Welcome to Jazz School UK, a jazz education site

where you can find out about:

 

  • individual lessons and workshops at the amazing Shoefactory venue in Rushden, Northamptonshire

  • the music teaching you can buy in from our specialist team at your own venue

  • links to learning resources

  • links to great jazz teachers and workshops in Britain and abroad

 


THE SHOEFACTORY

 

This is an arts space created in a Victorian Shoefactory in Rushden, Northamptonshire by musician and writer Nick Weldon and the singer Andra Sparks. The venue is quiet, huge, filled with light, and has three grand pianos, including the lovechild of the Italian Fazioli and the Japanese Yamaha. We know her as Yamioli

Address and map details can be found on our Jazz Workshops tab, and there are photos and a history of the building and its renovation over at The Weldon Journals.

 

 

shoefactory logo

 

 

Sunday Jazz Workshops at the Shoefactory...

We have a fantastic programme of workshops planned for the coming year. Hosted by the finest practitioners in the UK, they will include Day Courses in Jazz Piano, Ensemble Playing and Theory, Mainstream Jazz, Double Bass, Jazz Drums, Composition and Arranging, Jazz Guitar, Jazz Saxophone, and also a series of regular sessions for jazz singers.

 

 


TESTIMONIALS

 

...Thank you very much for a fantastic day on Saturday. Great teaching, company and of course food.  
The main thing is that it has set me up with a practising method for the next year or two! The material from Trevor on rhythm was a revelation. Dave Cliff gave me a lot of ideas about working up the standards.
 All the best
 Larry
 

... I just wanted to say - what a fabulous saxophone day it was today. Thanks to you both for everything. I came away hugely inspired. And with your amazing cooking, which was out of this world, it's like I need a new language to express it all!
 I'm looking forward to the next one.

David

 

 

 

Jazz School UK instrument pages

 

LATEST NEWS

 

SPRING/SUMMER

SEASON...

 

  • Seven Learn Jazz Singing sessions with Andra Sparks and Nicole van de Kuinder
  • Twelve Introducing Jazz sessions with Nick Weldon
  • Mainstream Jazz Day with Malcolm Earle Smith
  • Jazz Piano Day with Liam Noble
  • Jazz Saxophone Day with Alan Barnes
  • Summer Playing Days for those of you who can't get away for a whole week of Summer School

All the details are over on the

Jazz Workshops tab

 

Don't forget, you can book places on your chosen courses with our

 

ONLINE BOOKING FORM

 

 

Jeff Clyne Remembered

We continue to grieve the loss of our dear friend and colleague Jeff Clyne. Read the tributes to him online in this

Facebook Group

 

Nick Weldon has also posted his tribute online. For Jeff

 

 

 

Bass Beginnings

 

Check out the double bass page for a look at some great bass video...

 

 

 

Introducing Jazz at the Shoefactory!

These day and weekend courses are fun and educational in themselves, but are also absolutely essential for players thinking of going on a Summer School.

These sessions are building into something very special. We're only looking at the basic skills of jazz improvisation, but who would have thought you could put So What with Smoke on the Water? There's a global hit in there somewhere, we're sure of it!

 

 

More Jazz Language

Please check out the March Jazz Language feature. It's an invaluable chart for players keen enough to be going through the keys!

 

 

 

 

FEATURED TEACHER

 

Liam Noble picture

LIAM NOBLE

Pianist, composer, educator

Liam Noble is one of the foremost jazz pianists in Europe. His is a distinctive improvising voice, informed by a profound understanding of the history of jazz piano. His most recent book, in fact, is entitled "Jazz Piano; An In Depth Look at the Styles of the Masters" (Hal Leonard Publishers).
Don't miss the Liam Noble Piano Day at the Shoefactory on June 27th 2010!
More details of this fantastic musician at

the Liam Noble website

 

Photo by Noorie Parvez

 

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