Audition Preparation Short Courses 2023

2023 Jazz and Improvisation Audition Preparation Short Course

For Jazz and Improvisation students

Presented by the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance

Registration

Click HERE to register.

Date: 10 September 2023 at 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Venue: Performing Arts Centre, Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance, Building 68, 55 Scenic Blvd, Clayton Campus

About the course

The 2023 Jazz and Improvisation Audition Preparation Short Course is a one-day course for jazz instrumentalists and vocalists. This course will focus on the performance and ensemble skills and knowledge required to audition for the Bachelor of Music (BMus) at Monash, and also broaden your understanding of some of the expectations and teaching approaches in the Jazz and Improvisation Music specialisation. We encourage both mature-age students and students currently studying years 10-12 to apply.

The following topics will be covered in the short course:

• How to prepare for your audition
  • A guide to the audition process (performance, repertoire, aural test, interview)
  • What to practice
• Course overview
• Theory & ear training techniques
• Ensemble workshops
• Performance workshop

Equipment provided

• Drum kit
• Guitar and bass amps
• Pianos
• Vocal P.A (and microphones if needed)
• Music stands

What students need to bring

• Their instruments (guitars, bass etc)
• In addition:
  • Guitarist/bass - leads
  • Drummers - sticks, cymbals and hi hat clutch

The team

Paul Williamson is the convenor of Jazz and Improvisation and a senior lecturer at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance, Monash University. Williamson has established a distinguished reputation as a trumpeter composer producing distinctive recordings of outstanding ensemble performances. As a leader, he’s released thirteen CDs, and has performed extensively internationally and nationally with jazz greats including Carla Bley, Charlie Haden, Eddie Palmieri, Linda Oh, Bill Carothers, Dave Liebman, Paul Wertico, Tomasz Stańko, Kenny Werner, John Abercrombie, Hermeto Pascoal, Aaron Goldberg, Django Bates, Vijay Iyer, Mike Nock, Tony Gould, Nasheet Waits and Mark Helias. https://paulwilliamson.bandcamp.com/

Robert Burke (Associate Professor) is an Australian improvising musician and composer. Rob has produced 17 CDs under his own name and composed/performed on over 300 CDs with leading international artists such as Hermeto Pascoal (Brazil), George Lewis (USA), Kris Davis (USA), Ben Monder (USA), Enrico Rava (Italy), Kenny Werner (USA), Paul Grabowsky (Aus) amongst others. His research focuses on jazz and improvisational processes investigating the phenomenology of musical interaction, experimentation, identity, agency and gender studies.

Angela Davis is a lecturer at Monash University and an Aria nominated saxophonist and composer currently based in Melbourne. She holds a Masters of Music from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and during her time overseas recorded two critically acclaimed albums as a leader – ‘The Art Of The Melody’ and ‘Lady Luck’. Her two latest albums ‘Little Did They Know’ and ‘Suite for Max’ were released on the ABC Jazz Label. Davis has appeared with numerous jazz luminaries including Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Vince Jones, James Morrison, Patti Austin, Linda Oh, Andrea Keller and Sandy Evans.

What is Jazz and Improvisation at Monash?

The Jazz and Improvisation program is based on the African American jazz idiom as a language for learning. While the focus remains on music in Australia, it also embraces a wide selection of musical styles including jazz, world music, Brazilian, Indian, free, electronic, popular, Latin and blues to name but a few styles. We attract the highest calibre of teaching staff and offer a variety of performance, composition and research opportunities.

The philosophy of the course is to offer a strong technical and musical foundation that allows the student to develop a strong musical identity which is a result of their broad musical education and an awareness of their social and cultural being.

Academically, there is a focus on learning research skills in performance (practice-based/artistic research), as well as musicology and ethnomusicology, which can lead to further study in the graduate research area.

Students can partake in classes in jazz arranging/composition, ear training, improvisation materials, Indian rhythms, Brazilian music, composition, performance workshops, big bands, world music ensembles, and small ensembles. There are also unique opportunities for students to perform, learn and be mentored from seminal musicians such as Carla Bley, Joe Lovano, Terri Lyne Carrington, Charles Lloyd, Linda Oh, Branford Marsalis, Kris Davis, Dave Douglas, Kristin Berardi and Paul Grabowsky.

What is music at Monash?

The Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance is a thriving hub of diverse musical and theatre practices in performance, composition, research, teaching and industry engagement. We are home to an exciting community of undergraduate, postgraduate and professional musicians, performers, and researchers working across classical, electronic, experimental, jazz, interdisciplinary, popular music and critical performance studies.

Collaboration, creativity, excellence, inclusivity, diversity and community are at the heart of what we do. Our students are innovative, forward-looking and internationally informed, and celebrate Australian performing arts and its place in the world.

Registration

Click HERE to register.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Please view the information here before you come to campus.