JAZZ COURSES 2011/12

If you want an intensive burst of jazz activity with plenty of focused learning and tutor input, these are the courses for you.

Easter Course

Dates

April 10-12 2012

This is a course for jazz beginners. We also welcome those of you with a little more jazz experience who want to consolidate your skills and get in some playing hours!

We'll be covering the same sort of repertoire as we do in our Frodo Ensembles, and looking at basic jazz harmony, rhythmic concepts and ensemble and improvising skills.

We welcome players of any instrument, with or without jazz playing experience. You do need to have fairly good instrumental ability, though, and some jazz listening history.

For costs, see the pricing section below. For application and enquiry forms, see the registration section.

Summer Courses

Dates

Week 1 July 30-August 4 Week 2 August 27-September 1 2012

Our jazz philosophy is playing to become, or as we used to say in Rome, ludo ergo sum! So although on our jazz weeks we'll be exploring many specific aspects of theory, we'll be going at them very practically, learning as we play. Duke Ellington wrote a song for the Jazz Summer Course student. It is called "What Am I Here For?" You won't be asking yourself that on the Jazz School UK weeks, because we know exactly what we want to teach you, and more or less how we're going to do it. No hazy lazy days of aimless jamming - we think you deserve more for your money - just plenty of fun, hard work and honest feedback.

 

the week image

Each day has a theme - we'll be delving over the week into different areas of jazz (eg modal, blues, bebop, hard bop, swing, contemporary, mainstream, latin etc) and into specific players and composers associated with these styles. Each day comprises 6 playing sessions:

 

format image

The basis of the summer course, as of the regular Ensembles that we run at Jazz School UK, is the tutored playing session. You will be working in small groups (generally 5-8 in number, rhythm section plus frontline) of players of similar ability. The focus of these sessions will be the repertoire, development work and improvising skills that are essential for all jazz players. Some instrumental workshops may also be offered, depending on tutor and player numbers. It is a small course (24 players maximum) and we will be running three groups on each day, so early registration is advised to secure your place, especially in the rhythm sections.

 

flexibility image

Come for as much or as little as you like. We'd love you to come for the whole week, but as long as we can fit you into a group, we're happy for you to come for a few or even single days.

 

teaching image

There will be a good mix of permanent and guest tutors during the Summer Schools. Confirmed tutors for 2012 include Mark Bassey, Andra Sparks and Trevor Tomkins.

The player/teacher in charge of the Summer Course is Nick Weldon. Nick plays both piano and double bass and is a skilled and experienced workshop leader, used to coaching singers and instrumentalists of all levels of ability. He currently teaches jazz piano, improvisation, double bass, history and ensemble at a number of colleges and conservatoires, including Trinity College of Music and the Royal Welsh College. He has been involved at one time or another in the musical training of many of the country's finest jazz musicians, among them pianists such as Malcolm Edmonstone, Mike Gorman, Tom Cawley and Gwilym Simcock. He continues to enjoy a varied career as both professional jazz musician and writer, and promises to give you many valuable and entertaining insights into the purple mysteries of jazz improvisation. Or are they orange? You'll have to come along to find out...

 

the venue image

The Shoefactory is an Arts Space created in a Victorian building in Rushden, Northamptonshire, and is a marvellous venue for our small Summer School. It has three playing areas, all with grand pianos, and is full of light and calm. An ideal space for creative work.

Address and map details can be found on our Venue page, and there are photos and a history of the building and its renovation over at

The Shoefactory at Rushden

 

questions image

Q What standard of player is the Jazz School UK Summer Course suitable for?
A Improvers, intermediate and advanced players will all find plenty of good playing and learning opportunities in the daily sessions Something for everyone, in other words. However, players who are new to improvising, or still nervous in the art, would be advised to come on the Easter Course, or to enrol in the Jazz School UK monthly Frodo Ensemble, or to seek out some individual tuition before coming on the Summer Course. Contact Nick Weldon for further advice.


Q Will I have a good and worthwhile time?
A Here are some student comments…

"Well, what can I say? Educational... inspirational... therapeutic... a brilliant week! Excellent tutors - not just great musicians with a lot to give us, but very nice people too. Lovely hospitality: food, drinks (endless coffee, much appreciated), comfortable spaces to play, rest and chat. We were well looked after by Team Shoefactory. I've come away with not only a lot to think about and do, but with motivation to get on with it. So, thank you!"


"A very big thank you for a great day on Saturday. It was a real challenge and I enjoyed and got so much out of it. It put a lot of focus on the things I know I need to work on, like playing through the chord changes rather than trying to 'busk' over the top and I've taken away a lot to work on. I appreciate all your patience and commitment as this is what makes it all so enjoyable."

Q What does it cost?
A See the pricing section below.

Q What about singers?
A Improvising singers are very welcome at all the sessions.


Q What about accommodation?
A We can recommend some good value local hotels and B & Bs. Here's a PDF file with locations, contact details and web addresses: where to stay.


Q Great, how do I book?
A For application and enquiry forms, see the registration section below.

Pricing

The cost per person for Easter and Summer Courses, including sandwiches, fruit, refreshments, is £75 (£60) per day, except on Summer Course Thursdays, when there is an evening barbecue, and the daily cost becomes £85 (£68).

Prices in brackets show 20% reductions for existing members of the Shoefactory at Rushden. Annual membership is £36, and runs from September 1 to August 31.

Registration

new students Use the Online Enquiry Form to register interest, or get in touch by email or phone with any questions or to check availability and suitability of places.

Previous students Welcome back! Please use these forms to apply. We will then contact you with further details and to arrange payment.

Easter Course

Summer Course Week 1

Summer Course Week 2

Thank you!