ensembles


  • Players sign up for the whole season to one of 3 options - Ensemble, Ensemble+ or Pathway. See below for details.
  • Various payment options (standing order, instalment or full payment) are available.
  • Catch-up days and/or swaps for missed sessions are arranged whenever possible.
  • Groups are streamed by ability and experience.
  • These are small groups based round rhythm section (drums, bass, piano/guitar) plus frontline.
  • Meetings take place in the three large studios (lounge, blue room and and clicking) at Jazz School UK. Grand pianos galore!
  • Ensemble days run 10.30am-4.30pm. Doors open 9.45am.
  • Each group has a set repertoire of jazz tunes and standards. With the help of Theory Preparation Zooms, supplied playlists and tune sheets, theory notes from the live meetings and from jazz school literature, players prepare new tunes each month and come in to play them in their group under the guidance of one of our expert tutors. They then work some more on these tunes in the light of what they have learned in this session and bring them back for revision later in the season.
  • In addition to the 8 repertoire meetings each group has a PERFORMANCE DAY.
  • The aims are - learning the essential tune repertoire which is the primary source of the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic elements of jazz improvisation - learning how to function correctly within a small jazz group - learning how to apply the theory of jazz harmony and rhythm to real-time improvisation - learning how to connect sound to feeling.
  • The main part of the work is done by the player in personal practice, performance and study;  the monthly meetings, as well as being guided playing sessions, provide a focus for this personal work, an opportunity to ask questions and to receive group feedback and clarification of theory points, and are also very enjoyable social occasions. Sometimes there is cake.
  • The monthly meetings comprise four x 1 hour sessions and use a range of development techniques to explore and consolidate the ensemble skills, tune language and theory points arising in the performance of each tune.

    • ensemble options

    Our ensemble system has proved to be marvellously effective for hundreds of students - it's a great way of bringing focus and direction to your jazz studies!
    Our tutors are expert at finding theory points, ensemble skills, development exercises, and instrumental pointers that are important for everyone in the room. But sometimes this isn't quite enough - many students want (and require) a more personalised programme - and for this reason we offer different ENSEMBLE OPTIONS, as follows:

    Ensemble (Season Fee £880) 9 meetings October-June ( with Theory Preparation Zooms + written tutor reports and feedback)

    Ensemble+ (Season Fee £1100) As Ensemble but with 4 hours of individual lessons to address issues arising. (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!)

    Pathway (Season Fee £2200) As well as their monthly ensemble, students also attend a Pathway Day - this season we are learning some great bebop heads and also the tunes they were based on. The programme includes written reports and feedback Zooms, and 8 hours of individual lessons to address issues arising.

    Jazz Song Ensemble (Season Fees: Instrumentalists 9 sessions + report/feedback £800. Singers 3 sessions + report/feedback £330) This ensemble, led by Andra Sparks and guest tutors, comprises 4 sessions exploring Repertoire D with Andra singing, 4 sessions working on repertoire brought in by student singers and 1 Performance Day.

    ensemble INFO


    REPERTOIRE A

    LEVEL 2-3

    Don’t Get Around Much Any More, I Can’t Get Started, What Is This Thing Called Love? Blue Monk, Woody’n You, Lover Man, St Thomas, Birks Works, I Love You, Ow! Alice In Wonderland, Blue Seven, All Of Me, Dindi, Doxy, Now’s The Time

    mordor

    Oct 12 Nov 9 Dec 7 Jan 11 Feb 8 March 8 April 12 May 10 Jun 7 Catch-up days June 20-21

    sauron

    Oct 18 Nov 15 Dec 13 Jan 17 Feb 14 March 14 April 18 May 16 June 13 Catch-up days June 20-21

    baggins

    Oct 19 Nov 16 Dec 14 Jan 18 Feb 15 March 15 April 19 May 17 June 14 Catch-up days June 20-21

    legolas

    Oct 19 Nov 16 Dec 14 Jan 18 Feb 15 March 15 April 19 May 17 June 14 Catch-up days June 20-21

