Jazz small groups, often known as “jazz combos” include a drummer, a bass player, some combination of piano and guitar, and one or more other instrumentalists and vocalists.
Playing in a combo is an important window into the world of jazz, as it combines both the discipline of playing structured elements and the adventure of improvisation. So it’s an ideal starting point for student instrumentalists (and vocalists) to have fun starting to explore jazz.
The classes involve some listening and some teaching, but primarily learning through playing. We play, we experiment, we learn new things, we play again!
Performing: We plan to have the small groups perform at a variety of venues. They will perform at one of the Jazz Underground monthly events, a couple of festivals (last year we did Artisphere and the Mauldin Jazz and Blues Fest), and a couple of concerts.
Recording: Through a Greenville Jazz Collective partnership with Rise-Up GVL recording studio, we will provide a couple of opportunities to record in a professional studio.
Jamming: An important part of Small Group jazz is improvisation. You’ll play in a combo together, learning to listen to the other combo members and building upon their creations as you create yourself. You’ll become more confident in expressing yourself with your instrument…and you’ll have a blast doing so!
Learning: Each year, we have a masterclass led by an international jazz great (last year was master drummer Herlin Riley!). We also will periodically bring in local guest artists to provide hands-on specialized instruction (for example Cuban jazz virtuoso Iliana Rose). But most importantly, we have a teaching team…each of whom is a working jazz professional with significant classroom experience…who will be there every week.
If your school music program currently offers jazz, it will supplement the learning you’re getting from your band director. It will help you be more confident playing jazz at school, and you might even be able to share some of what you learned with your classmates!
Whether or not your school music program offers jazz, the experience will help you in your concert/symphonic band as well. In Small Group, you’re typically the only one on your part! So you become a more confident player. As you learn improvisation, you develop a deeper understanding of music theory…giving you a better understanding of the music your band director is having you play. Your band director will be surprised at your growth!
And looking past high school, alumni of our Greenville Jazz Collective education programs have gone on to win national student awards from Downbeat magazine, attend top music schools (like Juilliard), and even go onto professional careers. And even those who don’t go onto play professionally can listen to music in a way that most people never have the chance to (plus they understand the musician jokes on-stage!).
We accept all high school and middle school students (vocalists and instrumentalists) who have at least one year of instruction on their instrument. Students from Greenville County and beyond are invited to participate!
The program runs from November through April, and meets most Mondays from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. The first rehearsal will be on November 3rd, with a parent + student meeting from 7:45pm (mandatory that at least one parent per family attends). A program calendar will be provided at that meeting and updated.
They will also be held on November 3rd to place performers in combos that match their skill level. Students should bring 2 copies of a lead sheet or sheet music of a jazz standard that you can play/sing alone (or with piano/guitar accompaniment which we can provide). If you have improvisation experience and are comfortable doing so, plan to play the melody on the first chorus, and to improvise on the second.
Most sessions will take place at Eastside Presbyterian Church at 830 Garlington Rd., Greenville, with select sessions at Rise-up GVL Recording studio. Concert locations and dates will be provided as they are finalized.
Tuition is $400 for the entire program, payable by the end of November. Please let Music Director Shannon Hoover know at the parent + student meeting if there is a special situation that might require flexibility in timing or amount.
To each rehearsal please bring your instrument and case, a music stand, all assigned music, a pencil, any necessary amplifiers, a folder to hold YJE music and assignments, and a cooperative, respectful attitude.
