JazzLab is a unique opportunity for TIA students that is also open to any Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Shelton students that may be studying and learning music elsewhere. This fun, foundational, and formative experience meets once monthly on Saturdays for an hour for a community/ensemble experience.
During that hour, students learn the fundamentals of jazz music including things like song form, various forms of jazz grooves and feels, everything they need to know to be able to play in a jazz ensemble and be aware, flexible, and able to go with the flow with whatever happens in the moment (and a lot can happen). Thinking on your toes and thinking critically and fast is a life skill that jazz teaches like nothing else.
Students learn various concepts of improvisation from beginner 101 simple steps that anyone can learn to well beyond in more advanced concepts. As students study those concepts, they will also have an opportunity to put them to work, improvising over chords, time, and eventually even the song form—one of the most fun and exciting components of jazz music.
Finally, students rehearse and prepare jazz music as an ensemble to be performed at our various community music making events each semester and hopefully more as they develop! Students must either already be in private lessons (ideal) or enroll in them, or pass an audition that demonstrates their ability and potential to be a part of the group. This class is for middle school and up. Students should know all or at least most of their major scales (ideally major, minor, harmonic, and melodic, and the modes of major) or commit to learning!
JazzLab tuition is just $30 monthly for currently enrolled TIA students, $45 monthly for students not enrolled at TIA.
We have a few open spots for Trumpet, Trombone, and sax to join our great existing group of students. If you know anyone—make sure they know! They will have a great time!
JazzLab is a great opportunity for students to really dive into jazz on a much deeper level. In fact, two of our students in the last year have even become guest DJ’s on KNKX through their School of Jazz Guest DJ Program See/hear Dylan and Shane here.
“Everyone at Tuned-in Academy is extremely friendly and welcoming. My son had six years of one-on-one piano lessons before attending TIA, and after just a few months learning from Sean-David, he has learned more than in the previous six years combined. Instructors here have the education, leadership and care to maximize the potential of young music students. We are very happy with this school and would recommend it to anyone.”–Chris A.
Why study jazz music?
So many reasons to study jazz whether you are a young person or an adult:
Adaptibility and Social Awareness
“No two jazz performances are alike; therefore, the performer must be flexible and ready to adapt. For most people, change can be a very difficult part of life, however those that play jazz are constantly dealing with change. A performance may not go as planned and you must prepare to quickly take a different direction. Jazz teaches you to embrace change and even incorporate it into the moment.
Jazz is about the group effort and while playing, performers are listening and responding to each other simultaneously. Social awareness is an important skill learned through the study and performance of jazz. Jazz is not about the individual and sensitivity to others is needed to perform this music. Through the music, we learn how to lead, follow, support, and work together.”
What are the effects of jazz music on the brain?
“In terms of the brains of jazz musicians and creativity, the most remarkable case is that of legendary guitarist Pat Martino. The guitarist literally relearned the instrument back to the prime form he had prior to surgery for an aneurysm in 1980. The procedure removed a large piece of his left temporal lobe, and malformed nerves and veins that had caused him issues since childhood. It was truly astonishing that the guitarist was able to come all the way back after such a debilitating stroke.
“When I was in high school, I had an amazing band director. Actually I had three band directors and all three of them were amazing musicians and very capable band directors. Sadly, none of them were really skilled or knowledgeable in the practical application of teaching jazz or how to improvise. I did everything I could to try to learn how to play jazz. I listened to as much music as I could. I picked up Jamey Abersold tapes and books and tried making my way through them, but honestly I didn’t really understand how to actually apply the concepts in them because I also didn’t understand chords, form, or structure.
I went to Jazz camps. I listened to every Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and John Coltrane album I could get a hold of among others of course as well. Those things were all helpful. But none of them were enough. I really needed one-on-one help. And none of them could do it and I’m not saying that’s their fault. They gave the best that they had. One of the reasons that I started JazzLab is because I know what it’s like to want to play jazz music and not really know what to do. Jazz is complex. Jazz is kind of scary. There may be some people that can just figure Jazz out on their own by listening and doing what they do. But JazzLab is here for those who want to walk the journey together, which is a huge part of what jazz is all about—community. It is a communal music after all. Come be a part.”