Belair Instrumental Courses 2012

Barry Green piano, Tristan Mailliot drums. Vocal course:

Brigitte Beraha, Anita Wardell

Course Outline

The course welcomes all woodwind and brass players , guitarists, pianists, bass players (electric or double) and drummers with some jazz experience who want to develop and improve their improvisation,and performance skills.

The emphasis of the course is very practical, so be prepared for lots of playing! 

Tristan Mailliot is the course director, dealing with overall organisation as well as teaching drums and leading rhythm workshops.

Classes are a mix of instrumental workshops and ensemble classes focusing on different types of jazz repertoire .We will be covering blues forms, jazz standards and more contemporary material ie. music by Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter , John Scofield, Pat Metheny etc.

Everyone has the the opportunity to prepare pieces of their choice in trios and quartets for the evening concert which is followed by an extended jam session. There will also be a woodwind and brass ensemble directed by Gareth Lochrane. We encourage everyone to stretch their musical boundaries and have fun both on and off the bandstand.

Study topics

• Brass Woodwind: Scales, modes, improvisation, repertoire.
• Piano: Chord/scale relationships, chord voicings and extensions, vocabulary, technique.
• Bass: Chord/scale relationships, developing walking bass lines, vocabulary and soloing.
• Drums: Straight eighths and triplet based time feels, stickings, soloing and phrasing, brushwork, metric modulation, Latin .
• Guitar: chord shapes, scales. Repertoire and styles.

Daily schedule

• 8.30am: Breakfast.
• 10.00 to 11.15am: Instrument specific workshop.
• 11.30-1.00pm: Participants divide into groups and work with tutors.
• 1.00pm: Lunch.
• 2.00 to 3.20pm: Further group coaching exploring different repertoire or masterclass.
• 3.30 to 4.30pm Song prep class with vocalists.
• 4.30 to 7.30pm: Free time for recreation or rehearsals. Ensembles can use allocated rehearsal time to prepare for the evening concerts.
• 7.30pm:Dinner.
• 9.00pm onwards: The evening concludes with a concert followed by a jam session lasting into the night.