GMF Easter Jazz Workshops. 6 - 9 April 2012

 A spectacular setting, the team of outstanding performers and teachers and the varied schedule of activity all add up to an unforgettable experience for everyone who takes part in the GMF Easter Jazz Workshops 6 - 9 April 2012

• An exceptional roster of internationally acclaimed artists and teachers such as Deborah Brown, Bruce Barth, Pete Churchill and Stephen Keogh.

• Intensive study  - some six hours tuition per day, including supervised rehearsals, instrumental classes, group workshops and ensemble sessions.

• Free admission to all concerts given by members of the faculty and guest artists.

• A stimulating programme of activities to develop musicianship skills and awareness: Choir, Samba, Pulse Training, Ear Training, Coordination and Movement.
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We also offer a number of discounts and special packages

10% discount with a valid student ID Card. 

Group discount. Book 5 places and get the 6th for free

Listener places. Not ready to dive head-first into your first GMF course or want to pick up tips from the experts at a lower cost? A listener place could be for you!
Attend the workshops, ensemble sessions, concerts and jam sessions, as a Listener. £125.00 for the full four days

To claim these special offers please register as usual via the Global Music Foundation website
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We chatted to drummer, teacher and the man behind GMF, Stephen Keogh, about the workshop and festival..

Programme

Every GMF workshop features outstanding musicians who are also great teachers. Under their guidance, participants will gain valuable insights and playing experience whilst rehearsing towards a concert.

There are classes in the various musical disciplines such as instrumental technique, harmony, ensemble playing and improvisation, and, as well as teaching individually and in groups, the tutors give performances themselves.

This event will bring together performers, tutors and music students participating in vocal, instrumental and percussion courses in a single learning community. 
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Morning workshops
At the beginning of each day (0930 - 1200), students on all the courses come together to participate in a unique sequence of activities which collectively stimulate self-awareness and enhance creativity.

These sessions will feature a different combination of activities every day: expect regular workshops on pulse, vocal/body/breathing, ear training, samba, dance and movement.

Pulse Training by Stephen Keogh

Pulse lies at the heart of music, and developing one's own inner pulse is the goal of these sessions. The work fosters awareness – of the pulse, of silence, of the other members of the group. This workshop is hugely beneficial to musicians of every kind.

Vocal and Body with Guillermo Rozenthuler
The workshop explores the use of energy and the voice, and fine tuning body and mind coordination within a musical context. Using song material from all around the world, we work at enhancing the quality of our listening skills and the sounds we produce.

Samba with Francesco Petreni   
A group workshop in which we train and learn the various different calls and rhythms, under the guidance of Francesco Petreni. The singers will learn some of the traditional songs as performed at the carnivals of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo and from other areas of Brazil.
On the last day of the course there will be a public performance during which we will bring the joy and the spirit of carnival to Kings Place. Every night at the jam sessions at Pizza Express, there will be opportunities to play Samba Cançao in a small group setting.
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Afternoon workshops: A course for both Instrumentalists and Vocalists

After the morning whole group sessions, instrumentalists and vocalists divide into separate course streams for the remainder of the day (12.00 - 17.30).
Instrumentalists will go to work with the tutors of their respective instruments from 12.00 - 13.30 and then join ensemble sessions after lunch (15.30 - 1730). 

Notes for vocalists
The part of this course designed for singers will focus on working as a large group.
Various aspects of the singer's craft will be covered in classes that range from the study of song-form and lyric writing to issues of time and feel. There will be help with finding repertoire and guidance on working with the text in performance. Over the four days the students will also gain skills in chart preparation (including transposition) and how to connect with the rhythm section.

Whilst there will be some opportunity for singers to work on repertoire through the song class and a chance for them to sing individual songs in the evening, a strong component of this course will be the work done as a vocal group. In the course, choir students will be working on a wide range of repertoire, including Gospel, South African, Brazilian and Folk music. In addition there will be an opportunity to sing some unique choral arrangements of music by Kenny Wheeler, Ralph Towner and James Taylor.

This course is ideal for those singers who are serious about improving their skills. Sight-reading is certainly not a pre-requisite (much of the choir music will be taught by ear) and likewise, an understanding of music theory, whilst useful, is not a requirement for coming on the course. It is more important to come with an open mind, a love of jazz and a desire to improve.

Throughout the four days each singer will also have a chance to work on their piano skills with Barry Green in a one-to-one session. This is a 'supportive study' for each student to give them an opportunity to review what they have gathered from the course and to devise appropriate ways of practising their skills.

