Durham Jazz Workshop Online Courses
Getting in the Zone - Scott Sawyer (all instruments) Approaches to expand our musical language and explore the art of improvising. A basic understanding of how music works is important, but we become better improvisers by strengthening our ears. Each week we will do some group listening, discuss a basic concept or two that we can build on and have time for Q and A. Approaches and assignments will include: - Learning 3 tunes - transcribing (ear) - improvising (solo, and/or utilizing backing tracks or loops) - Exploring turn arounds and modal vamps - understanding triads, 7th and 9th chords. - understanding guide tones. The group will meet online for an hour or so (TBD). In addition I will meet with individual students each week for 15/20 minutes (Times TBD) to answer any specific questions you may have and to help you organize your practicing. The course fee is $250 and meets for 6 weeks beginning the week of July 6
Guitar Zone - Scott Sawyer Expand your Guitar view and explore the joys of Improvising. An understanding of how music works is important, but we become more fluent improvisers and accompanists when we strengthen our ears. Each week we'll do some listening, discuss 2-3 basic concepts that we can build on, and have time for Q&A. A variety of music will be explored, with an emphasis on Jazz and Blues. If you're interested in developing a more effective practice routine, working on new ideas and approaches, understanding “music theory” in an organic way that supports making music...than this class is for you. Learn to play what you hear, and to hear what you want to play. No “Empty Scale Exercises”. Topics Include: - Making music with scales - Understanding triads, 7th and 9th chords - Working with guide tones - Learning melodies - Memorizing chord changes - Exploring specific songs, turnarounds, modal vamps, and cycles - Improvising (solo, and utilizing backing tracks and/or loops) - Transcribing (ear) - Submitting recorded work for review and feedback The group will meet online for an hour or so (tbd). In addition, I'll meet online with individual students for 15 minutes weekly or 30 minutes bi-weekly to help you organize your practicing, and answer any questions that you may have. The course fee is $250 and meets for 6 weeks beginning the week of July 6
Jazz Fundamentals I - Dave Finucane (all instruments) Using a series of exercises and recording assignments, students will improve their knowledge and application of fundamental jazz theory and rhythm. The circle of 4ths and basic blues will be a main focus. Students can work at their own pace. We all become better jazz players with a firm grasp of the fundamental info/technique/rhythms of jazz. Students will be required to submit short recordings of themselves playing assignments along with a metronome. This can be done with a phone’s voice memos app or a preferred method. We will not use background tracks. Feedback will be given on the submitted work. This class is using Google Classroom, there will be meet ups via Google Meet. Open to all instruments. The course fee is $250 and meets for 6 weeks beginning the week of July 6
Jazz Fundamentals II - Dave Finucane (all instruments) Using a series of exercises and recording assignments, students will improve their knowledge and application of fundamental jazz theory and rhythm. This class is a continuation of the Fundamentals I class including more work with the circle of 4ths and blues progressions. A jazz standard will also be introduced. Students can work at their own pace. We all become better jazz players with a firm grasp of the fundamental info/technique/rhythms of jazz. Students will be required to submit short recordings of themselves playing assignments along with a metronome. This can be done with a phone’s voice memos app or a preferred method. We will not use background tracks. Feedback will be given on the submitted work. This class is using Google Classroom, there will be meet ups via Google Meet. Open to all instruments. The course fee is $250 and meets for 6 weeks beginning the week of July 6
History of Jazz Music This seminar will meet on Wednesday evenings for 5 weeks from 7-8pm beginning July 15. The classes will be led by Dan Davis (UNC, ECU, DJW). Topics to be covered include: bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, avant-garde, fusion and the current styles. Zoom capabilities are necessary for the course. All ages welcome. Class size will remain small to allow for discussions. If the Wednesday session fills up, other weekday evenings will be added to accommodate more students. The course fee is $100.
Drum Set Seminar - Dan Davis This class will focus on fundamental skills pertaining to jazz drum set improvisation. The class will be taught by Dan Davis (UNC, ECU,DJW) and is designed for students of all ages with intermediate drum set abilities. Hand technique, posture, ergonomics, rudiments, interdependence, listening, history, styles, publications, and transcription will be covered in the program. Each week will include a 60 minute virtual group lesson as well as individual feedback on weekly assignments. Zoom capabilities are necessary. The course fee is $200 and begins the week of July 13.
*** We understand how some students may be affected financially due to the virus. The DJW can offer financial support for anyone needing it, so let us know. We don’t want to turn anyone away from classes because of money. ***Each online class will have a weekly Zoom meeting scheduled. We’ve left the meeting time to be determined with each teacher and the students who’ve signed up for a class.
Dave Finucane
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Scott Sawyer
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Dan Davis
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