BRATTLEBORO — On Sept. 11, Open Music Collective will be starting its fall semester with the return of its Jazz Vocal Repertoire class and evening Jazz Ensemble.
After a long hiatus, OMC is happy to announce its return to offering classes that were once a staple of the music community.
Jamie MacDonald, a founder and teacher of these ensembles (and Open Music Collective) is newly returned after earning a master's in music performance in double bass from the University of Massachusetts and becoming a faculty member at Smith College, Deerfield Academy, and The Putney School. He is excited to return to his musical and spiritual home at OMC.
The Jazz Vocal Repertoire Class will be held Monday evenings at 5 p.m. Compositions of study include music of Duke Ellington, Abbie Lincoln, and the Great American Songbook. Learning songs, writing charts, working with rhythm sections, counting off tunes, and improvising will be covered in all classes. Class has limited room for 6 people and vocalists will be singing with an experienced rhythm section. This class runs for 10 sessions, ends in a concert, and is $275 for adults.
OMC Jazz Ensemble will meet on Mondays at 7 p.m., and is open to all ages and abilities. Participants will study jazz by listening to specific pieces, sharing historical information, and playing classic arrangements and compositions in a safe, informative, and encouraging environment.
Jazz standards and bebop melodies will be picked for the individual class for a tailored learning experience for all levels. This class runs for 10 sessions, ends in a concert, and is $250 for adults.
Frequently class times change to accommodate students' schedules and class times are added for interested students. Contact them, and they'll help you.
Private lessons also are offered by Jake Charkey (beginning strings, cello, composition, Indian music), Stephan Amidon (drums) and Jamie MacDonald (bass - upright and electric, harmony, jazz vocals, theory, improvisation all instruments).