NGW / Jazz... I'm diving in head-first!

[Pete2]

Hoooo boy.... Well, I just signed myself up for my first ever National Guitar Workshop, to learn about jazz guitar, something that I know next to nothing about. :eek:

I figured that the best way to get in the pool is to dive in head first...so what the heck! And I'm pretty excited... Anyone else going? Anybody have any experience with jazz instruction at NGW?

I applied for the CT campus August 9-15, the same week as the Jazz Summit, but I signed up for the Major/Minor for Jazz 1, since I have zero experience playing jazz. Should be fun! :)

Pete

[artandink]

Hey Pete,

I took a Jazz 2 major two years ago. It wasn't that advanced. I suggest you "audition" before the instructor to ascertain your level.

Are you commuting or staying in New Milford? Either way, you'll have a lot of fun.

I'm signed up for the Blues Summit again. It's the week before.

Art

[Pete2]

Hey Art, how do I audition-- is that done on the first day? I wasn't sure what level to sign up for. I've been playing guitar for 15 years, but know nothing about jazz and I'm weak with theory. But I've had years of piano lessons pre-guitar, so I know some music theory in general... just not specific to guitar.

I'm going to commute-- I only live maybe 45 minutes away, tops, which is shorter than my commute to work everyday!

Pete

[artandink]

Originally posted by Pete2
Hey Art, how do I audition-- is that done on the first day? I wasn't sure what level to sign up for. I've been playing guitar for 15 years, but know nothing about jazz and I'm weak with theory. But I've had years of piano lessons pre-guitar, so I know some music theory in general... just not specific to guitar.

I'm going to commute-- I only live maybe 45 minutes away, tops, which is shorter than my commute to work everyday!

Pete

On Sunday, after orientation, you meet with your major instructor for a brief assessment. It doesn't take them long to see if your in the right level. Jazz 1 is very basic. It might be worth it to pick up a beginning Jazz book to get some background. Go to the NGW site and look for the bookstore. I believe Jodi Fisher has a video and book on beginning Jazz.

[AlexT]

This is my third year (I signed up for Jazz 3 for the second week July).

Last year I signed up for Jazz 2, but was moved up to Jazz 3 at the "audition" - my test was to play a melodic minor scale and a few voicings of C13.

Time well spent and a lot of fun.

Alex

[Pete2]

Originally posted by artandink
Go to the NGW site and look for the bookstore. I believe Jodi Fisher has a video and book on beginning Jazz.

Thanks for the lead... I just ordered it. You can actually get the book and DVD packaged together for $23 from Elderly Instruments.

Pete

[Joe]

The more theory you have under your belt when you arrive the better. People who are bogged down and do not understand the modes, etc... get lost and frustrated quick. In one week they have to cover a lot of ground, so the better your footing the more you get out of it. My roommie was hopeless by the second day and started skipping classes since he was clueless by mid-week.

[Jamnad]

Hey Pete,
Im awaiting my registration papers for the maj/min classes the week of the jazz summit also. Sounds really interesting, Im looking forward to playing that style of music in a band situation with instructors. Im pretty exited myself I cant wait. Maybe Ill run into you there.

[Pete2]

Hey Jamnad, cool, man. Have you played jazz before? Which major did you sign up for?

Pete

[Jamnad]

I didnt get my registration papers yet so Im not sure, they said ill have everything by Tuesday.
Ive played Jazz( Real Book etc.) with other musicians, but have not been formally trained in jazz, Im looking forward to this workshop. Ill let you know what major and minors when I have registered. Talk to you soon

[joejazzguitar]

I'm a four-year vet of the blues and jazz programs at NGW....while none of the teachers are slouches, see if you can get to study with Barry Greene or Peter Einhorn (if he's still there). Both are excellent players and - more importantly - excellent communicators. You could also not go wrong in one of Jody's classes.

By far, my favorite teacher/player is James Hogan; he's got the whole pop/jazz thing nailed! If you can't get into one of his classes, make sure to catch him at the faculty concert.

