NYSMF • New York Summer Music Festival

NYSMF Programs
Jazz & Jazz Studies

Classes • Overview • Visiting Artists • Conductors • Ensembles • Faculty • Presskit

The New York Summer Music Festival is home to the most experienced and established jazz faculty in the Northeast and offers instruction in all areas of performance, technique, history, and improvisation.

NYSMF features performances, visiting guest artists, and an intensive and personal approach to jazz and contemporary music.

More than just an opportunity to study and perform, students interact with teachers, conductors, and artists in daily events that allow them to gain insights into the world of music and improvisation.

Jazz Ensembles for Every Level

Select Jazz	Advanced-level ensemble with weekly performances. It showcases students performing alongside counseling staff, faculty, and guest artists in advanced jazz orchestrations, providing practical experience for students interested in the professional world of jazz performance.
Big Band Jazz	The featured jazz ensemble of the festival. Big Band Jazz highlights student soloists and group interaction. It performs arrangements from the canon of contemporary and traditional jazz repertoire.
Lab Jazz	Open to students interested in developing the skills needed to perform in a jazz ensemble. Lab Jazz includes an introduction to improvisation, ensemble playing, form, and jazz harmony. (All levels)
Jazz Choir	Performing classic jazz repertoire arranged for large vocal groups. Emphasis is on jazz articulation as well as vocal improvisation. (All levels)
Jazz Combos	Featured every session as part of the evening concert series. Jazz Combos are open to intermediate and advanced-level jazz students. All student instrumentalists are encouraged to audition for these groups. Coached by the world-class NYSMF jazz faculty.

Overview: A Complete Jazz Experience

NYSMF provides a comprehensive experience in jazz and contemporary music for students of all levels.

The jazz program at NYSMF is for not only advanced young artists seeking a focus in jazz performance, but also students wishing to experience and learn about jazz for the first time.

Featured events include:

Master classes with legendary jazz performers
One-on-one instruction with world-class jazz faculty members from such institutions as the Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard School, Columbia University, New York University, and Hofstra University
Weekly and biweekly performances with large and small ensembles
Improvisation, jazz history, and repertoire classes
Visiting Artist Performances and Master Classes

NYSMF bass faculty ROBERT SABIN (L) and BRET SIMNER (R) with legendary jazz bassist JOHN PATITUCCI (center)

Visiting Artists Provide Unforgettable Master Classes - for Free!

Some of the most celebrated names in the jazz world highlight this summer’s festival. Students will have the opportunity of a lifetime to perform alongside these living legends of contemporary music, who will hold master classes that provide a nurturing environment for students to receive feedback and inspiration on the art of jazz and improvisation.

The following distinguished guest artists, among others, will be joining our highly acclaimed jazz faculty throughout the summer. Click each name for their incredible bios!

JOHN PATITUCCI
Bass

DICK OATTS
Saxophone

JOHN RILEY
Drums

World-Class Jazz Conductors

NYSMF is home to an exceptional group of some of the nation’s most accomplished jazz educators, composers, and performers. Serving as NYSMF’s resident jazz conductors, they will lead the jazz orchestras and interact daily with students, providing an inspiring one-of-a-kind musical experience.

MIKE
HOLOBER
Jazz

City College of New York

SHERRIE MARICLE
Jazz

New York Pops; Diva Band; New York University; Yamaha Clinician

CHRISTOPHER ROSENBERG
Jazz

Manhattan School of Music & Prep

A Wealth of Jazz Courses

Improvisation

All improvisation classes are taken in conjunction with performing ensembles. These workshop-style classes are open to all students. Topics include jazz theory, instrumental technique, and standard repertoire.

• LEVEL I
An introduction to jazz and improvisation open to all levels of instrumentalists. This class covers the basics of jazz theory, articulation and rhythm, blues form, scales, harmony, and group interaction.

• LEVEL II
Designed for students seeking to further explore jazz improvisation. Topics include modes, ii-V7-I, transposition, and learning jazz repertoire.

• LEVEL III
Jazz theory and instrumental techniques, focusing on advanced-level jazz repertoire and concepts.

Jazz History

A comprehensive course covering jazz’s traditions and its main innovators through the years. Students will survey important recordings and study the innovations of past and present masters of jazz.

Jazz Repertoire Workshop

Focuses on the practical benefits of learning standard jazz repertoire. A realistic, small group setting with students performing alongside faculty in a workshop environment, the class will simulate professional rehearsals and performances.

NYSMF Faculty: Private Jazz Instruction

The most experienced and highly acclaimed summer jazz faculty in the Northeast offers private lessons in all instruments.

Faculty members are associated with such prestigious institutions as Manhattan School of Music, New York Pops, and Columbia University. The Jazz Faculty includes the following (as of Jan 18, 2006):

BASS	ROBERT SABIN *Jazz Bass* Teachers College/ Columbia University; Hunter College High School - Director of Jazz Studies	DRUM SET	GERNOT BERNROIDER Freelance Artist
GUITAR	JESSE LEWIS	PIANO & VOICE	BRENDA EARLE *Jazz Piano & Voice* Manhattan School of Music, Freelance Recording Artist
SAXOPHONE	ALEJANDRO AVILES *Saxophone* Freelance Artist of Latin, Jazz and Afro-Cuban Music	TROMBONE	JOSEPH VERDERESE *Jazz Trombone* Cresskill High School; Manhattan School of Music
	JASON RIGBY Tenor Saxophone Aretha Franklin, Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Fresh Sound Records Artist, Cameron Brown	TRUMPET	NATHAN WARNER Manhattan School of Music Prep
	JON IRABOGON *Saxophon*e

NYSMF Jazz Presskit

Need a professional jazz ensemble for an event? Consider getting the BEST!

The NYSMF Jazz Faculty gives you top-notch musicians with more experience than several barrelfuls of any other group around. For a presskit sheet, click either icon on the right for it in PDF or Word format.

Click here for our NYSMF Jazz Presskit Page!

Classes • Overview • Visiting Artists • Conductors • Ensembles • Faculty • Presskit