Julian Joseph and Gwilym Simcock for Yamaha jazz education scheme
Monday, December 1, 2008
Yamaha have launched a wide-ranging new jazz education initiative, The Jazz Experience, involving teacher-training, school activities and live events with major input from Julian Joseph, Gwilym Simcock, Tim Garland and jazz educator Richard Michael.
The scheme is aimed at secondary school classroom and instrumental teachers and is designed to give them the skills to encourage and teach pupils to learn improvisation and help showcase the best of this emerging talent at festivals and venues including the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s and the 606 club. A series of regional one day improvisation work shops will be led by Joseph, Simcock, Garland and Michael with contributions form Peter Ind while additional name players will be announced for subsequent training and master classes. Yamaha’s Bill Martin says: “Our goal with the Jazz Experience is to inspire teachers and young musicians alike. Our workshop programme, hosted by world-class working jazz stars, will provide a unique opportunity for teachers with little or no experience of jazz and improvisation to learn much more in a highly creative environment. With a consensus in UK music education that we need to empower young people's personal creativity, I can't think think of a better or more exciting way to do this that by helping them develop improvising skills! ” Applications from interested music teachers from across the UK are now invited by Yamaha at www.yamahaeducation.co.uk and applicants must register by 31 January 2009 at the latest