Do you want to learn to play jazz in a real band, how to improvise, and how to create music like your favourites like Miles Davis, Emily Remler, Charlie Parker, Herbie Hancock, or James Morrison? Well, now here’s your chance: This August at JWA we are delighted to announce a new Intro to Jazz combo for adults.
Scheduled for Thursday evenings and commencing 1 August, this is an introductory band for adults aged 18+. There’s also the possibility of a second group on Wednesdays (subject to numbers).
What’s a ‘Jazz Combo’?
A jazz combo is a small, improvising jazz band. Most of the jazz bands you see at concerts and hear on recordings are combos (some are ‘big bands’, a very different thing). Combo is an old-fashioned word, but it means a combination of musicians. There’s no pre-set instrumentation for a combo, it can be pretty well anything. Usually, a combo has a rhtyhm section (bass, drums, piano, guitar, etc) and a ‘front line’ (saxes, trumpets, trombone, clarinet, singer, etc). Whatever the instruments, the emphasis is on creating great music mostly through different types of improvisation. In our combos, we teach you how to do all that.
What will I learn?
At JWA our jazz combos are a combination of learning and playing music plus structured training in jazz improvisation and techniques for how to play in a combo. It’s much more than just a weekly jam. Think part-rehearsal, part group lesson. We teach you how to play jazz.
Who is it for?
Our intro to jazz combo is for adults who can already play an instrument and want to join a band. Maybe you already play in a ‘big band’ or ‘concert band’ and want to try the real thing now, or perhaps you’re keen to join your first group. You might even have played music at school and are ready to get back into it now.
Pretty well all instruments are welcome – if you’re unsure, just ask. Singers are welcome, but know that it isn’t a backing band for you – you’ll be learning melodies, theory, and improvising along with everyone else. It won’t always be songs & lyrics!
The better you can already play, the more you’ll get out of it and the faster you’ll progress. If you’re really good at your instrument but want to learn jazz, this is for you. But here are the absolute minimums:
Whatever your instrument, you should be able to play at least a few major and minor scales comfortably and be able to play enough to be reasonably functional. Guitarists and bassists should at least know the notes in first position and be able to play barre chords (guitar) and know the notes up the 3rd & 4th strings (bass). Drummers should be able to play some basic beats and have enough coordination to play steadily and in time.
How do I join?
Joining is easy! Send us a message via our contact form saying you’re keen. Include some background about your playing level and experience. Or, if you’re super-keen, go ahead and enrol & pay now
When is it & what’s the cost?
The new Thursday Intro to Jazz combo for adults starts 1 August at 6:05pm. Some people have also requested a Wednesday group. We can do that if we get 5 people. It would be about 7pm.
The cost is $850 if you join for a whole semester (17 classes) or $460 if you join for a term (8 classes). If you choose 8 weeks, you can always extend.
The venue is Jazz Workshop Australia, Level 2, 89 Chandos St, St Leonards.
Please note that, unfortunately, access is via stairs only, the building doesn’t have a lift.
Enquire or Express Interest