Week 1 – Class Descriptions
Master Guitar Class – Roni Ben-Hur
Chord voicings, scales’ fingerings, sound development, knowledge of the fingerboard and technique will all be covered in this class by master guitarist and educator Roni Ben-Hur. The focus will be in advancing the student to her/his next level as a guitar player.
Jazz Accompaniment for Guitarists & Bassists – Roni Ben-Hur
In this hands-on class, students will learn to learn and apply important tools in jazz accompaniment. Topics that will be covered are rhythmic patterns, alternate chord progression and chord voicings. Songs which will be performed at the closing recital will be used to exemplify the ideas discussed.
Jazz Improvisation & Harmony – Roni Ben-Hur
Providing a compehensive and systematic approach, master guitarist/educator Roni Ben-Hur will guide students in an in-depth look at the harmonic structure of jazz standards with emphasis on applications for improvisation. Melodic ideas based on the vocabulary of jazz giants will be explored, analyzed and adopted. Like all else in jazz, rhythm and the ability to incorporate the blues will be emphasized.
Jazz Ensemble – Roni Ben-Hur
Drawing on repertoire from the Great American Songbook as well as from modern jazz standards, this ensemble will focus on developing students’ability to work in a group. Creative arrangements will be used to introduce students to dynamics, rhythmic flow and soling as part of an ensemble.
The ensemble will performed at the end of the week-long session.
“Art of Bass” Master Class - Nilson Matta
An opportunity for bassist to work closely with Nilson Matta on Diatonic and Non-Diatonic Scales Studies; Arpeggio Variations and Chord Progressions; Bass Patterns for Jazz, Brazilian and Latin Music; Jazz and Samba bass lines; studies in Rhythms and Syncopation as well as Improvisation.
Brazilian Accompaniment for Bassists & Guitarists – Nilson Matta
An exploration of the intricacies and subtleties of Brazilian rhythms and harmonies as they relate to accompaniment. Bass figures, and rhythmic and harmonic patterns for the bass and guitar in the styles of Bossa Nova, Samba and Baiåo will be highlighted. Songs that will be performed at the end of the week recital will be used to exemplify all the concepts learned in this class.”
Brazilian Rhythmic and Harmonic Patterns – Nilson Matta
Bassists & Guitarists
Famed bassist, composer and arranger, Nilson Matta, will explore the harmonies and rhythms of Brazil using songs from the Brazilian repertoire. Nilson will explain, and demonstate the rhythmic and harmonic intricacies of Samba, Bossa Nova, Baiao and Samba Partido Alto as students learn songs from each style.
Evolution of Brazilian Music From the 1930’s to Today – Nilson Matta
Bassists, Vocalists, Guitarists
A window to the facinating 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.
Brazilian Ensemble – Nilson Matta
Bassists, Guitarists, Vocalists
An opportunity to learn beautiful arrangements of music from some of Brazil’s most well known composers. Nilson 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.
Vocal Technique Workshop – Amy London
Through a series of vocal warm-ups developed by Amy London over 25 years of teaching voice, a combination of three elements, yoga breathing technique, classical Bel Canto technique and pop/jazz sound production, Amy London presents a technique workshop that will enable the singer to explore their entire vocal range, as well as maintain vocal health and longevity.
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
Vocalists
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.