Standard Jazz and Improvisation

Group class dates for 2024-25

Session 1
Time: Tuesdays, 8–9 pm
Date: 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, 12/3

Instructor: Bear Irwin

Standard Jazz and Improvisation is open to all students of music who are interested in learning and developing improvisation skills in the context of the great Jazz Standards of the American SongBook. In addition to learning the Music Theory needed to support Composition and Improvisation, SJ&I class members will also develop ensemble skills like Blending Tone, Integrating Rhythm, Matching Pitch, and Balancing Volume, and ultimately form a “Jazz Combo” ensemble. There are five incrementally progressive SJ&I units with about 10 titles in each, and an SJ&I class might expect to use an entire semester to successfully complete each unit. 

Participants may be any age, although, participants should be competent in playing the full standard range of their instruments and in using notation. Participants will include no more than one piano player, one bass player, one drumset player, one guitar player, and no more than a total of four additional musicians playing wind instruments, orchestral strings, or pitched percussion. 

Fee: $250, there is also a one-time $45 enrollment fee, if you are new to the MCMC community. 

(Note: Recurring students should be in touch with Lara@mcmcvt.org to have the enrollment fee waived prior to registration.)