International Jazz Workshop Europe
Saarwellingen, Germany, 30 July–04 August 2011
Every GMF workshop features outstanding musicians who are also great communicators. Under their guidance, participants gain valuable insights and playing experience, rehearsing together towards a concert. There are classes in the various musical disciplines such as instrumental technique, harmony, ensemble playing and improvisation, and, as well as teaching individually and in groups, the tutors give performances themselves.
Morning workshops
At the beginning of each day, students on all the courses come together to participate in a unique sequence of activities which collectively stimulate self-awareness and enhance creativity.
Pulse Training - by Stephen Keogh
Pulse lies at the heart of music, and developing one’s own inner pulse is the goal of these sessions. The work fosters awareness – of the pulse, of silence, of the other members of the group. This workshop is hugely beneficial to musicians of every kind.
Vocal and Body - Guillermo Rozenthuler
The workshop explores the use of energy and the voice, and fine tuning body and mind coordination within a musical context. Using song material from all around the world we work at enhancing the quality of our listening skills and the sounds we produce.
Samba - Francesco Pertreni, Percussion and Guillermo Rozenthuler, Voice
A group workshop in which we train and learn the various different calls and rhythms, under the guidance of Francesco Petreni. The singers will learn some of the traditional songs as performed at the carnivals of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo. On the last day of the course there will be an open air public performance during which we will bring the joy and the spirit of carnival to Saarwellingen. Every night at the jam sessions there will be opportunities to play Samba Cançao in a small group setting.
Ear Training - Garrison Fewell
Ear Training is a process of developing the skills to recognize melody, rhythm and harmony. For all musicians, the inner ear is the most important instrument. To be able to hear a melody with your mind's ear and imagine how it sounds with a certain chord, to be able to apply different rhythmic and metric patterns to melody and bass lines, to hear musical form and harmonic progressions - these are essential aspects of a a musician's life as a composer or performer.
In ear training, we work on developing the connection between the inner ear and the instrument, between sound and how it is notated, between notation and how it sounds. The voice is an expression of the inner musical spirit and singing is the most direct way to hear and play better, and to interact more creatively with other musicians. When teaching ear training, musicians are encouraged to develop confidence in their ears, to decipher the sound of music and to use that confidence to be a better musician... or simply to be a better listener.
Provisional Timetable
Saturday
Arrive and register
2000 Opening concert Altes Rathaus
2200 Jam session
Sun, Mon, Tues
Workshop for whole student group:
0930 Pulse/vocal
1030 Samba percussion
1115 Coffee
Instrumental tuition:
1130 Instrumental
1300 Lunch
1430 Instrumental or workshop
1530 Instrumental lessons
1630 Ensemble
1745 Finish
1815 Dinner break
2000 Concert
2200 Jam session
Wednesday
Workshop for whole student group:
0930 Pulse/vocal
1030 Samba percussion
1115 Coffee
Instrumental tuition:
1130 Instrumental
1300 Lunch
1430 Instrumental
1515 Finish
1530 Instrumental lessons
1630 Ensemble
1800 Finish
1830 Special event
2000 Concert
2130 Jam session
2330 Finish
Thursday
Workshop for whole student group:
0930 Pulse/vocal
1030 Samba
1115 Coffee
Instrumental tuition:
1130 Instrumental
1300 Lunch
1430 Instrumental
1515 Finish
1530 Instrumental lessons
1545 Ensemble
1715 Finish
1830 Final concert - student ensembles
Disclaimer: Global Music Foundation exists solely to promote understanding of music and the arts. Any personal views which may be expressed by individual tutors or students at GMF events do not necessarily represent those of the Global Music Foundation or its directors.