Jazz: Level I
Ages: 12–19, Mondays, 5:30–8:00 pm
Tuition: $500.00, includes jazz class, performance group and combo
Text Fee: $13.92, including tax, for book and CD of Alfred’s Essentials of Jazz Theory
Lead Instructor: Frank Williams; Associate Instructor: Bob Barfield
The Ruth Eckerd Hall Lab Band
The Lab Band is designed to give the traditional band student an opportunity to learn jazz style. Rehearsing
and performing big band charts of moderate difficulty, the Lab Band offers students an opportunity to
stretch their musical skills and talents. Students in this group may audition for placement in the higher-level
Ruth Eckerd Hall/Clearwater Jazz Holiday Youth Band when positions become available.
The Ruth Eckerd Hall Combos
Beginning- and intermediate-level students apply the concepts from jazz musicianship classes to the
performance of various forms of jazz including the blues, etc. Students are directed by instructors in the
methodology of improvisation.
Jazz Rudiments
Jazz Rudiments is a theory class providing students with the foundations of music, including reading,
writing and listening activities. Students master knowledge of major scales and arpeggios, chord building,
common meters, notes/rhythms, and harmonic and melodic intervals. Mastery of these elements is
essential for improvisation in jazz combo sessions as well as literacy for big band charts.
Basic Improvisation
Building on the fundamentals of jazz literacy in which the student has demonstrated proficiency, he/she
will add the elements of minor scales and arpeggios, major, minor and modal scales and arpeggios, basic
chord construction including major, minor, diminished and augmented, and symbols and vocabulary
specific to jazz music. In addition, participants continue development of aural skills in recognizing melodic
and harmonic intervals. Students begin applying this knowledge to their instruments.
Jazz: Level II
Ages: 14–19, Mondays, 6:30–9:00 pm
Tuition: $550.00, includes jazz class, performance group and combo
Lead Instructor: Frank Williams; Associate Instructor: Bob Barfield
Ruth Eckerd Hall/Clearwater Jazz Holiday Youth Band
This ensemble is comprised of the most accomplished and talented students in the Jazz Track. Participants are
challenged and rewarded by studying and performing literature of the highest quality. The history and development
of jazz music is explored. Performances are on the Ruth Eckerd Hall Main Stage and at the Clearwater Jazz
Holiday in Coachman Park.
Ruth Eckerd Hall/Clearwater Jazz Holiday Combo
This advanced-level group will be featured performers at events for both Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Clearwater Jazz
Holiday. Appearances include: Harvesting for Scholarships, the garden cocktail reception honoring Gala patrons
and sponsors of Ruth Eckerd Hall’s Spring Gala and the Clearwater Jazz Holiday Flavor of Jazz. This combo is
comprised of the most senior and experienced players. Participants in the Ruth Eckerd Hall/Clearwater Jazz
Holiday Combo will receive full scholarships for all Jazz Track studies for the 2008–2009 season, courtesy of
Clearwater Jazz Holiday.
The Ruth Eckerd Hall Combos
Beginning- and intermediate-level students apply the concepts from jazz musicianship classes to the performance
of various forms of jazz including the blues, etc. Students are directed by instructors in the methodology
of improvisation.
Advanced Improvisation
Advanced Improvisation is a hands-on theory experience which provides students an opportunity to
use the theoretical knowledge they have mastered and apply it to their instruments. Building on the
concepts previously studied (described above), participants add collegiate-level material including
modal scales, chord extensions and alterations. Students learn to transcribe and play a solo performed
by a jazz recording artist. |
