Jazz Education blog by Dr Saul Richardson JWA co-founder & principal, and creator behind the Teaching Jazz YouTube channel. Regular articles, jazz teaching advice, tips for parents and students, interviews, research, and more. Also news about Jazz Workshop Australia.
JWA Has Moved – 89 Chandos St
We have moved. Jazz Workshop Australia is now at 89 Chandos St, St Leonards, 2065.
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New jazz combos for juniors & adults
Happy New School Year everyone! To celebrate the new year, after an amazing summer with an unforgettable and safe Jazz Camp, and thanks to unprecedented [...]
read moreJan
JWA YouTube channel
We’ve started a new YouTube channel, ‘JazzWorkshopAustralia‘, to showcase to work of our students and teachers. To start things off, we have the end-of-year virtual [...]
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New jazz combos for adults
We are pleased to be able to offer new groups for adult musicians during Term 4 this year. Subject to demand, there will be jazz [...]
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read moreOct
Michelle Shih – JWA’s classical guitar teacher
Michelle Shih – Classical guitar teacher for JWA We are excited to announce the arrival of classical guitarist Michelle Shih to teach at JWA. She [...]
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Jacques Emery – new bass teacher at JWA
We are delighted to announce that the wonderful bassist Jacques Emery has joined our team at JWA as a teacher. Jacques is now available for [...]
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Deven Rahman joins the MAGA elite
Deven Rahman, our wonderful trumpet teacher here at JWA, has been awarded a surprise (to him) third place in a national arranging competion. The National [...]
read moreJul
Together Again!
After about seven frustrating weeks of remote lessons and rehearsals, we are back with face-to-face lessons and rehearsals at JWA. We found some workable solutions [...]
read moreJun
An Educator’s Review and Guide to JamKazam for Real-Time Small group Rehearsals and Music Lessons (Part 1).
By Saul Richardson. Recently I’ve been experimenting with the JamKazam platform for playing in real-time over the internet. To summarise, it can work pretty well, [...]
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read moreApr
Drumless tracks
Are you a drummer in lockdown? While some may argue that is the best place for most drummers to be, we disagree of course. Here [...]
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A sequence of levels of development in learning jazz improvisation
By Saul Richardson*. Students typically progress through different levels as they learn jazz improvisation. Naturally, different people might progress at different rates, and some parts [...]
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The early music education of Lester Young
Lester Young is the next featured jazz great in our occasional series looking at the early musical training of famous jazz musicians.
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read moreJan
9 tips for buying guitar cables
This article gives nine invaluable tips for buying, using, and caring for guitar cables. Cables (aka leads) are an essential bit of gear for electric [...]
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read moreDec
Dizzy Gillespie
Here is John ‘Dizzy’ Gillespie, (1935-1993), virtuoso jazz trumpeter and one of the stars of the bebop style in the 1940s to 1950s. As a [...]
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Sydney Conservatorium auditions this week
Our best wishes go to all who are auditioning this week for jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. It is a vocational course designed [...]
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Emily Remler
Here’s a great jazz guitarist you may not have heard. Emily Remler (1957-1990) was born in New York City and grew up in New Jersey. [...]
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Jazz camp elective classes 2020
The elective activities for our upcoming 2020 Summer Jazz Camp will be: A break from music/games Composition Drumming for non-drummers Electronic effects for all instruments [...]
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read moreAug
Welcome Charlie Sundborn
We are very, very happy to welcome our newest sax teacher Charlie Sundborn to JWA. Himself a graduate of JWA and currently completing his final [...]
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Merimbula Jazz Festival 2019
It is nearly time for the annual Merimbula Jazz Festival, and JWA will be there again. This year, for the first time, we’ll have two [...]
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JWA student wins James Morrison Scholarship
JWA graduate Damon Poppleton has won the prestigious $10,000 James Morrison Scholarship for 2019 at the recent Generations In Jazz festival in Mt Gambier, South [...]
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Farewell Jeremy, Welcome Jack
Jeremy Rose, saxophonist, clarinettist, composer, and musical entrepreneur has left Jazz Workshop Australia after many years on our teaching faculty. He is replaced by Jack [...]
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How to become a better jazz player: beyond music lessons
Learning to play jazz can be hard. While everybody’s jazz learning journey is different, there are some important things you can do to become a [...]
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Farewell Jamie Cameron
We are sorry to say that Jamie Cameron has made the difficult decision to leave the JWA faculty. One of our longest-serving teachers, Jamie was [...]
