Study and perform some of the great compositions and style of the Art Blakey Ensemble. Students will explore some of Art’s most famous tunes, including “Blues March,” “Moanin,'” “One by One,” “This is for Albert,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, trombone, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform compositions from the Blue Note era of the 1950’s and ’60’s. Students will study musical selections from Blue Note artists, including Wayne Shorter, Art Blakey, Herbie Hancock, Hank Mobley, and Horace Silver.   For trumpet, tenor, trombone, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform the compositions, style, and analysis of the classic Bill Evans Trio sound. Transcriptions will be required. Students will explore tunes including “Very Early,” “Autumn Leaves,” “Waltz for Debby,” “Comrade Conrad,” and more.   For piano, bass, drums, and guitar Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform some of the great compositions and harmonic style of Billy Strayhorn, famous for co-writing with the legendary Duke Ellington and his orchestra. Students will learn the songs “Upper Manhattan Medical Group,” “Chelsea Bridge,” “Passion Flower,” “Isfahan,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, trombone, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

An ensemble focusing on the repertoire and stylings of the mid to late 40’s emergence of Bebop. The ensemble performs transcriptions of some of Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie’s famous recordings and solos. For all horns and rhythm section. Advanced level required.

Study and perform classic Brazilian songs and styles, including Samba, Bossa Nova, Frevo, Maracatu and Baiao. For piano, guitar, bass, drumset, percussion, horn and vocals. Intermediate to Advanced level suggested. Suggested prerequisite for vocalists: Jobim parts 1 and 2. Suggested prerequisite for percussionists: Brazilian Percussion.

Study and perform the compositions and style of the Brecker Brothers sound. Students will explore some of Michael and Randy’s most famous tunes, including “Skunk Funk,” “Sponge,” “Sneakin’ Up Behind You,” “Grease Piece,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, alto, and rhythm section. Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform the compositions and style of Cal Tjader. Students will explore tunes including “Mamblues,” “Alonzo,” “Black Orchid,” “Soul Burst,” and more.   For vibes, guitar, piano, bass, drums, and percussion. Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform some of the great compositions and style of the Cannonball Adderley Quintet. Students will explore some of Cannonball’s most famous tunes, including “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” “Wabash,” “Jeanine,” “This Here,” and more. For trumpet, alto, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform some of the great compositions and style of the Charles Mingus Ensemble. Students will explore some of Charles’s most famous tunes, including “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat,” “Better Git it in Your Soul,” “Jump Monk,” “Fables of Faubus,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, alto, baritone, trombone, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Read More

A class covering the repertoire and history of Charles Mingus. This class is written for 5 horns and a rhythm section. Emphasis will be on ensemble playing. For 2 trumpets, alto, tenor, trombone, piano, bass and drums. Advanced level required.

Study and perform the compositions of Chick Corea’s Electric Band. Students will play “Got a Match,” “Side Walk,” “Rumble,” “Cool Weasel Boogie,” and more.   For tenor, keyboards, bass, drums, and guitar. Enrollment by Audition only

Study and perform the early compositions of Chick Corea. Students will play “Spain,” “You’re My Everything,” “Lithia,” “500 Miles High,” “Windows,” and more. For flute, horn, keyboards, bass, drums and guitar.

Study and perform some of the great compositions and style of the Clifford Brown/Max Roach Ensemble. Students will explore some of Clifford’s most famous tunes, including “Joyspring,” “I’ll Remember April,” “Daahoud,” “Lands End,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform some of the great swinging compositions played by the Count Basie Orchestra. Students will explore the tunes “Broadway,í¢ä‰åŒ “Lilí¢ä‰å䋢 Darliní¢ä‰å䋢,í¢ä‰åŒ “In A Mellow Tone,í¢ä‰åŒ “For Lena and Lennie,í¢ä‰åŒ and many others. This book is written for 5 horns (trumpet I, trumpet II, alto & tenor, tenor & baritone, trombone) and four piece Read More

