THE CENTER FOR HOME EDUCATION

Students who are accepted into Jazz Band will learn and discuss the fundamentals of jazz music, trace the basic history of the genre, and perform pieces they have studied and practiced together as a group. Additionally, they will learn how to listen to one another, think critically about music, understand jazz improvisation, and improve sight-reading and ear training.

Instruments: Players of all instruments are welcome to audition (vocalists, percussionists, keyboardists, brass and woodwind players, bassists, guitarists, ukulele players, etc.)

Group rehearsals will consist of discussion of pieces, practice listening critically, and learning how to think and play music well on their feet. Students will gain experience with various instruments and are expected to experiment with playing instruments other than their primary one. They will learn what makes a musical group efficient and effective, and what makes a jazz band different from other groups.

The Fall Semester will commence with an introduction to the genre and conclude with a performance at the Center’s Fall Recitals in December. The Spring Semester will focus on jazz’s influence on other genres and on its composition. During the last eight weeks of the school year, the group will compose and arrange a jazz piece to be performed at the Spring Recitals.

Supplies:

Pencil (bring two or three)

3-Ring Binder to carry sheet music

Metronome (a phone app will work for this)

Access to Music Theory/Note-reading apps

Student Expectations:

Students are expected to practice their instruments and parts outside of class time, listen to and think critically about the jazz pieces, watch videos and lectures sent out by the teacher, participate in class discussions, be willing to experiment with their parts in each song, perform with the group, and ask questions every week. Students are expected to experiment with playing instruments other than their primary one.

Functions

Jazz Band operates as a class and a rehearsal/performance space; its time will be split thus between the two and into 8 Modules:

1. Introduction to Jazz: 4 Weeks (Aug-Sept)

2. Jazz Roots: 4 Weeks (Sept-Oct)

3. Golden Age Jazz: 4 weeks (Oct-Nov)

4. Christmas Music: 4 Weeks (Nov-Dec)

5. Jazz’s Influence- Pop and Rock music: 4 Weeks (Jan-Feb)

6. Contemporary Jazz (Feb-Mar)

7. Composition of Jazz: 4 weeks (Mar-Apr) No Performance

8. Performance of Jazz Composition: 4 Weeks (Apr-May)

Each module’s first week will consist of learning the specifics and history of the sub-genre of jazz, listening to the pieces to be learned, classroom discussion, and sight-reading the pieces. Group warmups, rehearsal of pieces, evaluation, and experimentation will comprise the following weeks of each module. Every 4 weeks concludes with a performance of those pieces (in a recital/open mic space or during a recorded class time).

Module Introduction Week Schedule:

15-20 minutes: Icebreakers, games

30 minutes: Breakdown of style and genre conventions, history

25-30 minutes: Listening to pieces (various arrangements), discussion

15 minutes: Music theory, sight-reading, ear-training games

Rehearsal Week Schedule:

10-15 minutes: Icebreakers, discussion, questions

10 minutes: Warmups (scales, tuning)

30 minutes: Practice pieces as a group

5 minutes: Break

5-10 minutes: Listen to pieces

25 minutes: Practice

Grades: 6th and up by audition only; students must have demonstrated at least an intermediate-advanced skill level with their instrument and an understanding of the basics of music theory.

Day: Thursday

Time: 12:30-2:00

Teacher: Miss Grace Krynicki, contact for audition time, graciekry@gmail.com

Tuition: $19.50/week for 32 weeks, plus a one-time materials fee of $100