The Jazz early summer school at Saut du Loup

This new course has been set up as an addition to the DJSS courses already in the area. The new venue will offer a jazz course set in a beautiful park with a large lake and sports facilities nearby. In addition there is a pool and chalets for accommodation.

The theme of this 5 day course is the American songbook (music known as jazz standards). Each day will focus on a number of these well known jazz pieces as well as tuition in jazz harmony, theory and language. A vocal course running concurrently will work on the same music with sessions each day joining with the instrumental group. Integration will be a focus of the week giving the students a feeling of inclusion, being in one big group as well as smaller ensembles. Each evening there will be performances of the day’s music with plenty of time for jamming with both instrumentalists and singers.

Sample Timetable

Meet 10am

A jazz standard such as‘On Green Dolphin street’. Students will join together in one group to listen to a recording. Students will then divide into 2 groups of instrumentalists and singers to warm up and work on playing/singing the tune and chords (rhythm section players). Daily vocal warmups focussed on vocal health will include training relevant vocal techniques specific to Jazz.

11.10 am Coffee break

11.30 am

Students collectively work on the harmony of ‘On Green Dolphin st’. Chord structures and form. Vocalists have options to work with instrumentalists or as a group. As well as analysing the keys and chords, students will work on improvisation through learning jazz phrasing and chord/scale relationships. Working on the groove will also be part of the session with opportunities to play tunes with a variety of feels and tempos. ‘On Green Dolphin st’ is often played with a latin section first followed by a swing section. It is also played as one whole feel (swing). These are examples of the various approaches to playing this tune. The inclusion of swing, latin, loose latin (straight 8’s feels), funk and different time signatures are all possible within the American songbook. By the end of the morning session the band will have played the set tune (On Green Dolphin st), improvised on the chord sequence and worked up an arrangement. The vocalists will be encouraged to sing with the ensemble.

Lunch 1pm

Afternoon Session 2.15 (14:15)

Focus on a Ballad such as ‘Blame It on my youth’. After a performance from the inhouse tutors, a masterclass approach to playing this well known song will inform and inspire students. Some individual group sessions will allow students to work on the music (singers to study vocal technique and how to work/isolate the necessary anatomical structures, including potentially some group transcription based work, instrumentalists to work on accompanying techniques and improvisation). Vocalists and instrumentalists to work together at some point for a rehearsal. There will be a return to the afternoon tune the following day to revise and improve on the music. Having time to practice will give students confidence to improvise with skill and better jazz language.

3.45 (15:45) session ends

Own time to practice, relax, walk, swim….

7.30 (19:30) Performance of the day’s music

8.00 (20:00) Dinner

9.00 (21:00) Jam Session

The aim of the jazz course is to explore the music from the American songbook in depth. The inclusion of vocalists will be beneficial to the singers in that they will have a band to work with. The instrumentalists will gain experience of working with singers and learning the importance of the tune and how a melody is delivered. Each day the students will have a few tunes to perform as a band but also have time to work on the music in the day. Students will be encouraged to choose their own repertoire for the jam sessions.

Feedback from previous courses (Jazz piano retreat and Monteton courses) was that students wanted more time to work on music. The Saut du Loup course works on standards over a few days with plenty of free time to practise between classes.