A class offering the foundations of both contemporary and folkloric Cuban music styles, with historic perspectives. This is a hands-on workshop where the players will become familiar with playing salsa in the tradition. For all instruments. Intermediate level required. Suggested prerequisites for percussionists: Nothing But the Conga and Cuban Percussion.Suggested prerequisite for pianists: Latin Piano

Study and perform the compositions and style of Dave Brubeck. This class emphasizes odd meters, solo transcription and ensemble playing. Students will explore tunes including “Take Five,” “Blue Rondo Ala Turk,” “Three to Get Ready,” “The Duke,” and more. For piano, bass, drums, and alto. Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform some of the great compositions and harmonic style of Dizzy Gillespie. Students will learn the songs “Con Alma,” “Woody’n You,” “A Night in Tunisia,” “Manteca,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, alto, trombone, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform some of the great compositions and harmonic style of Duke Ellington. Students will explore the tunes “Take the A Train,” “Mood Indigo,” “Perdido,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” and many others.   This class is for trumpet, tenor, alto, baritone trombone, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

In this class, the instructor will focus on a particular style, period, or music associated with a particular artist to be announced. Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform the compositions and style of the great Freddie Hubbard. Students will explore tunes including “Little Sunflower,” “Crisis,” “Red Clay,” “Up Jumped Spring,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, trombone, and rhythm section.   Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform the repertoire and the “Shearing Sound.” This class will emphasize ensemble playing, block chord voicings for piano, and transcriptions. Students will explore tunes including “Lullaby of Birdland,” “Consternation,” “East of the Sun,” “Autumn Serenade,” and more.   For piano, bass, drums, guitar, and vibes. Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

A class covering the repertoire and the “Shearing Sound.” Emphasis on ensemble playing, block chord voicings for piano, and tanscriptions of his most famous songs. For piano, bass, drums, guitar, and vibes. Intermediate to Advanced level required.

Study and perform the compositions and style of Grant Green from his classic Blue Note recordings. Students will explore tunes including “Idol Moments,” “Jean de Fleur,” “Nomad,” “Django,” and more.   For guitar, B3 organ, drums, and tenor saxophone. Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform standards arranged for multiple guitars by Mundell Lowe, Lloyd Wells, and others. In this class, students will learn to play in a group setting and will gain reading skills as well as experience in comping and improvisation. The ensemble will perform at the end of the six-week session. Intermediate to Advanced level Read More

Study and perform some of the great compositions and style of of Herbie Hancock from the Bluenote years. Students will explore some of Hancock’s most famous tunes, including “Watermelon Man,” “Maiden Voyage,” “Dolphin Dance,” “Driftin’,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, trombone, and rhythm section.   Advanced level required.

A class covering the history, repertoire, and stylings of the Herbie Hancock fusion/funk period. For piano, bass, drums, sax, and guitar. Advanced level required.

Study and perform some of the great compositions and style of the Horace Silver Ensemble. Students will explore some of Horace’s most famous tunes, including “Song for my Father,” “Opus de Funk,” “Horacescope,” “Doodlin,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Advanced level required.

This is a beginning ensemble open to all instrumentalists. Students will explore standard repertoire, focusing on the concepts of group playing, including feel, basic improvisation, blues, forms and listening.

This is a great class for the contemporary jazz student who wants to learn about groove, concepts of time, and a variety of tunes associated with contemporary modern jazz. For all horns and rhythm section. Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform the great compositions of the Benny Golson/Art Farmer group “The Jazztet.” Students will explore tunes including “Killer Joe,” “Along Came Betty,” “Stablemates,” “Mox Nix,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, trombone, alto, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.  

