What we offer
At our jazz school, we offer comprehensive ensemble courses tailored to different experience levels, designed to help musicians build a strong foundation in jazz. Whether you’re just starting to explore jazz or looking to deepen your existing skills, our curriculum covers everything from the basics of jazz improvisation and swing to more advanced harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic concepts. This is achieved through a variety of repertoires, including jazz standards and modern jazz compositions, and through the study of jazz styles such as Bebop, Cool Jazz, and Latin-Jazz. In addition to our courses, we host masterclasses featuring some of Canada’s top jazz musicians, providing our students with the unique opportunity to learn and interact with industry professionals in a supportive and informal setting.
We’re located at 1100 Bathurst Street (Southwest corner of Bathurst and Dupont). Enter through the ’stage door’ at the back.
Level 1
Jazz Fundamentals
Tuesday evenings
Starting September 10
7 to 9 PM.
Requisite – Should have at least two years of playing experience on your instrument. No comprehensive Jazz playing experience necessary – this is the ensemble to get you started and learn the ropes.
Curriculum – Jazz Improvisation basics, how to swing, beginning a jazz repertoire including the Blues and common jazz “standards”, basic ear and theory rudiments.
Level 2
Intermediate Jazz
Wednesday evenings
Starting September 11
7 to 9 pm.
Requisite – Should have at least three years of playing experience on your instrument. Have had some experience playing jazz in swing feel, basic improvising skills. Pianists/guitarists should be able to play a variety of chord voicings for typical chord qualities found in easy and intermediate jazz standards, and bassist should be able to create a walking bassline over easy standards, drummers should be able to play swing feel, Bossa-Nova, and a variety of Latin-Jazz rhythms.
Curriculum – Jazz Improvisation, swing, Latin and “straight-eighth” rhythms, use of syncopation in music, jazz chords and “changes”, learning ensemble repertoire – Blues, Jazz standards. Introduction to Bebop, Cool Jazz, Modal Jazz, Soul-jazz, Latin-Jazz, Practice tips and methodologies.
Masterclasses
Dates announced as scheduled.
Masterclasses with some of Canada’s top jazz musicians. An opportunity for students to interact in an informal and supportive setting with some of the best jazz musicians working today. This is a pay event. Students at the school will receive a discount.