Jazz at PCM
Students enrolled in the Jazz Department will learn the standard repertoire of the jazz tradition; develop the ability to improvise in jazz; and develop the ability to perform as soloists and accompanying musicians, with an appropriate swing feel. A core concept of the curriculum is that keen aural perception is fundamental to mastering the subtleties of jazz and developing excellent musicianship.
UPCOMING EVENT
I Happen to Like L.A.: A Day of Jazz with Jeff Clayton
Friday, May 17
10 a.m.-12:15 p.m. PCM Jazz Department Chair Ray Briggs and Jeff Clayton discuss the history of jazz in Los Angeles (room 200).
4-5:50 p.m. PCM jazz students will be coached by Clayton in a wonderful Master Class (room 300).
7:30 p.m. Bring the whole family to a special performance by Clayton and our very own PCM jazz faculty (room 300). Reception to follow in room 400.
All events are free and no RSVP necessary.
SUMMER JAZZ WORKSHOP This two-week intensive course at Pasadena Conservatory of Music, for students in seventh grade and up, will develop foundations of jazz improvisation, theory, and history.
Week one: July 8-12, 3-7 p.m. Week two: July 15-19, 3-7 p.m. One week: $275 Both weeks: $525 Beginning, intermediate, and advanced students will
Students are welcome to sign up for one or both weeks. No audition required.
To register,click here or call 626-683-3355 or e-mail music@pasadenaconservatory.org. |
Inquire about the Jazz Program
Individual Instruction
Students are offered one-on-one attention by a master artist/educator. Individual lessons are available in 30-, 45-, or 60-minute lengths, depending upon student need and instructor recommendation.
Ensembles
Students are strongly encouraged to participate in a performing ensemble as a means of applying information acquired through individual instruction and master classes. Groups are typically comprised of rhythm sections (i.e., piano, guitar, bass, drum set/percussion) and various wind instruments. Literature for each group may be an assortment of standard jazz repertoire as well as arrangements and original compositions.
Master Classes
Throughout the year, the Jazz Department offers master classes with nationally and internationally-renowned musicians. Students will be selected to perform in these classes based upon the recommendation of their individual instructor.
Juries
All non-adult students enrolled in private instrumental study participate in a juried performance evaluation. This jury offers students the opportunity to demonstrate their progress over the past year and receive feedback from a faculty panel. Departmental juries occur during one week of the spring quarter and are scheduled in lieu of a lesson.
Recitals
The Conservatory regularly hosts student recitals. Students are recommended for these performances by their individual instructor. All non-adult students are expected to perform at least twice within the academic year.
Jazz History
Throughout the academic year, the Jazz Department offers courses devoted to the understanding and appreciation of jazz. General topics include the development of various musical styles, significant musical concepts, and major figures in the past and present of the art-form.
Courses for Adult Students
History of Jazz in Los Angeles
Instructor: Ray Briggs
Tuesdays, March 19-May 21; 7:30 p.m.
Fridays, March 15-May 17; 10 a.m.
*This class meets weekly; students may sign up for either Tuesdays or Fridays
Los Angeles jazz is often overlooked on a national level, narrowly perceived as nothing more than the West-Coast cool style of the 1950s, but it has a longstanding history that is as rich and diverse as the ethnic population of the city itself. The jazz scene in L.A. dates back to the early twentieth century, when musicians from around the country flocked to Los Angeles and joined forces with a burgeoning community of homegrown talent. Taught by Dr. Ray Briggs—musician, ethnomusicologist, teacher, and Pasadena Conservatory of Music’s jazz department chair—this course will uncover the fascinating story of jazz in the City of Angels, by charting the regional development of the music with an emphasis on the significant styles, venues, and individuals who shaped its evolution, including legendary musicians such as Jelly Roll Morton, Kid Ory, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Charles Mingus, Buddy Collette, Eric Dolphy, Chico Hamilton, Art Pepper, Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Gerald Wilson, and Ray Brown. Students will explore the early contributions of New Orleans migrants, the emergence of a thriving jazz scene in the heart of the African American community along Central Avenue in the 1920s, the halcyon era of cool jazz at the Lighthouse Café in Hermosa Beach in the 1950s, and the avant-garde period of the 1960s and beyond. In addition to a survey of the music and the people who made it, this course will consider the ways in which jazz history interweaves with the social and political history of the city, through lectures and discussions, guided listening activities, literature, and a guest performance from an L.A. jazz icon. Price: $275/$250
Summer Jazz Workshop
This two-week intensive course provides students with a comprehensive experience of the jazz tradition, as supported by sessions focusing on ensemble performance, jazz theory/improvisation, and jazz history. In addition, students will be exposed to the invaluable insights of noteworthy musicians via master classes.
An Exceptional Faculty
The Jazz Department features a world-class faculty comprised of active artist/educators. Students have the unique opportunity to study with musicians who have worked with such renowned artists as Sonny Rollins, Cannonball Adderley, Benny Carter, Benny Golson, J.J. Johnson, Bob Brookmeyer, Ray Brown, John Clayton, Louie Bellson, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Frank Zappa.
Inquire about the Jazz Program
>> BACK TO TOP