Study and perform the compositions and style of the Blue Note years of Lee Morgan. Students will explore tunes including “The Sidewinder,” “Ceora,” “The Procrastinator,” “Mr. Kenyata,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, alto, trombone, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform some of the repertoire and style of the mid-50’s and ’60’s recordings of the famous quintet. Perform transcriptions of some of Miles’s famous arrangements, including “All Blues,” “Freddie the Freeloader,” “So What,” “Blue in Green,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, alto, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

A class covering the history, repertoire, and stylings of the mid-50’s and 60?s Prestige recordings of the famous quintet. The ensemble performs transcriptions of some of Miles?s famous arrangements. For Trumpet, Alto and Tenor with rhythm section. Intermediate to Advanced level required.

This performance-driven class covers historic and contemporary performance practices of the New Orleans Brass Band. Students will study musical artists, including Louis Armstrong, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Trombone Shorty and others. For trumpet, sax, clarinet, trombone, piano, banjo or guitar, bass or tuba, and drums. Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

Learn how to play New Orleans second line music. Students will play classic New Orleans brass band tunes from groups such as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and the Rebirth Brass Band. For tuba, trombone, sax, trumpet, snare, bass drum or drumset. Intermediate to advanced level

Ensemble with five horns and rhythm section, playing great arrangements!

Study and perform the compositions and style of Oliver Nelson’s Blues and the Abstract Truth. Students will explore tunes including “Stolen Moments,” “Hoe-down,” “Cascade,” “Yearnin,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, alto, baritone, and rhythm section. Advanced level required.

A class covering the repertoire and stylings of Pat Metheny. Emphasis will be made on sound, odd meters and improvisation. The ensemble will perform some of Pat’s famous songs.   For Guitar, percussion and full rhythm section.   Advanced level required.

This intermediate to advanced ensemble is open to all instrumentalists. Students will cover more advanced concepts of literature, including intros, endings, styles, tempos and comping.

A class covering the compositions and history of Sonny Rollins. Emphasis on solo transcription and ensemble playing. Songs will include Pent-Up House, St. Thomas, Oleo, Airegin, Doxy, and more. For piano or guitar, bass, drums and tenor. Intermediate to Advanced level required.

Study and perform compositions from artists such as Ramsey Lewis, Eddie Harris, Les McCann, Herbie Hancock & Stanley Turrentine. This class will emphasize groove and communication. Students will explore tunes including “Cold Duck Time,” “The In Crowd,” “Cantaloupe Island,” “Freedom Jazz Dance” and more. For trumpet, tenor, and rhythm section. Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform the compositions and styles of the early ’60’s collaboration with Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Students will explore tunes including “Corcovado,” “Garota de Ipanema,” “So Danco Samba,” “Once I Loved,” and more. For tenor, flute, nylon string guitar, and rhythm section. Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

This is a great class for players looking to start and develop their jazz repertoire by focusing on standards commonly played and called in performance situations. Additional focus will be given to standard forms, chord progressions, intros and endings, modulations, and performance practices found in a number of jazz standards. For all instruments.

Study and perform some of the great compositions and style of the Thelonious Monk Ensemble. Students will explore some of Monk’s most famous tunes, including “Blue Monk,” “Well You Neední¢ä‰å䋢t,” “I Mean You,” “Ruby My Dear,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, alto, trombone, and rhythm section.   Intermediate to Advanced level required.

Study and perform the compositions of this famous funk band. This class will emphasize precision and groove. Perform some of Tower of Power’s greatest hits, including “What is Hip,” “Squib Cakes,” “Down to the Night Club,” “Drop it in the Slot,” and more.   For 2 trumpets, 2 tenors, baritone, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, organ, Read More

Study and perform some of the great compositions and style of the Blue Note years of Wayne Shorter. Students will explore some of Shorter’s most famous tunes, including “Witch Hunt,” “Yes or No,” “Speak No Evil,” “Infant Eyes,” and more.   For trumpet, tenor, alto, trombone, and rhythm section.   Advanced level required.

Study and perform the compositions and styles of Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter. This class will emphasize groove, soloing, and how to play as a group. Students will explore tunes including “Birdland,” “A Remark You Made,” “Palladium,” “Elegant People,” and more.   For tenor, keyboards, bass, drums, and percussion. Enrollment by audition only.

