ensembles

The ensemble is the heart of what we do at Jazz School UK - monthly playing sessions in streamed groups learning a set repertoire, with expert guidance from some of the finest players and teachers around.
The regular meetings and carefully graded repertoire ensure steady and consolidated progress for players of all abilities and experience, from beginning improvisers right through to aspiring professionals.
Knowing the tunes in advance - exploring new improvising skills and coming back to them repeatedly to consolidate knowledge - establishing musical relationships in a regular group - all these things give purpose and meaning to your practice between each meeting. Improvement is unavoidable!
This season we have three great features incorporated as standard for all students - a separate Performance Day, Zoom theory sessions to prepare the repertoire, and individual reports and feedback. We think it's our best offering yet!

These are our ensembles for the 2023-2024 season:

aragorn LEVEL 3-4 REPERTOIRE B
DATES Oct 7 Nov 4 Dec 2 Jan 6 Feb 3 March 2 April 6 May 4 June 1

merry LEVEL 3-4 REPERTOIRE B
DATES Oct 7 Nov 4 Dec 2 Jan 6 Feb 3 March 2 April 6 May 4 June 1

pippin LEVEL 3-4 REPERTOIRE B
DATES Oct 7 Nov 4 Dec 2 Jan 6 Feb 3 March 2 April 6 May 4 June 1

gondor LEVEL 2-3 REPERTOIRE A
DATES Oct 8 Nov 5 Dec 3 Jan 7 Feb 4 March 3 April 7 May 5 June 2

jazz song ensemble LEVEL 2-4 REPERTOIRE D
DATES Oct 8 Nov 5 Dec 3 Jan 7 Feb 4 March 3 April 7 May 5 June 2

pathway LEVEL 3-4 REPERTOIRE C
DATES Oct 14 Nov 11 Dec 9 Jan 13 Feb 10 March 9 April 13 May 11 June 8

sauron LEVEL 2-3 REPERTOIRE A
DATES Oct 14 Nov 11 Dec 9 Jan 13 Feb 10 March 9 April 13 May 11 June 8

baggins LEVEL 2-3 REPERTOIRE A
DATES Oct 15 Nov 12 Dec 10 Jan 14 Feb 11 March 10 April 14 May 12 June 9

legolas LEVEL 2-3 REPERTOIRE A
DATES Oct 15 Nov 12 Dec 10 Jan 14 Feb 11 March 10 April 14 May 12 June 9

morgoth LEVEL 3-4 REPERTOIRE B
DATES Oct 15 Nov 12 Dec 10 Jan 14 Feb 11 March 10 April 14 May 12 June 9

The live schedule for the Theory Preparation Zooms for the New Year, Spring and Summer workshops is here. The sessions will also be available as recordings.

ensemble repertoire

REPERTOIRE A: Little B’s Poem - Lady Bird - East of The Sun -Triste -One For Amos - Time On My Hands- Whisper Not - I Remember You - Willow Weep For Me - Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers - Silver’s Serenade - Anthropology

REPERTOIRE B: Question & Answer - There Is No Greater Love - Jeannine - Keep Me In Mind - Along Came Betty - Smatter - Song For Bilbao - You’re My Everything - Lemon Drop - The Dolphin - Fee Fi Fo Fum - Soon

REPERTOIRE C (Eastern Rebellion): Bolivia - Naima - 5/4 Thing - Bittersweet - Mode For Joe

REPERTOIRE D (Jazz Song): Prelude To A Kiss - Falling Grace - I Mean You - Everybody's Song But My Own - The Masquerade Is Over Man That Was A Dream - The Peacocks - Whisper Not - For Jan - On A Clear Day - Ask Me Now - No More Blues + Guest Singer Repertoire

playing LEVELS

We stream our ensembles (to ensure maximum player compatability and progress) across these playing levels:

LEVEL 1 (beginner/improver)

LEVEL 2 (improver/intermediate)

LEVEL 3 (intermediate/intermediate +)

LEVEL 4 (intermediate +/advanced)

Here is a guide to some specific jazz skills for each of our levels. I emphasise that these are (very useful) reference points for us all (students and teachers) rather than exact syllabuses for each ensemble - we find that compatible players often do not share the same areas of expertise, or indeed unknowing...

ensemble options

Our ensemble system has proved to be marvellously effective for hundreds of students - it's a great way of bringing focus and direction to your jazz studies!
Our tutors are expert at finding theory points, ensemble skills, development exercises, and instrumental pointers that are important for everyone in the room. But sometimes this isn't quite enough - many students want (and require) a more personalised programme - and for this reason we offer different ENSEMBLE OPTIONS, as follows:

Ensemble (Season Fee £830)
9 meetings October-June ( with Theory Preparation Zooms + written tutor report and feedback)

Ensemble+ (Season Fee £1030)
As Ensemble but with 4 hours of individual lessons to address issues arising. (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!)

Pathway (Season Fee £2060)
As well as their monthly ensemble, students also attend a Pathway Day - this is still a playing day but is based on designated transcription and artist projects - this season we are learning the great album Eastern Rebellion. The programme includes 2 written reports and feedback Zooms, and 8 hours of individual lessons to address issues arising.

Jazz Song Ensemble (Season Fees: Instrumentalists - 9 sessions + report/feedback - £770. Guest singers - 3 sessions + report/feedback £300).
This ensemble, led by Andra Sparks and guest tutors, comprises 4 sessions exploring Repertoire D with Andra singing, 4 sessions working on repertoire brought in by student singers and 1 Performance Day.

Various payment options (standing order, instalment or full payment) always available. Catch-up days and/or swaps for missed sessions arranged whenever possible.

Please read the guide to playing levels to get an idea of which repertoire set would be most suitable for your jazz ability and experience, and then go ahead and register your interest with this form. We look forward to working with you...