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Jazz Combo Summer Camp
July 13, 2021 @ 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT
$200Learn the basics of jazz improvisation while playing with fellow jazz students!
The camp is led by Charleston Jazz Orchestra member Gavin Smith and other professional jazz musicians from the community.
Who:
Musicians entering grades 7 +, who can read music, and who want to advance their playing and improvisational skills are welcome to register. The standard jazz combo consists of piano, bass, guitar, drums and one or two “horns” (sax, trumpet, trombone, etc.) but there are no restrictions on what instruments may participate. Workshop participants can play saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, flute, vibes, guitar, bass, piano, voice, and drums. One can improvise jazz on any instrument. We are always looking for pianists, bassists and drummers, since those instruments are always in demand in combos!
What:
A 5-day workshop where students learn improvisational skills by playing in a jazz combo with similarly skilled peers. The workshop consists of 5 two-hour combo sessions, basic jazz theory classes and one evening concert. Additionally, each student receives one additional 45-minute private or small-group (sectional) instructional session focused on her/his instrument.
When:
July 12-16, 2021 | 9am-3pm
Cost:
$200
10% discount for current Charleston Jazz Academy students
$100 due upon registration. Balance due July 1.
Limited scholarships are available.
Where:
Charleston Jazz Academy
3005 West Montague Avenue, Suite 200
North Charleston, SC 29418
Students will register for a combo session at their current ability level.
Beginner Level
Our combos for beginners are best for players who…
- Know all the notes on their instrument
- Are new to improvising or have a bit of experience playing in school band or a workshop like this
- Have some or no training in jazz music theory
- Are just beginning to learn about how to improvise over a song
- Pianists and guitarists should know their notes and be familiar with some chords
- Drummers should be able to keep steady time and have some experience playing a drum set
- Vocalists should be able to sing an octave range, sing on pitch and to read notes
Intermediate Level
Our combos for intermediate players are best for anyone who…
- Has played in school jazz bands
- Can improvise over the blues with the blues scale
- Is working on “playing the changes”—hitting chord tones and using the correct scale for each chord while improvising
- Has developed at least a beginning understanding of jazz music theory and chord progressions like the ii-V-I
Advanced Level
Advanced players…
- Have multiple years of experience improvising (have taken multiple solos) over tunes in jazz band or while playing in jazz combos
- Are comfortable improvising over ii-V-I’s and other chord progressions in multiple keys
- Can play swing, Latin, and jazz waltz tunes with a good sense of time and feel
*Note: if a specific combo level does not fill, we will place a student in his/her next closest level.
Sectional or Individual Session
Date and Time to be scheduled with combo instructor after the workshop begins.
Performance Opportunities: Students are encouraged to perform at the Combo Workshop Concert on Friday, July 16
COVID Information:
We will observe all Covid protocols in place at the time of the camp including mask wearing and social distancing.