If you like blues at all, Matt Smith is a phenomenal player and teacher, and he has a great sense of humor; his classes are a lot of fun.

have a blast,
joe bivona

[matte]

I taught the most advanced Rock classes @ NSGW back in "86.

[Tom Gross]

I've been to NGW 4 times - Blues, Blues summit twicw, and Jazz.
The teachers are incredible, and had some amazing experiences learning from & just digging some incredible instructors, and meeting a ton of great players.

[joejazzguitar]

Tom's got a real good point; even if you are in commuting distance to the NEw Milford campus, you also learn a great deal by playing with people off hours in the dorms and after-hours jams.

Don't plan on getting too much sleep; I figure that during my frst week up there, I MAYBE got 25 hours sleep all week. By Wednesday, your body is running on caffeine, nerves and adrenaline....

Make sure that you take a mini-disc recorder and tape your lessons and the concerts......

joe

[jzucker]

Originally posted by joejazzguitar
Tom's got a real good point; even if you are in commuting distance to the NEw Milford campus, you also learn a great deal by playing with people off hours in the dorms and after-hours jams.

Kind of off topic but I was just explaining to my son today that when I was a jazz guitar major at the UofM, I learned more jamming with folks off-hours then I did at school. Surrounding yourself with other eager and hungry to learn players is one of the best ways you can learn.

[Jamnad]

Hey Pete,
Sorry for the delay, but im all signed up now. Im taking Jazz2 for a major, scales and modes and playing in a jazz band as minors. Im staying off campus as the dorms dont have a/c or private bathrooms, I just hope the eye of the tiger thing doesnt apply to guitar workshops. I am trying to find a small amp to bring. Im really looking forward to this week.

[Tom Gross]

Originally posted by jzucker
Kind of off topic but I was just explaining to my son today that when I was a jazz guitar major at the UofM, I learned more jamming with folks off-hours then I did at school. Surrounding yourself with other eager and hungry to learn players is one of the best ways you can learn.

When were you at Miami?
I started there in 73. I wasn't in the music school, but I did jam with a lot of the "kids" that were around. - like Steve Morse, andy west, Hiram Bullock, Will Lee, etc.

(I figure I can name drop cause I'm not famous & I don't know anybody)

[Joe]

Originally posted by Jamnad
Im staying off campus as the dorms dont have a/c or private bathrooms,

Neither did the dorms I lived in for four years at college.

You are going to miss out on the bonding the dorm creates IMO. In class you will see different people than you will see around the hallway, the dorms give you an opportunity to meet other players that have a different background playing wise. It was more than once where I heard someone playing something and I would go talk to them and bounce ideas off them. So its a little hot, bring a fan and wear flip flops in the shower.

[Pete2]

Originally posted by Jamnad
Hey Pete,
Sorry for the delay, but im all signed up now. Im taking Jazz2 for a major, scales and modes and playing in a jazz band as minors. Im staying off campus as the dorms dont have a/c or private bathrooms, I just hope the eye of the tiger thing doesnt apply to guitar workshops. I am trying to find a small amp to bring. Im really looking forward to this week.

Cool. I'm currently signed up for the Jazz 1 major, but I hope to be upgraded to Jazz 2 when I meet with the instructor.

I'm not staying in the dorms either, I'm going to commute from home.

What do you mean "eye of the tiger"...

Pete

[Jamnad]

Pet,
Rocky 3

[TonyV]

Originally posted by Joe
Neither did the dorms I lived in for four years at college.

You are going to miss out on the bonding the dorm creates IMO. In class you will see different people than you will see around the hallway, the dorms give you an opportunity to meet other players that have a different background playing wise. It was more than once where I heard someone playing something and I would go talk to them and bounce ideas off them. So its a little hot, bring a fan and wear flip flops in the shower.

The B&B I stay in every year is completely filled with NGW students, so I didn't miss any bonding and we had a nice porch to play on. And the guest instructors stay there so I have got to have breakfast with Duke Robbilard, Ronnie Earl, Peppe Romeo etc

[Jamnad]

Which B&B is that? Im at the Homestead.

[artandink]

Tony is referring to the Homestead. The Heritage is another small hotel, closer to town (and the after hour watering holes).

