horn player john clark's improvisation class with the vermont jazz center

NEW! The Language of Improv: From Listening to Creating

Day & Time: Thursdays, 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Start Date: September 19, 2024
Instructor(s): John Clark
Location: Vermont Jazz Center
Tuition: $250

The aim of this workshop is to enable people to get in touch with the music that’s inside them. We’ll accomplish this by demonstrating examples and encouraging people to express themselves using creative prompts. We will explore different ways to structure improvisation by listening to and analyzing the language of improvisation as demonstrated in various musical styles, although the fundamental orientation will arise from the jazz tradition. We will record audio and/or video of all our sessions so we can evaluate our progress.

This class welcomes people from a range of backgrounds, ages, instruments, and styles. Participants need to be moderately proficient on at least one instrument. Guided, intensive listening will be a major element of the class, which will lead to discussion and improvisational forays.

Overall goals will be to engage in intensive listening and analysis, compose and improvise over our compositions and present a concert.