Study and perform the compositions, style, and guitar techniques of Wes Montgomery and his trios. Students will explore tunes including “Four on Six,” “West Coast Blues,” “Unit 7,” “Jingles,” and more.   For guitar, piano, bass, and drums. Intermediate to Advanced level suggested.

Study and perform the compositions and style of one of the 21st century’s most important instrumental jazz fusion group. Perform actual arrangements and transcriptions, including “Matinee Idol,” “Imperial Strut,” “My Old School,” “Fran’s Scene,” and more.   For tenor, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, and percussion. Advanced level suggested.

A class covering complex harmonic structures, transcription and analysis of jazz solos. Application to bebop and modal style of tunes.

This Improv class will be more about the music and less about the calisthenics. We’ll be taking Jazz patterns and licks and applying them to standard popular and jazz repertoire.

This class will cover jazz and non-jazz improvisational tools for expanding your melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic vocabulary. Along with pure free improvisation, the bebop and post bebop vocabulary of Charlie Parker and Wayne Shorter will be explored in this hands-on class.

A class introducing the basic melodic, harmonic and rhythmic techniques used in the style of bebop. These elements will be explored over Bb and F blues, using patterns, transcriptions, listening, and individual assignments. The Bebop scale began to appear in the 1950’s and ’60’s as a way to enhance the flexibility of the major scale/mixolydian Read More

This class focuses on the study of chords, scales, modes, simple patterns, and harmonic structure. For all instruments.

As an introduction to the blues for the musician, this class is a blend of patterns, ear training, analysis and technique. Students will learn various ways to improvise over standard changes and substitutions, including a look at Minor blues.

In this class, students will learn the tunes and solos of one of the greatest saxophone players in history, with an emphasis on transcription and technical execution of the tunes. This is a 2-part class, with part 2 focusing on performance. Part 2 students will write a bebop head in the style of Charlie Parker. Read More

Students in this intermediate-to-advanced level class will gain an overview of prominent contemporary guitarists and their techniques, including alternate picking, legato, and economy picking, as well as intervallic improvisation, outside playing, three note voicings, quartal harmony, and quintal harmony.

This advanced improvisation class will explore the six various dominant-seventh chord types from a theoretical standpoint to help students understand when each is most commonly used in jazz. Students will learn to play scales, modes, and licks over each dominant type, as well as learning how to decipher chord extensions and alterations when none are Read More

Have you ever wanted to learn  how to improvise but don’t know where to start? This will be a great foundational class teaching you how to improvise or embellish around a melody to a song. We will start very basic with the “nuts and bolts” and grow by adding patterns and quotes of other tunes Read More

This class introduces musicians to the most important chord progression in jazz through a blend of patterns, ear training, analysis, and technique. All students must have iReal Pro. In this class, students will discuss the importance of the cycle of 4ths root movement and the ii-V-I chord progression built on that movement. Learn to identify that Read More

This class will focus on locating ii-V-I cadences within jazz and pop tunes. To learn to improvise melodically over these progressions, students will explore chord voicings, comping ideas, and the use of scales, arpeggios, and guide tones.

Chord Substitutions and Arrangements of Standard Repertoire In this class, students use one song each day for comparative listening and analysis. Students will look at a common lead sheet for each tune and then listen to several versions of that tune recorded by a variety of major artists looking for harmonic differences from the lead Read More

A class concentrating on patterns, playing in different keys, call and response, chord alterations, tempos, and group participation. Application to bebop and straight ahead swing tunes.

Through a blend of ear training and analysis, this class covers the minor ii7b5-V7b9-I6 progression, emphasizing diminished scales, their purpose, and the patterns that will work over this progression.

This class covers the scales and modes that can be used over altered chords and will include chord study and the analysis of tunes.

With a blend of patterns, ear training, analysis, and technique, this class introduces the musician to the standard ‘I Got Rhythm’ chord changes. Students will learn various ways to improvise over these changes.