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JWA Big Band
We are excited to announce the rebirth of the JWA Big Band! To complement the Sydney Youth Jazz Orchestra, an outstanding big band for school [...]
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Jazz Camp FAQ
In the lead-up to Jazz Camp starting January 7, here are some frequently asked questions before and during the camp. Do I need to bring [...]
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Jazz Camp evening concerts
We’ve got an awesome line-up of evening concerts for students coming to this January’s Summer Jazz Camp. Each night a professional group plays exclusively for [...]
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Jazz education rhetoric and reality
by Saul Richardson, 2018. There is a popular misconception that playing jazz is exclusively about uniquely talented individuals expressing an unusual inner creativity that only [...]
read moreFarewell Kali Gillen
Kali Gillen, popular sax and clarinet teacher, is leaving teaching to pursue other opportunities. Although she is still studying at the Sydney Conservatrium, she is [...]
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Some ways that jazz education excludes girls and why this is a problem
By Saul Richardson, 2018. (updated December 2019) Here are some thoughts on some factors that may drive students, including girls and women, away from jazz [...]
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read moreJul
Summer Jazz Camp 2020 electives
The elective activities for our upcoming 2020 Summer Jazz Camp will be: A break from music/games Composition Drumming for non-drummers Electronic effects for all instruments [...]
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New jazz combo for adults
New members are welcome in our new jazz combo for adults We’ve started a new jazz combo for adults, intermediate+ level, rehearsing on Monday [...]
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read moreMar
Beginning teaching music lessons
The first lessons: what to do with a new student – advice for starting to teach So you’ve got a new student. Great! Now what [...]
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Combos 2018 underway
Our jazz bands are underway for the new year. The Saturday intermediate combo was first, kicking off on Saturday Feb 3, the very first day [...]
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University auditions success
At the end of last year seven of our students auditioned for various university music courses. Most applied for jazz performance, but some were interested [...]
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Jazz camp scholarship winners
Two scholarships were awarded to Summer Jazz Camp students this January 2018. The recipient of the major award, the Sarah Waugh Return scholarship was pianist [...]
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Drum Lessons, lower north shore
Enrol now for lessons in 2018 We have an insanely great drum teacher at JWA, available for drum lessons on the lower north shore and [...]
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Emma Stephenson, Freedman Jazz Fellow 2017
We were excited to hear that one of our former students, pianist & vocalist Emma Grace Stephenson, has won the prestigious Freedman Jazz Fellowship for [...]
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JWA stage band
We put together an “all-star” big band to play for a Parramatta Rotary club function. It was at the Holiday Inn at Parramatta. Everyone in [...]
read moreEnd of term jam
What better way to end a term than with a jam? Saturday September 23, a bunch of students from our combos did just that. [...]
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10th Anniversary Concert
JWA 10th Anniversary Concert Monday 28 August Chatswood RSL Club auditorium (Victoria St, Chatswood) 6:15pm. Free entry. Meals & drinks available. Families and kids [...]
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Junior Combo @ Merimbula
June 9-11 our Junior combo performed in the Merimbula Jazz Festival. Merimbula is on the far south coast of NSW, and the festival is one [...]
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Adult combos concert
Our over 18s-only adult combos will be playing a concert at the Jazz Workshop on Monday May 22 from 7pm. it is the end-of-course performance [...]
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Matt Baker to teach at Summer Jazz Camp
We are excited to announce that New York Australian expat and acclaimed jazz piano virtuoso and vocalist Matt Baker will be teaching at Summer Jazz [...]
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New combo for beginners
From term 3 of this year (2017) we’ll be running a new combo for school-aged beginners. At the moment the day and time are TBC [...]
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Why you need more than just big band
From time to time we meet young musicians who are about to finish high school and aspire to study at one of the reputable tertiary [...]
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Latin Jazz elective
One of the elective options at Summer Jazz Camp 2017 is Latin Jazz. The description didn’t make it into the first email we sent out, [...]
read moreJust Have Fun?
Sometimes well-meaning teachers will tell you that “the most important thing is that you just have fun”. Of course you should enjoy playing jazz, but [...]
read moreClassical clarinettist Jason Noble now teaching @ JWA!
We are excited to welcome Jason Noble to the JWA faculty. Jason is one of Australia’s foremost classical clarinet teachers and a very successful performer. [...]
read moreHow can I get more solos in jazz band?
