Jazz Day

International Jazz Day is in April, so that is when we celebrate and explore jazz!

We start by discussing jazz and the history of jazz, then we have some performances by professional jazz musicians (a jazz combo). Any students who have registered for jazz lessons then take turns playing with the jazz combo (improvising, comping and responding to the other musicians).

Then the students who are not taking jazz lessons each take turns playing pieces that are in a jazzy-style.

Students learn more about the richness of the jazz tradition, they are exposed to improvisation, and they prepare pieces with complex harmonies, swung rhythm and groove. For students studying jazz, the opportunity to improvise in front of an audience and to perform with a jazz combo of professional musicians is a wonderful way to apply everything being learned in private lessons.