Jazz and Popular Studies Program
The Jazz Studies program is based on the African American jazz idiom as a language for learning but embraces a wide selection of musical styles which includes jazz, world music, free, electronic, popular, Latin, blues and hip-hop to name but a few styles. The philosophy of the course is to offer a strong technical and musical foundation that allows the student to develop a personal 'voice' which is a result of their broad musical education and an awareness of their social and cultural being.
Within the Music degree, students are also offered classes in ear training, improvisation materials, theory, instrument specific workshops, performance workshop, stage band, world music ensemble and small ensembles. The course provides students with the opportunity to enrol in "American Music and Popular Culture", training in Latin percussion instruments and gamelan. These classes form part of the general performance course, which are in conjunction with units in musicology, ethnomusicology and composition subjects. Performance is an important part of the course and so ensembles perform regularly at Dizzies Jazz Club, Bennetts Lane, Federation Square and BMW Edge.
For audition information click here .
Criteria for audition: • Improvisation skills • Comping (piano/guitar) • Technical facility/accuracy • Quality of tone • Intonation • Note choice (in harmonic context) • Control of tempo • Control of rhythm • Sense of musical form/development • Interaction with the ensemble • Dynamics • Musicality
The program offers weekly master classes in designated instruments, concert practice and individual lessons with some of the leading performers/teachers in Australia. They include:
Jazz and Popular Studies Staff
- Robert Burke, Lecturer, Co-ordinator of Jazz/Popular Studies
Sessional Staff
Bass
- Rodrigo Aravina
- Frank DiSario
- Evripides Evripidou
- Ben Robertson
- Simon Starr
Drums/Percussion
- Dave Beck
- Tony Floyd
- Michael Kontochristos
- Doug deVries
- Stephen Magnusson
Piano
- Tony Gould
- Sam Keevers
- Andrea Keller
- Steve Sedergreen
Saxophone
- Robert Burke (Coordinator)
- Jamie Oehlers
- Dr Andy Sugg
- Julien Wilson
Tabla/Sitar
- Sam Evans
- Gudaz Khalil
Trombone
- Jordan Murray
- Adrian Sherriff
Trumpet
- Eugene Ball
- Scott Tinkler
Voice
- Michelle Nicole
- Alison Wedding
- Julie O'hara
- Emma Gilmartin
As part of the jazz studies
there are workshops given by Australian and overseas artist(s). These
include:
Dave Liebman, Mark Murphy, Jim Black, Greg Osby
(Feb 2006), Mirko Geurrini, James Black, Kate Ceberano (Oct 2006
& Mar 2007)