BRATTLEBORO-The Vermont Jazz Center (VJC) announces the launch of its winter-spring season of classes. Most sessions are 10 weeks long and begin the week of Feb. 16.
Saxophonist Coleman Hawkins stated that "music should always be an adventure." One of the missions of the VJC is to provide opportunities for people of all levels to embark on their own musical adventures. VJC offers classes and jam sessions to stretch participants' abilities and opportunities to get involved in group musical activities. VJC offers a variety of styles in ensemble classes taught by experienced educators in a supportive environment. Feel free to contact VJC Director Eugene Uman for more information: [email protected].
This season's offerings include two highly recommended classes which were first introduced last fall.
'The Art of Composition, with composer Stevie Manning, is an online workshop designed for musicians to inspire and give energy to their composing process. Manning provides prompts, projects, tools, and personalized suggestions.
Fearless Improvising for Everyone is a workshop with multi-instrumentalist John Clark. Clark will share stories of his recording sessions with Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius, and Sting, to name a few. This course is designed for musicians who are comfortable with their instruments but feel queasy when asked to improvise without sheet music in front of them. Musicians with classical experience are especially encouraged.
In addition to these two classes, the spectrum of course options this season includes: Youth Jazz Ensemble, Soubrette Jazz Choir, Latin Jazz Ensemble, two Blue Note Ensembles, Jazz Guitar Ensemble, and Samba Percussion Ensemble.
All hands-on classes will culminate in an afternoon of performances Sunday, May 4, at 1 p.m., at VJC's performance space at Cotton Mill Hill.
Sessions are 10 weeks long, except the Youth Jazz Ensemble, which meets for 8 sessions; the Soubrette Jazz Choir, which meets for 12 sessions; and the Samba Percussion Ensemble, which meets on an ongoing basis every other week.
To register, contact Sarah Ozgah at [email protected]. Soubrette Choir began on Feb. 4, for more information contact Anna Patton: [email protected].
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.