Kenneth Stewart teaches Sting Improv collective at the DJW. He is a multi-instrumentalist of cello, guitar, ukulele, electronics and composition, Kenneth Stewart brings his background of creative string performance and music composition to the Durham Jazz Workshop. Raised the son of a audio engineer and guitar collector, music has been a part of Kenneth’s life for over 25 years. He studied Cello Performance and composition at the University of Arizona (B.M.), composition at Rice University (M.M) and also Duke University (M.A., Ph.D).
Kenneth’s creative works contain a number of projects and residencies including electroacoustic works for contemporary groups such as the ‘Wet Ink Ensemble’ and Ethan Iverson, Reid Anderson and Dave King from the acclaimed jazz trio ‘The Bad Plus’. He’s also composed for choir, symphonic orchestra as well as conventional chamber such as voice and piano, string quartets and ‘Pierrot’ ensemble.
As a researching member of the Slippage Lab at Duke University in Culture Performance and Technology, Kenneth has created interactive multimedia works for contemporary dance, live performers and improvising musicians using custom human-computer interfaces, Max/MSP, pedals and Ableton Live. As part of the ongoing collaboration with Slippage and Prof. Thomas DeFrantz, they have performed at the Durham Arts Council, at JACK in Brooklyn, at Universities across the United States and at the Sonorities festival in Belfast, Northern Ireland. While experimental or ‘academic’ music remains a large part of Dr. Stewart’s wheelhouse, celebrating and growing the community of the Jazz and Roots musical traditions remains a passionate part of his musical practice.
Emphasis is placed on learning performance through playing music of your personal musical heritage. Let’s combat fear through studying improvisation by careful listening and blending your groove with the melody creating tastefully balanced phrases and lines. Kenneth’s studio is open to instrumentalists and curious musicians that are actively seeking coaching in improvisation and a creative musical practice. Topics could include composition/arranging of all styles, electronic music techniques and gear, and/or general musicianship with theory and ear training as applied on your instrument.
Kenneth’s creative works contain a number of projects and residencies including electroacoustic works for contemporary groups such as the ‘Wet Ink Ensemble’ and Ethan Iverson, Reid Anderson and Dave King from the acclaimed jazz trio ‘The Bad Plus’. He’s also composed for choir, symphonic orchestra as well as conventional chamber such as voice and piano, string quartets and ‘Pierrot’ ensemble.
As a researching member of the Slippage Lab at Duke University in Culture Performance and Technology, Kenneth has created interactive multimedia works for contemporary dance, live performers and improvising musicians using custom human-computer interfaces, Max/MSP, pedals and Ableton Live. As part of the ongoing collaboration with Slippage and Prof. Thomas DeFrantz, they have performed at the Durham Arts Council, at JACK in Brooklyn, at Universities across the United States and at the Sonorities festival in Belfast, Northern Ireland. While experimental or ‘academic’ music remains a large part of Dr. Stewart’s wheelhouse, celebrating and growing the community of the Jazz and Roots musical traditions remains a passionate part of his musical practice.
Emphasis is placed on learning performance through playing music of your personal musical heritage. Let’s combat fear through studying improvisation by careful listening and blending your groove with the melody creating tastefully balanced phrases and lines. Kenneth’s studio is open to instrumentalists and curious musicians that are actively seeking coaching in improvisation and a creative musical practice. Topics could include composition/arranging of all styles, electronic music techniques and gear, and/or general musicianship with theory and ear training as applied on your instrument.