Faculty

AUDITION INFORMATION FOR FALL 2008
SEPTEMBER 22-DECEMBER 7
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.
Email: keith@jazzschool.com
Phone: (510) 845-5373.
Please note: email is preferred.

PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLES FOR FALL 08

Middle School Big Band

A big band open to advanced middle school musicians. Students develop their knowledge of jazz style and ability to improvise through rehearsal and performance. This class focuses on the importance of 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. A fall, winter, spring quarter commitment is required for this ensemble. Instrumentation: 5 saxes; 5 trumpets; 5 trombones; piano; bass; drums; and guitar.

Rehearsals: Saturdays 10 – 11:30 am Keith Johnson  (10 weeks)  $170

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 – 5:30 pm Keith Johnson  (10 weeks)  $360

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 with leading Bay Area jazz educators. Full school year commitment is required for this ensemble.Instrumentation: 5 saxes; 5 trumpets; 5 trombones; piano; bass; drums; guitar.

Rehearsals: Fridays 4:45 – 7 pm Keith Johnson  (10 weeks)  $170

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. Full school year commitment is required for this ensemble. Instrumentation: 5 saxes; 4 trumpets;
4 trombones; piano; bass; drums; guitar.

Rehearsals: Saturdays 11:45 am – 1:15 pm Keith Johnson  (10 weeks)  $170

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 – 11:30 am First class, October 18. Last class, December 13
Joe Bagale  (8 weeks)  $290

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 – 5:30 pm Kasey Knudsen  (10 weeks)  $360

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 encouraged to write and arrange for the group and have opportunities to record on occasion. These ensembles 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 6:15 – 7:45 pm Michael Zilber  (10 weeks)  $360

Rehearsals:  Section II,
Mondays 4:30 – 6:00 pm Erik Jekabson  (10 weeks)  $360

Advanced College Jazz Workshop 

The Advanced College Jazz Workshop is directed at those exceptional Bay Area
college-age jazz musicians looking for a challenging and exciting ensemble in which to explore, with their peers, modern jazz in all its myriad forms. A continuation of the Downbeat award-winning AHSJW, the group explores odd and mixed meters, collective playing, extended compositions, as well as further studying the landmark innovative work of such as Shorter, Hancock, Metheny, Brecker, Liebman and others. Students are invited to perform at numerous venues throughout the Bay Area including Yoshi’s, the Jazzschool, and the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival!  Enrollment on a by-audition basis per quarter. Please call the Jazzschool to schedule an audition appointment.

Rehearsals:  Mondays 8:15 – 9:45 pm Michael Zilber  (10 weeks)  $360

Jazz Piano for Kids

An introduction to jazz piano, this class for all ages covers basic rhythmic, melodic and harmonic terminology with an emphasis on improvisation. 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.

Prerequisite: two years of piano lessons and ability to read music. Knowledge of major scales helpful.

Rehearsals: Sundays 3 – 4:30pm Jessica Clevinger  (10 weeks)  $360

Drum Set Technique for Beginners

In this introductory hands-on course for the absolute beginner, students learn basic drum set technique. The function of each of the various drums and cymbals and their application in jazz, Latin, rock and other contemporary styles of music is covered. Basic sticking techniques and patterns including the single and double stroke rolls, the paradiddle, and the drum "fill" are covered.

Prerequisite: none. Students must own a pair of drumsticks! Class text: Learn to Play the Drumset, Hal Leonard Publishing (available in The Bassment)

Mondays 6:30 – 8 pm Joe Bagale (8 weeks) $290
*First class, Monday October 13. Last class, Monday, December 8

Rock & Funk Drumming

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

Prerequisite: Drumset Technique for Beginners or equivalent.

Rehearsals: Mondays 8:15 – 9:45 pm First class, October 13. Last class, December 8.
Joe Bagale  (8 weeks)  $290

VOICE

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!

Thursdays 4:45 – 6:15 pm Jessica Neighbor  (10 weeks)  $360