This class covers the techniques involved in the melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic transcription of improvised solos from recordings. Students will look at one song or one artist each day and familiarize themselves with the artist’s style and the structure of the song. Students will analyze transcribed solos to determine scales, arpeggios, and melodic patterns used Read More

Students will examine important works Thelonious Monk, first by analyzing the pieces and studying the recordings made by Monk, and then by identifying and practicing specific techniques for improvisation over each piece.

Playing uptempo tunes seems to always be a challenge for any instrumentalist. Here is a chance to work on your chops by playing nothing but uptempo tunes for six weeks. Not only will it help your technique and improvisation skills, but you will also learn the tunes that are frequently called on the bandstand. The Read More

This is an essential class for the intermediate to advanced vocalist or instrumentalist. With a drummer as the only accompanist, the student will gain a deeper sense of rhythmic timing which is the core of swing. In addition, students will have the opportunity to sit behind the drumset, learning swing patterns that will help them Read More

A 2 hour course concentrating on the soloing techniques/concepts used by Grant Green. These techniques will be studied through the use of solo transcriptions as well as lead sheets to many of Green’s original compositions. Specific melodic patterns used by Green will be examined as well as scale choices used by Green, especially bebop scales Read More

Grant Green was one of the greatest, underrated jazz guitarist of our history and one of the pioneers of Soul Jazz. He was a superb blues interpreter as well as a wondrous ballad and standards soloist. In this class, students will explore his unique sound, improvisation ideas and original compositions.

How do you know which songs are good for you? Are there styles that are lacking in your book? Do you have clean charts with intros and endings? Do you know how to count off your tunes? These are very good questions to ask yourself as you prepare for gigs. We will organize your book, get it Read More

An introduction to basic chord structures, inversions, and basic progressions used in jazz. A great class for piano players wanting to move into jazz. This will de-mystify jazz piano!

An important class for rhythm section players, this course explains the different rhythmic grooves or styles that a instrumentalist should know how to play: slow swing, ballad, medium swing, fast swing, straight ballad, swing ballad, jazz waltz, bossa nova, samba, mambo, cha-cha, bolero, rhumba funk, straight 8ths, straight 16ths, etc. Students will learn to recognize Read More

An important class for instrumentalists and vocalists, this course explains the different rhythmic grooves or styles that a performer can ask the band to play while performing a song: slow swing, medium swing, fast swing, straight ballad, swing ballad, jazz waltz, bossa nova, samba, funk, straight 8ths, straight 16ths, etc. Students will learn to recognize Read More

This beginning class will concentrate on how to play as a group. You will learn how to improve your sound, tighten your groove and define the pocket! Emphasis on beginning jazz tunes, time, using chord extensions and basic soloing. For Piano, Bass, Drums, Guitar, Vibes and Percussion.

Learn traditional piano montunos needed for playing in Cuban ensemble. Learn the difference in the two claves and how the piano montuno is shaped around each of them.

In this basic class on how to play as a duo, students will work together on creative arrangements and will learn how to communicate song literature. Instrumentalists must be able to comp and play bass lines, improvise, and provide the melodic bed to support the soloist. For vocalists, guitarists, and pianists.

This class is open to drum set, bass, guitar, and keyboard players. Materials covered will include basic Bossa Nova and Samba grooves as well as regional variations (Frevo, Forro, etc.) and contemporary Jazz and Funk variations.

In this class, students will focus on upper extensions and alterations of all chord types. Students will also identify common chord progressions. All skills will be used in both melodic and rhythmic dictation. Suggested prerequisite- Ear Training 1 and Ear Training 2.

Aural skills are important to analysis when studying Jazz, this class focuses on being able to hear all parts of a performance and analyzing by ear. Students will cover root movement (bass notes), harmonic structures (chords, extensions, and alterations), and melody (via transcription). This is a great class for anyone – instrumentalist or vocalist – Read More

An introductory class to arranging for a small group, this class begins with simple lead sheets and trio arrangements, and then progresses to arrangements for two horns.