By Saul Richardson, University of Sydney. May 2016. Learning jazz and playing jazz at school is usually great fun and rewarding. But it can also [...]
read moreJust a quick update
Hi there, it’s been a while since we got a chance to post anything here, so a quick update is probably in order. At the [...]
read moreHorace Silver: Education of a young jazz musician
By Saul Richardson, 2016. Horace Silver was one of the jazz Greats. As a young child, before the age of ten, he took piano lessons. [...]
read moreJazz Mythology and Reality
By Saul Richardson, May 2015. I couldn’t make music if I spent all day in a school Recently a prodigious young pianist from Indonesia, Joey [...]
read moreJazz Camp 2015 photo gallery
Photos of Summer Jazz Camp 2015 held at Naamaroo Conference Centre, Sydney (5 pages). Faculty included: John Morrison (drums; musical director) Saul Richardson (guitar; director) [...]
read moreFaking It: Real Books and how to use them
By Saul Richardson. You are not meant to play most Fake Book/Real Book tunes exactly as written. One of the most widely-used resources among jazz [...]
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read moreEpic Trumpet Players Needed!
The Sydney Youth Jazz Orchestra is looking for new trumpet players to audition for either SYJO (under 30) or SYJO2 (under 19). Full scholarships are [...]
read more2015 combos now enrolling
Do you play an instrument? Would you or your child age 8+ like to join a jazz band where you: a) play great music? b) [...]
read moreRegistration for Jazz Camp 2015 has closed
Next week 80 young jazz musicians from all over Australia will converge on Naamaroo Conference Center, nestled in the picturesque bushland of the Lane Cove National Park. [...]
read moreJazz Camp closing soon
This summer’s Jazz camp is close to closing for new registrations; We can accept late registrations until 30 December, 2014 or the camp is full, [...]
read moreJazz Band Teaching Guide
I’M GOING TO TEACH JAZZ BAND?! A Really Rough Guide to Directing and Instructing Middle and High School Jazz Ensembles, by Dr Keith Kelly. Jazz music [...]
read moreRelativism in Jazz Education
By Saul Richardson, Jazz education is hampered by notions of relativism among its educators. The view confuses the technical features of language with the ideas, [...]
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read moreTerm 1 2014 starting
Lessons and rehearsals at the Jazz Workshop are just about to start for 2014. Private lessons, student combos, and the SYJO 2 & 3 big [...]
read moreMiami-Orlando-Tampa
Bayside Marketplace, Miami. As usual, it took over two hours to clear Miami airport, the last thing everybody needed after such an early start. In [...]
read moreMore Barbados
Last day in Barbados: Schools and the Yacht Club. Today we played at two high schools: the Alleyne School and Harrison College. The Alleyne School [...]
read moreTour blog January 8-9
Wednesday 8 January: Crystal Cove & The Beach House The last blog post was incorrectly titled “day 8”. It wasn’t, it was day 7. Today [...]
read moreTour day 8
Day 8: Concert @ Frank Collymore Hall, Bridgetown. Our day started with a 7am breakfast ready to meet our bus at 8:00. It was a [...]
read moreTour blog days 5-6
The JWA Big Band is on tour during January to the USA and Barbados. Big Band tour day 5: Recording Today it was into the [...]
read moreUSA Tour days 3-4
Highlights of days 3 & 4 of the USA/Barbados big band tour included: Workshops with Donny McCaslin, Dave Douglas and Dennis Mackrel The first gig [...]
read more2014 USA Tour days 1-2
Our 2014 big band tour to the USA and Barbados is underway. Day 1: Travel day, Sydney to New York. The group left Sydney early [...]
read moreJazz Camp registration has closed
No further bookings will be taken for Jazz Camp 2014, sorry if you missed out. Registration is online and opens mid-year. We are really looking [...]
read moreRegister now for Jazz Camp January 2014
There are still places left in Jazz Camp 2014. Don’t miss out, don’t delay: get your registration in today. Teaching Faculty | Evening Concerts | Program | Start/End times | Final Concert & [...]
