The Vermont Jazz Center Offers New Selection of Winter/Spring Classes
The Vermont Jazz Center is welcoming students of all ages to register for classes that will begin the week of February 3rd. The jazz center continues to promote its mission to create and preserve jazz music through the presentation of workshops and classes. This semester’s goal is to develop its educational program by diversifying its student base and stretching its boundaries to include topics related to the language and history of jazz. Along with previously offered ensembles and improvisation classes, the VJC will include two new offerings: Youth Jazz Ensembles and Understanding Rhythm; the jazz center will once again feature Jazz Ear Training.
This semester’s program include new courses offered by Scott Mullett, Jay Cook and Julian Gerstin. Other VJC faculty include Jamie MacDonald, Claire Arenius, Eugene Uman, Draa Hobbs and trumpeter Steve Sonntag.
Scott Mullet will offer a course in Jazz Ear training. Open to vocalists and instrumentalists, participants will engage in interval training, call and response and basic Solfege and chord recognition. Students will enhance their abilities to hear and communicate on their chosen instrument in the jazz idiom. Mullett is an accomplished musician who has toured with, among others, the legendary orchestras of Artie Shaw and Woody Herman. Mullett has served as Musical Director for Royal Caribbean Cruise lines and is now teaching at Keene State College.
Youth Ensemble instructor, Jay Cook is a well known musical figure in the Brattleboro area who, along with teaching at Hilltop Montessori and delivering workshops throughout New England, is a certified music teacher with a B.A. in music. Cook is also certified by Music for People, whose director states: "Jay radiates positivity in all that he does. It is truly a joy to know Jay and to experience his teaching, musicianship and humanitarian skills." Cook will be offering two jazz ensembles for youth of middle school and high school ages.
Percussion instructor, Julian Gerstin brings to the jazz center a rich knowledge of the traditional music of Cuba, Martinique and Ghana. A Ph.D in Musicology, Gerstin will offer a class entitled “Understanding Rhythm.” Students of all instruments that attend this class will develop their sense of rhythm, learn grooves characteristic from the Carribean and Africa, play rhythmical games and gain an analytical and practical mastery of rhythm that will enhance their comfort level of using rhythm in improvising.
Other classes offered at the jazz center include Intergenerational Ensembles, Applied Jazz Theory and private lessons.
Please contact VJC administrative coordinator Beth Kiendl to register. She can be reached at 802 254 9088 or
beth@vtjazz.org.
Linear Mode
