WEEK 2 – Class Descriptions

Anatomy of a Tune – Bebop Style   -  Roni Ben-Hur

A discussion of the process a jazz musician goes through before soloing on a tune. Based on the renowned method of Barry Harris, this approach helps the students identify and understand the core harmonic progression of a tune and the scales that go with it. A jazz standard will be used in each session to explain these concepts, as well as segments from solos by jazz masters such as Charlie Parker, Lester Young and Bud Powell.

The Musical Styles and Rhythms of Brazil  – Nilson Matta

Bassist, composer and arranger, Nilson Matta will explore the lush melodies, harmonies and rhythms of Brazil, using songs from the Brazilian repertoire. Nilson will explain, and demonstrate the intricacies of Samba, Bossa Nova, Samba Partida Alto, Baião as well as rhythms form the North East of Brazil such as Maracatu and Caterete. Students will play these styles on their instruments and on traditional Brazilian percussion. A must for instrumentalists and vocalists interested in Brazilian music.

Jazz Ensemble: Standards -  Roni Ben-Hur

Drawing on repertoire from the Great American Song Book as well as from modern jazz standards, this ensemble will focus on developing the students ability to work with in a group.  Creative arrangements will be used to introduce the students to dynamic, rhythmic flow and soloing as part of a large ensemble.  Ensembles will perform at the end of the week-long session.

An opportunity to play beautiful arrangements of music from some of Brazil’s most well known composers. Nilson Matta will conduct the ensemble providing the students with an inside perspective on how to play this unique and exquisite music. The ensemble will perform at the end of the week-long session.

Jazz Ensemble: Hard Bop   -  Bill McHenry

Description Coming Soon!

Composition Workshop - Bill McHenry

This workshop will be used to strengthen students relationship to the melodies they already hear, and demonstrate techniques to form harmony and structure to enhance the intuitive side of composing, as well as extending the level of ear training and theory to extend the ear’s focus beyond the intuitive. All levels.

 Composition Workshop -  Bill McHenry

This workshop will be used to strengthen students relationship to the melodies they already hear, and demonstrate techniques to form harmony and structure to enhance the intuitive side of composing, as well as extending the level of ear training and theory to extend the ear’s focus beyond the intuitive.   All levels.

Evolution of Brazilian Music -  From the 1930’s to Today   Nilson Matta                  

A window to the fascinating history of Brazilian music.  Focusing on the composers Pixinguinha, Noel Rosa, Dorival Caymmi, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Baden Powell, Nilson Matta will lead students on a journey through the history of Brazilian music and its variety of styles and influences.

Jazz Vocal Repertoire -  Amy London 

From the songs of the 1920’s through the more modern sounds of the 1970’s, Amy London presents a broad spectrum of the songs of the Great American Songbook, including repertoire from Fats Waller, Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, Rodgers & Hart, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jerome Kern, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Henry Mancini, Cy Coleman, Burt Bacharach, Johnny Mercer, Yip Harburg, and so many others. The repertoire included will be sufficient to prepare the singer for performance in a club or concert.

Sing Along with Ella  -  Amy London                            

If you want to learn to improvise, there is none better to learn from that the Queen of Scot herself, the First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald.  Having presented this highly successful workshop at the 2007 International Association of Jazz Educators, this extraordinary vocalist had a crowd of 250 people singing Ella’s famous solo on “Take the A Train.”  Curricula will include skills so brilliantly displayed by Ella Fitzgerald, such as scat syllables, swinging phrases, and singing through the chord changes.   Amy will break down the concepts of vocal improvisation that can be learned in a method that is highly successful and geared specifically to vocalists.