bring in their favorite recordings to share with their classmates.  Required texts: "Funky Primer" by Charles Dowd and "Syncopation" by Ned Reed (available in The Bassment). Prerequisite: Drum set Technique for Beginners or equivalent.

Rehearsals: Mondays 8:15pm – 9:45pm
Instructor: Joe Bagale