JZ School Turns One

Shanghai's Jazz school celebrates its first birthday - By Morgan Short, Oct 19, 07



The JZ School, Shanghai's only facility dedicated specifically to Jazz instruction, is celebrating its one year anniversary this Saturday. With a teaching staff comprised of many locally-based (and a few internationally acclaimed) Jazz musicians -- including Coco Zhao, Steve Sweeting, Lawrence Ku, JQ Whitcomb and Alec Haavik ¨C the school offers a wide range of classes, covering the gamut of Jazz composition and performance. Students of all ages and skill levels can participate in single or group lessons with the added incentive that possible performances might take place in the future for the students that stick with it. SmartShanghai caught up with Ben Denton, the JZ School's Education Director to find more about their first year.

What were the highlights for the JZ School in its first year?


Definitely the student concerts. So far there have been three, notably, Steve Sweeting's Jazz Voice Students performance held at No.D Gallery; it was really inspiring. Also the Junior Jazz Ensemble. It was great to see young musicians with such talent and hear a student's father say he had rarely seen his son so happy. The next Student Concert will be on Saturday, December 15 at JZ Club at 3pm. It will feature four ensembles: Junior Jazz, Senior Jazz, Rock/Blues and a Local Young Musicians Ensemble (of course the ensemble groups will have named themselves more creativity by the time of the performance).
When we last talked when the school opened, you mentioned that the school could serve a role in influencing and educating young local musicians towards Jazz. Can you comment on this, now looking back over the year? Did you find students being turned on to Jazz?


Most who take up jazz are usually already pretty proficient players, jazz offers the promise of improvisation, the chance for musicians to utilize their technical skills and really express themselves. I think this is attractive to most musicians, young or old. There are a lot of local young musicians interested in Jazz music as many have a sound technical base, but wish to become more expressive.

Any milestone changes over the year in terms of classes offered or new teachers?


We decided to focus on the real strength of the school - music, thus we moved away from language training, and reluctantly, also from calligraphy. We did not have the resources to promote the great teacher and his courses properly along with everything else and felt that we should really focus on one thing and try to do that well.

Since we spoke over a year ago, Nicola Fader, our Early Learning Academic Manager joined the team. She has devised a unique music foundation program for children, "Melody", which is quite successful. Also, over the summer we ran a couple of Kids Musical Theatre Camps and now have an ongoing Musical Theatre Program. I believe it is the first in Shanghai. The current Musical Theatre Program, "Aladdin," has a star teacher - Actress/Singer Marsha Yuan. At how many other schools could you end up with a celebrity as your teacher?

What's in store for the JZ School? Any big plans for year two?


We plan to recruit more local students and fulfill our ambition to help build a real music community in Shanghai. When able, we'd like to offer scholarships to young local talent.

We plan to continue what we have been doing, but do it better and whenever possible make music learning, whether it be for fun or for assisting professional aspirations, accessible to as many people as possible.

***

To commemorate their one year anniversary, the JZ School is opening its doors to the public for free classes. The free courses are: Jazz Piano (12:30), Jazz Vocals (1:30), Jazz Improv (2:30), Latin Percusion (3:30) and Jazz Appreciation (4:30). Space is limited, so you must RSVP to attend (021-5403-6475). For more information about their regular class offerings and schedules, contact the school directly. The JZ School is located at #6-270 Wu Yuan Road, in the heart of the old French Concession and just down the road from the JZ Club.

Also, for Jazz fans perfectly willing to restrict their Jazz appreciation to audience interaction, the Shanghai Social Series event JZ Fusion 2 will be taking place at the JZ Club next Wednesday. Many of the JZ School instructors, including the aforementioned, will be performing in a packed line-up of local Jazz acts.


Please sign in or register to comment
 
  • From Chimps to Pandas: Jane Goodall's Journey to China
  • Ladislav Hudec: A Questing Life
  • Shanghai Staycations: Your Next Holiday is Only a Taxi Ride Away



shanghai.talkmagazines.cn
 
 


SmartShanghai presents:
Hassle free ticket purchasing and delivery for Shanghai's cultural and concert events.
More of SmartTicket here »

Hot selling:

October 19

Camerata Salzburg

World class chamber music in Shanghai: Founded in 1952, Camerata Salzburg is the permier chamber orchestra ensemble from Salzburg, Austria.

Details & prices »

Daily 7.30pm

ERA

Multi-million dollar show, "ERA: The Intersection of Time," is Shanghai's most popular acrobatic performance featuring aerial walking, bowl balancing and flying trapeze.

Details & prices »