Litchfield Jazz Camp - Curriculum

Curriculum

• Combo - Upon arrival, students (after registration) are evaluated by faculty. On the following morning, all student ensembles are posted in the cafeteria. Each ensemble is directed by a faculty member and teaching assistant/junior faculty member. As many as 15 ensembles of approximately 8-10 musicians each make up the jazz camp. Ensembles meet two times daily, working on jazz repertoire, improvisational concepts and ensemble playing.

• Jazz Theory - All students attend theory class each morning. Students are placed in a theory class at their level based on an evaluation taken on registration day.

• Masterclass - All students attend a master class each day for one hour, working with student musicians who play the same instrument under the direction of appropriate faculty. During this time they may also watch a film on the history of jazz or faculty may discuss their personal musical experiences with the students.

• Private Lessons - Students have time over the course of their week to schedule a private lesson with an instructor. Most students take at least one lesson.

• Composition - An interactive, hands on workshop exploring various non-traditional approaches to composing and arranging. Students will connect to methods and techniques forged by notable and established “Downtown” composer/improvisers. The approach to composing and arranging emerged in the mid 80’s into the 90’s and coalesced around a group of players broadly associated with the now legendary downtown Manhattan venue – The Knitting Factory. The style came to be a major influence on much of today’s music scene. The course will explore the works of Mario Pavone, Steven Bernstein, Marty Ehrlich, the late Thomas Chapin and others. Students will be encouraged to construct pieces, which will be explored by the workshop ensemble and performed at weeks end.

Instructors: Mario Pavone, Peter Madsen, Dave Ballou, Jack Walrath and others guest composers/improvisers.

• Vocal Program - In addition to the instrumental program, singers work with vocal instructors on repertoire, theory, and being a leader. Then they are placed in combos to prepare for the concert at the end of their session as well as on the Litchfield Jazz Festival. Vocal instructors include Karrin Allyson and Vanessa Rubin.

• Faculty Concerts - Three times a week a concert featuring the senior faculty takes place and twice a week a concert featuring the teaching assistants takes on campus. These concerts are free and open to the public.

• Student Jam Sessions - Nightly there are student jam sessions that occur after the evening concerts.

• Student Concerts - On Friday evening of each week (excluding session four, when the concert occurs on Thursday night due to the Litchfield Jazz Festival) all student ensembles are featured in performance for family, the camp population and the general public.