    REPERTOIRE B

    LEVEL 3-4

    Gone With The Wind, In A Sentimental Mood, A Night In Tunisia, Things Ain’t What They Used To Be, Cherokee, Stella By Starlight, Evidence, Blues For Alice, Four, Body And Soul, Black Narcissus, Straight No Chaser, Recordame, I’m In The Mood For Love, Everybody’s Song But My Own, Billie’s Bounce

    aragorn

    Oct 11 Nov 8 Dec 6 Jan 10 Feb 7 March 7 April 11 May 9 Jun 6 Catch-up days June 20-21

    GANDALF

    Oct 11 Nov 8 Dec 6 Jan 10 Feb 7 March 7 April 11 May 9 Jun 6 Catch-up days June 20-21

    pippin

    Oct 11 Nov 8 Dec 6 Jan 10 Feb 7 March 7 April 11 May 9 Jun 6 Catch-up days June 20-21

    merry

    Oct 12 Nov 9 Dec 7 Jan 11 Feb 8 March 8 April 12 May 10 Jun 7 Catch-up days June 20-21

    morgoth

    Oct 19 Nov 16 Dec 14 Jan 18 Feb 15 March 15 April 19 May 17 June 14 Catch-up days June 20-21

    REPERTOIRE C

    LEVEL 3-4

    Anthropology - I Got Rhythm, Scrapple From The Apple - Honeysuckle Rose, Donna Lee - Indiana, Dig - Sweet Georgia Brown, Groovin’ High - Whispering, Hot House - What Is This Thing Called Love? Bean And The Boys - Lover Come Back To Me, Ornithology - How High The Moon

    pathway

    Oct 18 Nov 15 Dec 13 Jan 17 Feb 14 March 14 April 18 May 16 June 13

    REPERTOIRE D

    LEVEL 2-4

    (Andra Sparks) I Thought About You, You’ve Changed, Wave, Willow Weep For Me, Dindi, I’ll Remember April, Moody’s Mood For Love, Invitation, Little Boat (Guest Singers) Desafinado, Detour Ahead, Destination Moon/Speak Low, Whisper Not, Darn That Dream/Fly Me To The Moon, I’m In The Mood For Love, Night And Day

    jazz song ensemble

    Oct 12 Nov 9 Dec 7 Jan 11 Feb 8 March 8 April 12 May 10 Jun 7

    Theory Preparation Zooms


    Here are the live dates. Times 6-8pm - sessions also available as recordings.
    REP A
    Mon, 29 Sep 2025 Don’t Get Around Much Any More, I Can’t Get Started, What Is This Thing Called Love? Blue Monk
    Mon, 27 Oct 2025 Woody’n You, Lover Man, St Thomas, Birks Works
    Mon, 24 Nov 2025 I Love You, Ow! Alice In Wonderland, Blue Seven
    Mon 5 Jan 2026 All Of Me, Dindi, Doxy, Now’s The Time
    REP B
    Tues, 30 Sep 2025 Gone With The Wind, In A Sentimental Mood, A Night In Tunisia, Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
    Tues, 28 Oct 2025 Cherokee, Stella By Starlight, Evidence, Blues For Alice
    Tues, 25 Nov 2025 Four, Body And Soul, Black Narcissus, Straight No Chaser
    Tues, 6 Jan 2026 Recordame, I’m In The Mood For Love, Everybody’s Song But My Own, Billie’s Bounce
    REP C
    Wed, 1 Oct 2025 I Got Rhythm, Anthropology, Honeysuckle Rose, Scrapple From The Apple
    Wed, 29 Oct 2025 Indiana, Donna Lee, Sweet Georgia Brown, Dig
    Wed, 26 Nov 2025 Whispering, Groovin’ High, What Is This Thing Called Love? Hot House
    Wed, 7 Jan 2026 Lover Come Back To Me, Bean And The Boys, How High The Moon, Ornithology

    sign up!

    Are you interested in joining a Jazz School UK Ensemble? If so, contact us without further delay! You will find our registration details and contact forms over on the CONTACT US tab.