The French Jazz Summer School offers a range of courses to meet the needs of instrumentalists and singers of all levels of experience. If you are unsure which is for you, please contact us.
The Main Course
This course is for instrumentalists and singers of all levels of experience.
Dates: 7-14&/or 14-21 Aug 2010
Tutors:
7-14 -
Geoff Gascoyne, Zoe Rahman, 3rd tutor to be confirmed
14-21 -
Liane Carroll, Simon Purcell, Julian Siegel
Course Aims
To develop your performance and understanding of jazz with special emphasis on playing with others and as part of an ensemble.
Key Learning Areas will include:
- repetoire - performing in different 'feels' and styles of jazz
- improvisation - harmonic and rhythmic approaches
- form and structure in different jazz styles
- rhythm - role of the rhythm section and relationship to others in the group
- performance - performing in workshops, daily performance and evening club, student-led rehearsals
- singing & vocalising - singing with and as part of the jazz band
Typical Activities will include:
- small group workshops
- large group &/or big band workshops
- specialist instrument workshops for singers, pianists, rhythm section, front-line.
- daily performance of workshop numbers
- evening performance & club
- student-led group rehearsals and performance
- optional workshops offered by the tutors and selected by the course members
- final night concert to the public
The Specialist Singers Course
The course is open for singers of all levels of experience - from beginners to experienced performers.
Dates: 21 Aug - 28 Aug. 2010
Tutors: Liane Carrolll, Sophie Bancroft
Course Aims
To provide a supportive, in-depth programme which develops the practical performance skills and knowledge required by the contemporary jazz singer.
Learning Areas & Activities
The programme will be negotiated with course members.
Typical areas will include:-
- one on one specialist workshops
- practical performance workshops
- techniques for performance anxiety
- vocal improvisation
- repertoire of song styles
- daily performance of workshop material
- student-led rehearsals with the band
- evening club performance
The Advanced Improvisors Course
This course is for the more advanced level student and offers progression from the Main Course and similar courses. It is open to all instrumentalists, including rhythm section.
Dates: 21 Aug - 28 Aug. 2010
Tutors: Simon Purcell with 2010 guest tutor to be confirmed
Course Aims
To enhance and deepen course members' performance and understanding of contemporary approaches to playing jazz.
Learning Areas
- contemporary approaches to improvisation
- repetoire - non-standard song forms
- contemporary approaches to melody, harmony and rhythm
- interactive rhythm section
- devising effective approaches to practising improvisation
Typical Activities
- group workshops
- directed practice time
- daily workshop performance
- evening club
- final concert to the public
- student-led rehearsals
