Schedule of group classes/combos beginning April 12, 2020
**groups meet for 2 hours weekly for 6 weeks. Tuition is $250 unless otherwise marked.
** New students to the DJW should fill out the registration form. We try to work with students scheduling needs while making sure you are in an appropriate level class/combo.
Course descriptions
Combos: Groups are led by a “coach” and work on a handful of jazz standards (swing, bebop, latin rhythms, ballads, ¾ ) exploring melodies, improvising over chord progressions, learning common intro’s and ending’s, “trading with drums” and other facets of small group jazz. Groups are generally comprised of horns, piano and/or guitar, bass and drums. We have a number of combos running each round from beginner level to advanced. The DJW will consult with new registrants on finding the appropriate level combo.
Angela Bingham/Scott Sawyer Vocal Class: Vocalist, Angela Bingham and Guitarist, Scott Sawyer co-direct a class with subjects to include warm-ups, learning tunes, listening, how to personalize your material and find your signature songs and more. There will also be performance time allowing feedback from both Angela and Scott. The class is limited to 6 singers and the price for the 6 week session is. ****Tuition is $300
Vocal Combo: for singers who haven’t had a lot of experience working with a rhythm section, but who do have a good knowledge of standard jazz vocal repertoire. Vocalists work with a “coach” in finding ideal “keys” of songs as well as crafting arrangements on tunes and learning to convey them to the rhythm section players. We only accept 4 vocalists into the class so each singer gets ample time to work with the group.
Vocal Class: The class caps at 4 singers, each taking turns working with a guitarist/accompanist. It’s a good class for students who do know some of the common standard vocal repertoire, but aren’t ready to join the vocal combo. Great for getting experience singing and listening to other students work out ideas, find ideal keys for chosen songs and work with a chord player. Directed by Scott Sawyer.
Group Guitar Class: Students learn fundamental skills associated with jazz guitar including basic theory, basic jazz centric voicings, “comping”, learning several standard jazz melodies and rudimentary approaches to improvising. Directed by Scott Sawyer.
Jazz Composition (small group): Students will compose in various small group jazz styles including blues, contrafacts over standard chord changes and more. Students should be advanced enough to perform each others “works” in class.
DJW String Band: Our new string focused ensemble, taught by Kenneth Stewart, we will delve into the classic jazz repertoire with a focus on string adaptations of jazz techniques. Groups will learn how to read chord symbols and a jazz “lead sheets”, basic concepts in jazz theory, comping, voicing, improvisation, walking lines and how to practice jazz. The ensemble is open to bowed string instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass) as well as plucked instruments such as ukuleles, mandolins and banjos.
**groups meet for 2 hours weekly for 6 weeks. Tuition is $250 unless otherwise marked.
** New students to the DJW should fill out the registration form. We try to work with students scheduling needs while making sure you are in an appropriate level class/combo.
Course descriptions
Combos: Groups are led by a “coach” and work on a handful of jazz standards (swing, bebop, latin rhythms, ballads, ¾ ) exploring melodies, improvising over chord progressions, learning common intro’s and ending’s, “trading with drums” and other facets of small group jazz. Groups are generally comprised of horns, piano and/or guitar, bass and drums. We have a number of combos running each round from beginner level to advanced. The DJW will consult with new registrants on finding the appropriate level combo.
Angela Bingham/Scott Sawyer Vocal Class: Vocalist, Angela Bingham and Guitarist, Scott Sawyer co-direct a class with subjects to include warm-ups, learning tunes, listening, how to personalize your material and find your signature songs and more. There will also be performance time allowing feedback from both Angela and Scott. The class is limited to 6 singers and the price for the 6 week session is. ****Tuition is $300
Vocal Combo: for singers who haven’t had a lot of experience working with a rhythm section, but who do have a good knowledge of standard jazz vocal repertoire. Vocalists work with a “coach” in finding ideal “keys” of songs as well as crafting arrangements on tunes and learning to convey them to the rhythm section players. We only accept 4 vocalists into the class so each singer gets ample time to work with the group.
Vocal Class: The class caps at 4 singers, each taking turns working with a guitarist/accompanist. It’s a good class for students who do know some of the common standard vocal repertoire, but aren’t ready to join the vocal combo. Great for getting experience singing and listening to other students work out ideas, find ideal keys for chosen songs and work with a chord player. Directed by Scott Sawyer.
Group Guitar Class: Students learn fundamental skills associated with jazz guitar including basic theory, basic jazz centric voicings, “comping”, learning several standard jazz melodies and rudimentary approaches to improvising. Directed by Scott Sawyer.
Jazz Composition (small group): Students will compose in various small group jazz styles including blues, contrafacts over standard chord changes and more. Students should be advanced enough to perform each others “works” in class.
DJW String Band: Our new string focused ensemble, taught by Kenneth Stewart, we will delve into the classic jazz repertoire with a focus on string adaptations of jazz techniques. Groups will learn how to read chord symbols and a jazz “lead sheets”, basic concepts in jazz theory, comping, voicing, improvisation, walking lines and how to practice jazz. The ensemble is open to bowed string instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass) as well as plucked instruments such as ukuleles, mandolins and banjos.