Students will learn how to sight read charts, single line melodies and 4-voice harmony parts. This core class is important to the growth of the jazz musician.

Welcome to my class on Big Band Composition! You may be wondering, why big band? Writing for big band prepares you for any ensemble in almost any context. After completing just one big band chart, you will have taken a huge step forward into the world of composition and arranging. In this class you will: Read More

This class will cover basic theory and notation and apply these to writing simple chord charts.

Whether you’re new to composition or a seasoned composer looking for new approaches, this class is for you! We will learn about the different components that make up a song, experiment through guided exercises, and tackle some of the challenges that can get in the way of creating. Students may use a variety of tools Read More

This course will discuss basic intervals and how melody lines are constructed, triad (major, minor, diminished and augmented), 4 note chords and their inversions, beginning sight singing, consisting of singing bass lines and chords in a lead sheet. Message from Lori about this class: I have taught this class for over two decades, and it Read More

A continuation of Ear Training 1, this class will give students a better understanding of chord extensions and their inversions. It includes minimal melodic dictation. If you wanting to brush up on your triads, inversions, 4 note chords and dive into hearing the COOL notes of jazz…..this is the class! Students will concentrate on all Read More

Why do interpretations of a song by jazz masters often sound more interesting than what’s on the sheet music? In this class, we’ll look at lead sheet versions of blues, American songbook standards, and jazz standards, and compare them with recorded versions to learn common substitutions used by the masters.

In this class, we will look at creative ways to reharmonize standard tunes in a musical, complimentary way. The goal is to understand how the original harmonic structure works and then to bring an interesting, fresh twist to that structure using some commonly applied methods for reharmonization.

Have you ever wanted to write out a tune, but had no idea how to write the note names and rhythm correctly to the page? This is a beginning course to introduce basic note values, rests, articulations and common time signatures. Students will get a basic overview of how to read and notate rhythms. This Read More

This class begins with fundamentals of theory: key signatures, major and minor scales, and their importance in understanding jazz harmony. Standard jazz literature will provide study material to learn about chord types, chord progression and aids to memorization. Mastery of these basic elements will pave the way for understanding more complex harmonic structures.

A continuation of Jazz Theory 1. Emphasis on chord substitutions, hearing and reading basic rhythm patterns, song analyzation including form, key centers and chord functions.

In this class, students study the keyboard, learning note names, intervals, chord structures, and musical notation in an easy to understand format. Students will learn a better sense of pitch center, chord shapes, and overall musical accuracy.  

This class examines lyrics of famous composers, including Broadway, Hollywood and jazz writers, and also examines how Western Literature and poetry influenced major lyricists, including Johnny Mercer, E.Y. Harburg, and Lorenz Hart. Topics include rhyme schemes and song forms as they apply to the lyric. Students bring in their own writing, find and bring in Read More

In this class, we’ll arrange jazz standards, changing identifying features of the tunes such as time signatures & key signatures. We’ll explore the uses of reharmonization, pedal points, and interludes. Each week we will modify iReal Pro files to create play-along tracks so you can practice these standards in new ways.

This course focuses on the creation of rhythm section parts, starting with basic chord charts, master rhythm charts, and fully notated charts for the basic 4-piece rhythm section (keyboard, guitar, bass and drums). The class will concentrate on proper notation, layout, and techniques for printing and preparing charts for live performance and recording. Students will Read More

In this class, the focus is on original student compositions as students learn how to write in standard jazz forms, including blues, minor blues, rhythm changes, and modal tunes in order to capture the styles of famous jazz composers. For instrumentalists and vocalists. Intermediate to advanced level. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

This class is for all musicians – singers, instrumentalists, and writers alike. The course will focus on releasing the blocks that stand in the way of feeling freedom, ease, and joy in making music, as well as building skills for more effective practice and ultimately, a more effortless experience of music making. Through group discussion, Read More

