Combo Levels--GJCW

During the registration process, workshop registrants will choose a Day/Time for one of the following specific combo levels:

Beginner/Advancing Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced

Read the combo level descriptions below
Look at the audition directions and music for each level, linked below:
Keep these ideas in mind:
- The workshop focuses on improvisation, so choose the combo level that best fits your current level of comfort and expertise with jazz improvisation rather than how well you can read or play printed music.
- The jazz songs we select get more challenging at each level, as in more chords per measure, more complex chord progressions, faster tempos, and more intricate melodies. Each of these factors also increases the challenge of improvising.
- Choose the level that will allow you to succeed without undue stress as well as grow as an improviser. But remember that you will be learning as a group with other combo members.
- While experience playing in school big bands is helpful, improvising fluently in smaller jazz combos requires a deeper understanding of jazz theory and experience taking solos on multiple tunes.

Mr. Chapin’s and Mr. Rivera’s Saturday Afternoon Combo in 2019.

Our combos for beginners and advancing beginners are best for players who…

Know all the notes on their instrument
Are new to improvising or have a bit of experience playing in school band or a workshop like this
Have some or no training in jazz music theory
Pianists, vibists, and guitarists should be familiar with some chords
Bassists should know the notes in the basic positions on the bass
Drummers should be able to keep steady time and have some experience playing a swing rhythm on drum set
Vocalists should be able to sing an octave range, sing on pitch and to read notes

Mr. Rarick’s and Mr. Nielsen’s Sunday Evening Combo in 2019

Our combos for intermediate players are best for anyone who…

Has played in school jazz bands
Can improvise over the blues with the blues scale
Is working on “playing the changes”—hitting chord tones and using the correct scale for each chord while improvising
Has developed at least a beginning understanding of jazz music theory and chord progressions like the ii-V-I
Pianists, vibists, and guitarists should have a beginning knowledge of jazz chord voicings and comping rhythms
Bassists should have beginning knowledge of how to walk a bass line
Drummers should be able to keep steady time and be able to play swing and latin drum beats
Vocalists should be able to sing a jazz tune and have a beginning knowledge of how to improvise (scat)

Mr. Barclay’s Monday Afternoon Combo in 2019

Advanced players…

Have multiple years of experience improvising (have taken multiple solos) over tunes in jazz band or while playing in jazz combos
Are comfortable improvising over ii-V-I’s and other chord progressions in multiple keys, able to target and lead into chord tones
Are comfortable playing and soloing at tempos 150 bpm and higher
Can play swing, Latin, and jazz waltz tunes with a good sense of time and feel
Pianists, vibists, and guitarists should have a through knowledge of jazz chord voicings and comping rhythms
Bassists should be able create walking and latin bass lines at faster tempos
Drummers should be able to play a variety of jazz beats at various tempos and volumes, while keeping solid time
Vocalists should be able to sing a variety jazz tunes and have experience scatting