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read moreensembles concert 2014
2014 JWA Ensembles Concert Combos & Big Bands Thursday 28 November 6:00 – 8:30 pm Club Ryde X (Ryde ex-services club) Tickets $5 at the [...]
read moreJazz Camp in LA
All ages, Any instrument, Families and Groups welcome. For the first time Jazz Camp is going to Los Angeles. This camp is open to all [...]
read moreJazz Camp in LA
All ages, Any instrument, Families and Groups welcome. For the first time Jazz Camp is going to Los Angeles. This camp is open to all [...]
read moreMissing bar numbers: counting the true cost
Have you ever considered what those missing numbers might really be costing you? [quote]“Five after letter K?” “Sorry, where was that?” “Does that include [...]
read moreThe electric guitar in school music: a case study
The involvement of the electric guitar in the co-curricular music program of a Sydney high school: a case study in the structuring of pedagogic discourse. (Rev) By [...]
read moreImprovisation workshop these holidays
The next school holiday improvisation workshop will be Monday 23 September – Tuesday 8. It is for intermediate and more advanced students who already have [...]
read moreConcert Rehearsals
Group rehearsals for the JWA Student Concert are on Sunday September 8 at JWA. Here is the schedule for the afternoon: 3:00 Peter Farrar’s group [...]
read moreTeaching Modes: a useful method
By Saul Richardson. In this article I will compare two different ways of presenting and teaching modes to students for improvisation. The first is [...]
read moreWinter Holidays
Combo rehearsals and lessons go into a two week recess from the end of this week. The last day of lessons and combos for the [...]
read moreImprovising with scales: a useful way for beginners
by Saul Richardson. The traditional way of teaching and talking about scales is to play them up or down from the root note. Of course [...]
read moreFree stage band guide
As we are heading rapidly towards Band Festival season, we thought it might be timely to update our free guide to Building a Gold standard [...]
read moreTwo useful tuning/listening warm-ups for band
Here are a couple of band tuning and listening warm ups we’ve found to be really useful and effective. The first came thanks to Bob [...]
read moreWinter Jazz Camp July 3-5
Winter Jazz Camp Wednesday July 3 – Friday 5, ages 10+ 24 hours of tuition! Winter Jazz Camp is back. Click here for a printable brochure. It [...]
read moreEaster Show photos on Facebook
All the JWA and SYJO gigs at this year’s Easter show are now done. Everyone played really well, some in some very hot conditions indeed! [...]
read moreEaster Long Weekend
JWA will be closed for the Easter long weekend. Friday March 29: closed. Saturday March 30: closed. Sunday March 31: closed. Monday April 1: closed. [...]
read moreChoosing the right music teacher
Be aware that not every teacher is suited to every student so you should ask us to help match you with the best fit for [...]
read moreJWA bands to play at Easter Show
A number of JWA Combos have been selected to perform at this year’s Royal Easter Show at Homebush later this month. On Sunday March 24, [...]
read moreWelcome new teachers
This year we welcome three new teachers to the JWA faculty. Robert Campbell is teaching trumpet on Wednesdays. Michael Walder is teaching double and electric [...]
read moreImprovisation for the Rhythm Section
Some ideas for involving the rhythm section in improvisation lessons. It can be frustrating being a young rhythm section player in a jazz band. Most [...]
read moreHSC and Audition Results 2012
JWA students have once again done extremely well both in HSC music and in university auditions. All our HSC students who worked with our teachers [...]
read moreEric Dunan Interview
Eric Dunan is an expat American trumpet player and leading jazz educator now resident in Australia. He is director of the very successful jazz program [...]
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read moreSummer Holidays
Merry Christmas everybody, happy new year, and enjoy your summer! JWA is closed between December 15 and February 4. Lessons and rehearsals for 2013 begin [...]
read moreChristmas kids camp On Sale
Jazz for Kids (jazz for Christmas!) Now over 50% off! December 17 – 18, ages 8+ Our famous Jazz For Kids holiday workshop is back, [...]
read moreNotes on the electric bass
Here is a handy PDF you can download and print out. It shows all the notes up the neck of an electric bass. Click [...]
read moreDon’t be a jerk!
Some Advice for High School and University/College Musicians. You have worked long and hard, over many years probably, to reach a high standard of playing. [...]
read moreconcert wrap
By Saul Richardson, Principal at Jazz Workshop Australia. We held our annual Jazz Workshop Australia ensembles concert this week, Thursday November 29 at Club Ryde [...]
read moreConcert Tonight November 29
JWA combos and the SYJO Big Bands in concert Tonight, Thurdsay November 29 Club Ryde X (Ryde Ex Services Club) 742 Victoria Rd, Ryde 6:00pm [...]
read moreExam success
In 2012 we at Jazz Workshop Australia started offering formal examinations in jazz performance for our students. Now, after a few terms of hard work, the first [...]
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Jazz Improvisation: What matters most?
By Saul Richardson, Principal at Jazz Workshop Australia. What is most important? Sound, rhythm and style are the first things listeners perceive when they hear [...]
