2627

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 £925) 9 meetings October-June ( with Theory Preparation Zooms + written tutor reports and feedback)

    Ensemble+ (Season Fee £1150) As Ensemble but with 4 hours of individual lessons to address issues arising. (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!)

    Pathway (Season Fee £2350) As well as their monthly ensemble, students also attend a Pathway Day - this season we are learning some great tunes played by Art Blakey's various Messenger groups. 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 £845. Singers 3 sessions + report/feedback £345) 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
    My Romance I Got It Bad And That Ain’t Good Sugar
    Tangerine Nature Boy Good Bait
    Rifftide Fotografia Alone Together
    Solar Bluesette So Danço Samba

    mordor

    OCT 11 NOV 8 DEC 6 JAN 10 FEB 7 MARCH 7 APRIL 11 MAY 2 JUN 6

    sauron

    OCT 17 NOV 14 DEC 12 JAN 16 FEB 13 MARCH 13 APRIL 17 MAY 8 JUN 12

    baggins

    OCT 18 NOV 15 DEC 13 JAN 17 FEB 14 MARCH 14 APRIL 18 MAY 9 JUN 13
     
    REPERTOIRE B
    LEVEL 3-4
    I Hear A Rhapsody I’m Through With Love Blues For Woody
    Oleo Chelsea Bridge On A Slow Boat To China
    It’s You Or No-one Valse Hot Elm
    Joy Spring Teach Me Tonight Amsterdam After Dark

    aragorn

    OCT 10 NOV 7 DEC 5 JAN 9 FEB 6 MARCH 6 APRIL 10 MAY 1 JUN 5

    GANDALF

    OCT 10 NOV 7 DEC 5 JAN 9 FEB 6 MARCH 6 APRIL 10 MAY 1 JUN 5

    merry

    OCT 11 NOV 8 DEC 6 JAN 10 FEB 7 MARCH 7 APRIL 11 MAY 2 JUN 6

    BOMBADIL

    OCT 18 NOV 15 DEC 13 JAN 17 FEB 14 MARCH 14 APRIL 18 MAY 9 JUN 13

    morgoth

    OCT 18 NOV 15 DEC 13 JAN 17 FEB 14 MARCH 14 APRIL 18 MAY 9 JUN 13

    REPERTOIRE C
    LEVEL 3-4
    Moanin’ I Remember Clifford Are You Real? (The Theme)
    Nica’s Dream This Is For Albert Skylark
    Cubano Chant In the Wee Small Hours of The Morning Mayreh
    One By One Ugetsu Once In A While

    BILBO (pathway)

    OCT 17 NOV 14 DEC 12 JAN 16 FEB 13 MARCH 13 APRIL 17 MAY 8 JUN 12

    REPERTOIRE D
    LEVEL 2-4
    If I Had You Invitation Why Try To Change Me Now? Old Devil Moon
    Straight No Chaser I'll Remember April My Little Boat Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
    + tunes by guest singers

    jazz song ensemble

    OCT 11 NOV 8 DEC 6 JAN 10 FEB 7 MARCH 7 APRIL 11 MAY 2 JUN 6

    Theory Preparation Zooms


    Here are the live dates. Times 6-8pm - sessions also available as recordings.
    REP A
    Mon, 28 Sep 2026 My Romance I Got It Bad And That Ain’t Good Sugar
    Mon, 26 Oct 2026 Tangerine Nature Boy Good Bait
    Mon, 23 Nov 2026 Rifftide Fotografia Alone Together
    Mon 4 Jan 2027 Solar Bluesette So Danço Samba
    REP B
    Tues, 29 Sep 2026 I Hear A Rhapsody I’m Through With Love Blues For Woody
    Tues, 27 Oct 2026 Oleo Chelsea Bridge On A Slow Boat To China
    Tues, 24 Nov 2026 It’s You Or No-one Valse Hot Elm
    Tues, 5 Jan 2027 Joy Spring Teach Me Tonight Amsterdam After Dark
    REP C
    Wed, 30 Sep 2026 Moanin’ I Remember Clifford Are You Real? The Theme
    Wed, 28 Oct 2026 Nica’s Dream This Is For Albert Skylark
    Wed, 25 Nov 2026 Cubano Chant In the Wee Small Hours of The Morning Mayreh
    Wed, 6 Jan 2027 One By One Ugetsu Once In A While

    sign up!

    We have filled all the ensemble places for our 2026-27 season, but we are always happy to meet and work with new players, so if you would like to register your interest for the future, please use this FORM.