Anyone going to the Blues Summit?

[spaceboy]

grrr, damn you americans with your fancy "jazz summits"! :p :D

wish I could go to something like that - not fair...:(

[TonyV]

Originally posted by Jamnad
Which B&B is that? Im at the Homestead.

Yes the Homestead Inn


Warning there is another place called the Heritage, the train passes within feet of it!!!!!

[Jon Silberman]

Five-timer here: Blues Blaster I and II, Chop Shop, and Rockabilly in CT; Hot Country Guitar in Nashville.

NGW is great, you're gonna love it.

Personally, I think you've gotta be either a teenager or a bit of a masochist to stay in the dorms in CT. I did my 1st year and learned my lesson fast.

The Homestead is a very cool place to stay and it'll also be full of NGW guitarists, you won't miss a thing by avoiding the dorms other than a taste of Sparta.

[Jon Silberman]

Originally posted by TonyV
The B&B I stay in every year is completely filled with NGW students, so I didn't miss any bonding and we had a nice porch to play on. And the guest instructors stay there so I have got to have breakfast with Duke Robbilard, Ronnie Earl, Peppe Romeo etc

And about also breakfasting with me there for 3 years, Tony, you say nothing?! :mad:

:D

[TonyV]

Originally posted by Jon Silberman
And about also breakfasting with me there for 3 years, Tony, you say nothing?! :mad:

:D

I haven't forgotten you Jon,
too bad you won't be there this year,
but at least now they'll be enough muffins for the rest of us!

;)

[bbarnard]

I went for the Blues Summit a couple years ago. Robben Ford and Ronnie Earl were guest instructors that year. Seeing the two of them up on stage together was totally awesome. Ronnie was almost joined at the hip when he played with Robben. Robben ripped off this really jazzy lead on one song and you could see Ronnie mouth "I can't play that" (they were trading at the time). Robben mouthed "Sure you can, give it a try". Ronnie pulled something out that wasn't identical but was pretty damn good.

I'd love to go back

Barry Greene is a monster jazz player. If you can choose him as an instructor, do so, he's superb. He teaches at U of N. FL over in Jax and has played over here in Gainesville a couple times. Always a treat.

I stayed in the dorm and that was a blast but you don't get any sleep. I did get to have breakfast every morning with Rod Carey, Ronnie Earl's old bass player. That was a treat. What a great guy and a great story teller.

I'd love to go again (and probably will some time).

[jordanL]

Originally posted by TonyV
Yes the Homestead Inn

Warning there is another place called the Heritage, the train passes within feet of it!!!!!

The train only goes by once a night, its no big deal. OTOH I grew up in the flight path of JFK airport.

I'm heading down to the Nashville campus for Blues blaster II next week.

[artandink]

Originally posted by jordanL
The train only goes by once a night, its no big deal. OTOH I grew up in the flight path of JFK airport.

I'm heading down to the Nashville campus for Blues blaster II next week.

The train never bothered me either.

Say hello to Matt Smith for me. He's great.

[Jon Silberman]

Originally posted by jordanL
The train only goes by once a night, its no big deal. OTOH I grew up in the flight path of JFK airport.


Hey, so did I - in Canarsie (Brooklyn, for those of you who didn't grow up in NY) - where were you?

P.S. I found this awesome web site for Ruby the Knish Man who used to sell us our knishes from his cart when I was a little boy - unbelievable!

http://www.angelfire.com/co/cascole/ruby.html

[jordanL]

I grew up in Elmont, NY. during the summer its one plane every 90 seconds. During my freshm,an yaer in college I was in the flight path for the Rochester Airport. I diidn't notice until second semeter when my roomate pointed it out.

I got back from NGW Nashville last night. I had an absolutley amazing time. Our Bluesbalster class had about 10 people so we burned through an amazing amount of material. They finally hhas all matts notes printed up nicely and corrected. We covered a huga amount of material. Student concert was very cool, and the faculty jam that follwed was even better. Really had a good week.

[artandink]

I grew up in Flushing, right under a flight path for LaGuardia.