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How to choose the right conductor for your school band: Ten tips for finding the best person for the job.
Saul Richardson B.Ed (hons), MACE Principal, Jazz Workshop Australia [box]When looking to hire a conductor for your school band it is critically important that you [...]
4 Comments
read moreJazz for Christmas holiday camp
Jazz for Kids (jazz for Christmas!) December 17 – 18, ages 8+ Our famous Jazz For Kids holiday workshop is back, in the annual Christmas [...]
read moreJWA Combos concert November 29
The annual JWA combos concert will be on Thurdsay November 29 Ryde Ex Services Club 742 Victoria Rd, Ryde 6:00pm $5/$20 for families. Tickets at [...]
read moreBallad Thesaurus
Has there ever been a ballad played on a jazz gig that hasn’t been described as beautiful? We don’t think so! So, as a service [...]
read moreTerm 4 is underway
Term 4 at JWA has started. All lessons are back on and combo rehearsals have also resumed. The term dates are: Monday October 8 to [...]
read moreDoes Big Band Jazz have to be so loud?
After adjudicating at a “stage band” festival in Sydney earlier this year and listening in at some combined concerts where several school bands all played [...]
read more2014 USA tour open
We are now calling for expressions of interest in the JWA tour to USA and Barbados. It is a 16 night big band performance and [...]
read moreModeling in instrumental music lessons
By Saul Richardson, Princiapl Jazz Workshop Australia. In this article I show why students should study with a teacher who plays the same instrument as [...]
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read moreInterview with Emma Grace Stephenson
Emma Grace Stephenson is making her mark on the Sydney jazz scene as a fine, creative and versatile pianist and singer. Her playing continues to [...]
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read morePresenting a professional performance
As a Jazz Musician By Karen Richards, JWA Director & freelance Events Consultant. Before successful actors walk onto a stage in front of an audience, [...]
read moreKids’ composition and recording camp
September 26 – 27, ages 8+ Here at JWA we are really excited to be able to tell you about a fantastic and brand new [...]
read moreThe Bebop Minor Scale
For young players looking for a scale for improvising in minor keys, the Bebop Minor scale is an excellent option. It is spelled as follows: [...]
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read moreAnnual concert September 17
The Jazz Workshop Australia annual concert is on the evening of Monday September 17 at Chatswood RSL Club. Entry for audience is $5, performers are [...]
read moreFor Advanced Improvisation Students: Some thoughts
8T9F855CGV66 By Saul Richardson, www.JazzWorkshopAustralia.com.au So you have some chops, you can run through some chord changes, you can play in tune…you’ve got the basics [...]
read moreDoes My Child Have Talent?
Parents seem to fall into one of two camps when they think about their own children. Most are inclined to believe their child is above [...]
read moreJazz Exams at JWA
Want to do exams? Now You Can, here at JWA announcing the new exam system, JWA Jazz Performance Levels Exclusive to Jazz Workshop Australia. [unordered_list [...]
read moreHSC Music BOOTCAMP
This event is sold out, sorry. Sunday August 12 At the Jazz Workshop, 58 Atchison St, St Leonards (5 mins from the station). 1 – [...]
read moreTerm 3 has started
It is Term 3 here at the Jazz Workshop from today, Monday July 16. All private lessons have resumed and combo rehearsals start again from [...]
read moreFarewell Greg Burgett
After four years with the JWA faculty Greg Burgett, one of our piano teachers, is moving on to take up a full time classroom music [...]
read moreWinter Jazz camp is full
This year’s Winter Jazz camp (July 9 – 11) is now full. We will still take bookings from a drummer (x1), tenor player (x1) and trombonist (x1). [...]
read moreSaul’s ultra marathon result
Saul Richardson (JWA Principal, guitar/bass/combo teacher & SYJO chief conductor) successfully completed the Sri Chinmoy Australian 24 hour track championships race over the weekend, Saturday [...]
read moreBuilding a great band: Part 1 for students and parents
Achieving excellence in jazz band performance By Saul Richardson: Principal at Jazz Workshop Australia, Lecturer in Jazz Pedagogy at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Chief Conductor [...]
read moreBuilding a great band part 2: for directors
Achieving excellence in jazz band performance By Saul Richardson: Principal at Jazz Workshop Australia, Lecturer in Jazz Pedagogy at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Chief Conductor [...]
read moreJune Long Weekend
There are no lessons or rehearsals over the Queen’s birthday long weekend June 9 – 11. Back to normal on Tuesday. Best wishes to all [...]
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