Additional details regarding the vocalists' course timetable
The ensemble session before lunch (1200 - 1330) will be dedicated to group singing led by Pete Churchill or Guillermo Rozenthuler. Each day we will feature a different genre of choral music - some taught by ear and some from notation and the focus will be on the appropriate learning process for the music in question.

For some this session will also serve as a master-class in vocal arranging. Group singing is an important part of the day. Learning to blend as an ensemble raises important issues of time and feel not to mention aspects of intonation and diction. It is hoped that as well as serving to foster a feeling of community amongst the participants, each singer can also take what they learn from this session and apply it to their individual song performances.

The skills session (1530 - 1630) will cover different aspects of the singer's craft. There will be a strong focus on the ‘song’ itself and through analysis we will gain a greater appreciation of the available repertoire. With a greater understanding of the ‘song’ - especially the text - singers can, if they so wish, progress to writing their own lyrics to existing instrumentals. In this session we will also learn where to look for the best songs and how best to prepare them for the rhythm section. This ‘skills’ session is all about becoming more self-sufficient.

The song masterclass and singers corner (1630 - 1730) offers the chance for all singers to take what they have learned from the Ensemble and Skills classes and to apply this to their individual performance. In a ‘Master-class’ situation each singer will work with an expert accompanist (Pete Churchill or Barry Green on piano and/or Guillermo Rozenthuler on guitar) to prepare repertoire for either singers corner (1745 - 1845) or the late night ‘jam-session’ 1200 - 0130 at Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho. It is in this session that we have the opportunity to deal with the practicalities of working with the rhythm-section including count-ins, intros and endings. Also there is a chance here to focus on the text, to talk about believability and how to connect with your material in performance.

There will be also master classes where vocalists will have the opportunity to work with a rhythm section under the guidance of Deborah Brown.
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The Team
Deborah Brown USA voice teaching and performing
Pete Churchill UK voice teaching and performing
Guillermo Rozenthuler Argentina voice teaching and performing
Jean Toussaint USA saxophones teaching and performing
Bruce Barth USA piano teaching and performing
J Rebello UK piano performing
Frank Harrsion UK piano teaching and performing
Kit Downes UK piano performing
Barry Green UK piano teaching and performing
Jim Mullen UK guitar teaching and performing
Arnie Somogyi UK bass teaching and performing
Davide Petrocca Italy bass performing
Stephen Keogh IRL drums teaching and performing
Eddie Hick UK drums teaching and performing
Francesco Petreni Italy percussion & drums teaching and performing
Felix Gibbons UK percussion teaching and performing
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Foyer Events
A full and varied programme of public concerts and events will run during lunch and dinner periods, some of which may be ticketed to the public.
All students attending the workshops will have free entry to these events as well as the main concerts and the late night jam sessions.
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Evening Concerts 
Each night there is will be a main evening concert in Hall One. See the full GMF concert programme here.
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Jam sessions at Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho 
Each night after the main concert we change venue and go to Pizza Express for the late night jam session from midnight - 130am.

Jam sessions provide valuable opportunities to listen and play with other students, with the tutors and other guest and musicians that come along.
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Student Concert 
The course culminates with a public concert in which students and teachers participate. This will be held in Hall Two at Kings Place on Monday 9 April. 
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Who Should Apply
The course is open to all keen musicians aged 17+. There is no upper age limit.
The course is not aimed at complete beginners. You will benefit most if you already have some experience playing with other musicians - the type of group or ensemble doesn't matter.

The Easter Jazz Workshop and Music Festival is designed for singers and instrumentalists eager to expand their musicianship, technique and ensemble skills under the guidance of expert teachers. If you are looking to develop and improve as a musician, enjoy being challenged and exploring new concepts, and are prepared to contribute wholeheartedly, this course is definitely for you.

 However, whilst we have a lot of fun and make new friends, it is nevertheless hard work so don't expect a holiday! If this all sounds too "serious" and you are hoping for a gentle vacation singing, please think twice before applying!
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How to apply and costs

To apply for a place on the workshop course please register on the Global Music Foundation website.
If you have any queries contact GMF on info@globalmusicfoundation.org 

The fee for attending the course is £395.00 GB.
This includes all classes and workshops and entry into all ticketed concerts at Kings Place and to the jam sessions at Pizza Express. The fee does not include travel, accommodation or meals.

Join us for a great musical adventure.