Level 1 - Jazz Foundations - Mondays 10:15am - 12:00pm
Location: Koffman Academy of Music & Dance -  15 Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto                                                              
Street Parking Available on Roncesvalles and Queen St. West.  TTC Accessible

Requisite -  Should have at least two years of playing experience on your instrument, be able to read music at a basic level, and be comfortable reading up 2-3 sharps and flats.  No comprehensive “Jazz playing experience” necessary - this is the ensemble to get started and learn the ropes!  If you have a few years of experience reading bigband charts, but very little experience or confidence with Jazz Improvisation, this is a suitable level for you given the small jazz ensemble focus on improvising.  

Curriculum and Content - Jazz Improvisation basics, swing feel and rhythmic conception, Jazz idiom nuances and style, learning the Blues progression and improvising on it, learning ensemble repertoire - Blues, easy Jazz Standards, basic ear training (intervals and melodic playback, call & response) and theory rudiments (intervals, basic major and minor scales), understand basic chord formulas and how to identify and use them in improvising. Practice tips and methodologies, and how to plan and practice for short/medium/long-term goals.

Schedule

11 Classes for Spring 2024 Term - Mondays (April 1st - June 17th 2024)  -  Fee: $330.00

*There will be no classes on Monday May 20th due to holiday

Level 2 - Junior Jazz - Thursdays 10:15am - 12:00pm
Location:  Tranzac Club -  292 Brunswick Ave. Toronto
Parking Available at Green P lot beside Tranzac Club, on various side streets, and on Bloor St.  TTC Accessible 

Requisite -  Should have two-three years of playing experience on your instrument, be able to read music and be comfortable reading up 3 sharps and flats.  Have had some experience playing jazz (either large or small ensembles).  Pianists/guitarists should understand and be able to play simple chord voicings, and Bassist should understand and be able to create a simple bassline (“walking”) over basic chord changes (blues progression, very easy standards), drummers should be able to play swing feel, Rock, Funk/R&B, Bossa-Nova.

Curriculum and Content - Jazz Improvisation basics, swing feel and rhythmic conception, Jazz idiom nuances and style, Blues progression in a few keys and improvising on it, learning ensemble repertoire - Blues, easy Jazz standards, Latin-Jazz, Funk/R&B.  Basic ear training (intervals and melodic playback, call & response) and theory rudiments (intervals, major and minor scales up to 4 sharps and flats), understand basic chord formulas and apply when improvising, functional harmony, introduction of Modes of Major keys, Modal Jazz and improvising.  Practice tips and methodologies, and how to plan and practice for short/medium/long-term goals.

Schedule 

12 Classes for Spring 2024 Term - Thursdays (April 4th - June 20th 2024)  -  Fee: $360.00

Level 3 - Intermediate Jazz - Thursdays 12:30pm - 2:15pm
Location:  Tranzac Club -  292 Brunswick Ave. Toronto
Parking Available at Green P lot beside Tranzac Club, on various side streets, and on Bloor St.  TTC Accessible 

Requisite -  Should have at least three years of playing experience on your instrument, be able to read music and be comfortable reading up 3 sharps and flats.  Have had some experience playing jazz (either large or small ensembles), understand swing feel, comfortable improvising over basic jazz standards.   Pianists/guitarists should understand and be able to play a variety of chord voicings for typical chord qualities found in easy and intermediate jazz standards, and Bassist should understand and be able to create a bassline (“walking”) over easy standards, drummers should be able to play swing feel, Rock, Funk, Bossa-Nova, and a variety of Latin-Jazz rhythms.

Curriculum and Content - Jazz Improvisation conception, rhythmic conception and use of syncopation in music, Jazz idiom nuances and styles, learning ensemble repertoire - Blues, Jazz standards, Cool Jazz, Modal Jazz, Hard bop, Soul-jazz, Latin-Jazz, Funk/R&B. Ear training (intervals, chords, melodic playback, call & response) and theory rudiments (intervals, major and minor scales up to 5 sharps and flats), understand a variety of chord formulas and apply when improvising, learn how to identify basic chord progressions in a few keys using Functional Harmony, Diatonic 7ths of a Major key), identifying II-V-I's and how to improvise over them, Modes of a major keys, modal jazz and improvising, developing/creating jazz lines over simple chord progressions.  Practice tips and methodologies, and how to plan and practice for short/medium/long-term goals.

Schedule 

12 Classes for Spring 2024 Term - Thursdays (April 4th - June 20th 2024)  -  Fee:  $360.00

Level 4 - Advanced Jazz - Mondays 8:00pm - 9:45pm
Location: Koffman Academy of Music & Dance -  15 Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto
Street Parking Available on Roncesvalles and Queen St. West.  TTC Accessible

Requisite -  Should have at least four years of playing experience on your instrument, be able to read music and be comfortable reading up 5 sharps and flats.  Have had experience playing jazz (either large or small ensembles), 

Curriculum and Content - Comprehensize Jazz Improvisation conception (outlining harmony - function and non-functional, rhythmic conception, Jazz idiom nuances and style, developing a personal style), Learning ensemble repertoire - Jazz Standards, Be-bop, Soul-Jazz, Modal-Jazz, Latin-Jazz, Modern-Jazz, contemporary compositions, ear training (intervals, chords, melodic playback, call & response) and theory rudiments (intervals, all major and minor scales (all types of minor scales), understand and identify a variety of chord formulas and extensions and apply when improvising, Diatonic Chords of a Major and minor keys, Modes of a major keys and some minor keys, advanced modal jazz and improvising, developing/creating jazz lines over chord progressions.  Practice tips and methodologies, and how to plan and practice for short/medium/long-term goals.

Schedule 

11 Classes for Spring 2024 Term - Mondays (April 1st - June 17th 2024)  -  Fee: $330.00

*There will be no classes on Monday May 20th due to holiday