Bass is the rhythmic and harmonic foundation of any ensemble. We’ll discuss how to construct bass lines that perform those two functions while also being melodic and interesting. This is not just a class for bass players, though. It’s recommend for pianists and guitar players who perform solo and need to be their own bass Read More

Students in this class will learn the major styles of Brazilian music along with their associated instruments and techniques. Instruments include the Pandeiro, Ganza, Caxixi, Chekere, Surdo, Tamborim, Timbau, Repinique, Agogo, Caixa (Snare Drum), Berimbau, Atabaque, and Quica. This class is the suggested prerequisite for the Brazilian Music Ensemble.

“BREAKBEATS” is designed to help understand the inherent connection between jazz and hip hop. This 3 week course will take you on a journey through an extensive catalog of jazz classics and hip hop hits, focusing from a rhythmic perspective.  We will explore the parallels between the two genres and the significance and influence of Read More

This 6-week class will focus on all the instruments of the Cuban rhythm section: conga, bongo, timbales, guiro, maracas, and shekere. Students will learn how clave functions in Cuban music and how all percussion parts fit together in clave. The students will also learn how songs in Cuban music and Salsa are constructed, including breaks, Read More

Taught by legendary Nashville drummer Kenny Malone, this class will teach Malone’s system of hand-drumming in simple terms, covering such fundamentals as ranges: low to high tones, open and muffled sounds, strong and weak beats, and long and short sounds, as well as dynamics, establishing the dance, and communicating with other musicians in the moment.

This class covers the concepts and techniques needed to create “musical vehicles,” such as 4’s, 8’s, and full choruses. Students will compose and play their own solos.

For drummers and bassists, this class is designed to center the player’s time by focusing on the role of drums and bass as timekeepers. Class work will include metronome and time studies.

This class will introduce the beginning jazz drummer to basic ride patterns, simple Latin patterns, comping, song forms, and brushwork.

For the intermediate to advanced drumset player who wants to learn Brazilian and Cuban styles, this class includes an introduction to Samba, Bossa-Nova, Mambo, Cha-Cha, Rhumba, Bolero, and 6/8 Afro-Cuban. Suggested Prerequisites: Jazz Drumset Essentials and The Essence of Brushwork

This 6-week class is designed to provide students with the knowledge of conga technique, which is essential for playing Cuban music convincingly. Without this understanding of the conga drum, also known as the tumbadoras, it is not possible to play the other percussion instruments convincingly. It is strongly recommended that students own a conga drum.

The Pandeiro has earned a prominent place in the musical culture of Brazil because of its pervasive use and historic significance in Brazilian music. With a focus on fundamental sounds, this class will provide exercises designed to keep your hands and arms healthy and strong. Students will learn essential styles and patterns, including Sambas, Partido Read More

In this class, students will focus on the time-keeping patterns that drummers need to know, with an emphasis on sound and its purpose. Students will learn new and useful brush techniques to help with time and solo work.

A class for guitarists introducing the basic melodic, harmonic and rhythmic techniques used in the style of bebop. These elements will be explored over the blues, rhythm changes, common bebop patterns and listening. The Bebop scale began to appear in the 1950’s and ’60’s as a way to enhance the flexibility of the major scale/mixolydian Read More

This is a class for the intermediate to advanced guitarist who wants to focus on the Blues and Swing style. The course will cover Chicago Blues, Gospel, Jazz Blues, and Minor Blues as students focus on slide techniques, finger and chordal style, and rhythm playing.

This class will focus on the single-line soloing style of Charlie Christian and other prominent late Swing Era guitarists. Topics will include developing ideas through the use of chord grips and arpeggios, chord substitution practices, incorporating blues elements, phrasing, and comping.

This class is designed to create your own arrangements for solo guitar. Students will study chord voicings, bass line movement, chord substitution, and key placement, while covering styles that include ballads, Latin, jazz waltz, and swing.

