Jazz Combo: Small Ensemble (Adults)

Whether you're a guitarist, bass player, pianist, saxophonist, clarinetist, brass player, or percussionist, Juno Award-nominee Michael Occhipinti wants you for his ensemble! Develop your musicianship by performing an eclectic repertoire drawn from the rich history of jazz.

Time signatures, rhythm, and chord and scale theory are discussed in relation to each piece the group studies, but the bulk of class time is spent performing and learning how to solo.

Prerequisites: The ability to play scales in multiple keys (e.g. C Major, E flat Major, A Major, and B flat Major) and to read through lead sheets (e.g. a jazz tune like Blue Monk out of a Fake Book). Piano players should be able to voice chords with notation (e.g. knowing that a C Major 7 chord contains the notes C,E,G, B without those four notes notated), and guitarists should be able to play movable chord shapes for common jazz chords such as Dmin7, G7, CMaj7, Amin7b5. Students need not be experienced improvisers. This course aims to develop the instinct within the performer. Ensembles are put together depending on experience, age, and interests.

Students will have an interview with the instructor either by phone, email, or in person to determine placement. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evening groups scheduled by instructor in consultation with registered students.

If you are interested in joining, please contact instructor Michael Occhipinti at michael.occhipinti@rcmusic.ca.