Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) is offering their 6th annual Band Director Academy from July 7-9 and July 14-16. The first session will take place on the campus of Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Ill. and will focus on rhythm section techniques, while the second session will take place at JALC in New York with a focus on teaching improvisation.
The academy is directed by Ron Carter, professor of music and director of Jazz Studies at NIU, and is led by jazz educators from throughout the country. The rhythm session will address the challenges of teaching the rhythm section in a big band setting and will feature individual instrument classes, group pedagogy and discussion. The improvisation session will focus on transcription, listening sessions, choosing repertoire and instructing improvisation in a big band setting.
Tuition is $250 per session; tuition for Essentially Ellington participants and undergrad music education majors is $200 per session. There is an additional $50 discount for those who attend both sessions. Additionally, NIU offers one hour of graduate credit per session to academy participants. More information and registration materials can be found at JALC’s website.
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