In this 6-week study of Brazilian guitar and its function in Bossa-Nova and Samba, students will learn the authentic voicings, rhythms, and comping patterns essential to this style.

This class is designed for beginning jazz guitarists, advanced beginners, and players versed in other styles who want to make the transition to jazz. Students will focus on the simple chord shapes and rhythms that create a jazz sound, as well as chord voicings, comping rhythms, and guide tones.

Specifically geared for the beginning to intermediate guitarist, this class covers many comping concepts, including Drop 2, Drop 3, and pianistic voicings as they pertain to standards, specifically the ii/V/I progression. Students will learn harmonization techniques, including the Wes Montgomery block-chord style and the Joe Pass walking bass line style. Rhythmic devices and beginning tension Read More

Jimmy Raney was best known for his small ensemble work with artists like Stan Getz and Buddy Defranco. He was able to blend his style with any venue, while also distinguishing himself as an individual artist and soloist. This class will focus on Jimmy’s repertoire, technique, chord voicings, improvisations, and transcriptions.

Some of Nashville’s most famous and most frequently recorded guitarists will be guest artists in this 6 -week class. Each week, a different guitarist will talk about their careers, play recordings that they made famous, and share tip and tricks with students. Anyone can take this class with these legends who put Nashville on the Read More

In this class, students will learn how to combine solo jazz guitar, melody, comping, and bass lines to make music using the entire guitar.

Wes Montgomery was one of the greatest and most influential jazz guitarists in history. This class will focus on Wes’s repertoire, technique, chord voicings, improvisation, and transcriptions.

Ever wonder what to learn from Brazilian, Caribbean, African, Hispanic, or French styles on guitar to play them credibly and widen your musical perspective? Let Jerome Degey help you discover concepts and musical styles from different countries and how to blend them in to enhance your original sound. Students will learn some common thread that Read More

This class emphasizes right and left hand voicings as well as how to voice lead. Students will explore when to use tritone substitutions, alternate voicings, and more advanced comping patterns.

Being a good rhythm player is just as important as being a good soloist. An art form in its own right, rhythm comping behind a soloist is the most important job of a pianist and/or guitarist. By exploring patterns and rhythmic figures that are important when accompanying a soloist, students will learn to provide a Read More

A pianist or guitarist must be able to support the soloist, whether that soloist is a vocalist or another instrumentalist. This class will emphasize comping, bass lines, voicings, intros, and endings. It’s a great class for the working musician. Advanced level suggested.

Students will work on composing their own arrangements of standard repertoire and will learn how to execute them in a solo format. Components discussed will include stride, Shearing voicings, stylistic considerations, tempo vs. rubato, intros or endings, soloing, bass lines, harmonic movement, and time.

In this class, students will learn and play the most famous standard intros and endings for jazz tunes. Students will also research and write their own intros and endings to share with the class. This is an essential course for the performing instrumentalist.

This class provides a beginning look at 4 note chords and their inversions. It then moves to upper structures, such as 9, 11 and 13 chords and their alterations. Students will learn to play these in several positions. The emphasis will be on ii-V-I’s and their inversions.

Students will work on composing their own arrangements of standard repertoire and will learn how to execute them in a solo format. Components discussed will include stride, Shearing voicings, stylistic considerations, tempo vs. rubato, intros or endings, soloing, bass lines, harmonic movement, and time. This class is open to pianists who are at an intermediate Read More

This class is an overview of Salsa, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian piano, including montunos, Latin bass lines, comping patterns for Bossa Nova and Samba, and percussion rhythms. Learning how these fit together and relate to the clave, students will gain a deeper awareness of rhythm. Intermediate level suggested.

This class is a retrospective of New Orleans piano styles, including the songs and piano playing styles of Jelly Roll Morton, Albert Ammons, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair, Dr. John, and others. Instruction will include written scores as well as CDs and videos. Topics include 12 and 16 bar blues forms, boogie and stride left hand Read More