sima | women’s jazz workshops

SIMA is thrilled to present the 2010 YOUNG WOMENS’ JAZZ IMPROVISATION WORKSHOPS in association with The Sydney Conservatorium of Music

A unique short course aimed at young women (aged 14 – 28) who are interested in pursuing a professional career in jazz and improvised music.

Entry is by audition and written application.

• Workshops 2010 - Application Form 268.49kb

Contact: 9036 6292 or email info@sima.org.au

Classes run for three hours on a Saturday morning from July-September over eight weeks, culminating in a public concert, giving the performers a chance to showcase their skills on stage.

Course Objectives are to:

1. Develop the skills and confidence of young women in jazz and improvised music.
2. Broaden knowledge of jazz and improvised music, including the contribution of outstanding Australian artists in this field.
3. Increase awareness of career options in jazz and related areas
4. Encourage students to understand audition processes and apply for tertiary jazz courses.

SIMA has been running this innovative course successfully since 2001 with financial assistance from both Australia Council and Arts NSW. Each year, the standard of applicants has risen significantly, indicating that the course is having an impact on the number of women seriously studying and practising jazz and improvised music. The course graduates make up the majority of the women studying at the Jazz Course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. They have also been accepted into jazz courses at the University of NSW, the University of Western Sydney, the Canberra School of Music and The Victorian College of the Arts. Most of these students would not have had the knowledge or confidence to successfully apply to these courses without our support.

Course Requirements

Knowledge of jazz is not a prerequisite, but applicants should have a strong interest in improvisation and be working towards a career in music. Students should be proficient on their main instrument. Don’t be deterred from applying if you can’t read music.

The course is aimed at Year 9, 10, 11 and 12 students, but is open to young women who have recently left school and fulfil the other criteria. Younger students are also welcome to audition.

Audition requirements:

1. Play a blues head and improvise over the form.
2. Play a piece of your own choice that demonstrates what you are best at.
3. Sight reading of music and chord changes.
4. Major scale in several keys.
5. Drummers only: Demonstrate swing, bossa nova, rock and jazz waltz feels.

A piano accompanist will be provided for the auditions.

IMPORTANT DATES – all at The Sydney Conservatorium of Music

AUDITION DAY:
Saturday 26 June

Workshops: Saturdays (10.00am – 1.00pm):
Saturday 24 July
Saturday 31 July
Saturday 7 August
Saturday 14 August
Saturday 21 August
Saturday 4 September
Saturday 11 September
Saturday 18 September

*Date of concert (late September) to be confirmed

MAIN TUTORS

SANDY EVANS: SAXOPHONE, IMPROVISATION
Winner of the Inaugural Bell Award For Australian Jazz Musician of The Year 2003, Sandy Evans is recognised as one of the leading saxophonists (tenor and soprano) and composers in contemporary jazz in Australia. With 25+ years of teaching saxophone, improvisation, composition and arranging, Sandy directed this course for SIMA since it’s debut in 2001 until 2009 and has been a guest lecturer at leading music schools in Europe and USA, as well as performing extensively for the ‘Musica Viva In Schools’ program. As an artist, Sandy leads the Sandy Evans Trio, and co-leads the dynamic new 8 piece ensemble GEST8 as well as co-leading the internationally acclaimed Clarion Fracture Zone. A member of Ten Part Invention, The catholics, the Australian Art Orchestra and austraLYSIS, she has toured extensively in Australia, Europe, Canada and Asia playing at many major jazz festivals and clubs. Sandy has won many awards including a Young Australian Creative Fellowship, APRA Award for Jazz Composition of the Year, two Mo Awards and three ARIA Awards. Sandy is a graduate of the Jazz Course at the NSW Conservatorium.

ALEX SILVER: 2010 WORKSHOP DIRECTOR, TROMBONE, IMPROVISATION
This year, Alex Silver will direct the YWJIW, taking Sandy Evans’ place for the first time since the course began in 2001. Alex Silver composes music for her own band, the Alex Silver Quartet, as well as playing with many other local groups. A Jazz Studies graduate from The Sydney Conservatorium, Alex was the first winner of the Jann Rutherford Memorial Award (2006). With the assistance of this prize, she performed at the Melbourne International Womens jazz Festival and has subsequently also won the Pan Pacific James Morrison Scholarship as well as performing at the Montreaux, Vienne and Brienz jazz festivals in Europe.

MONIQUE LYSIAK: PIANO, KEYBOARD, VOCALS, IMPROVISATION
A highly skilled jazz pianist, Monique is committed to excellence in her teaching and performance. Her teaching experience spans 25+ years and includes many prominent music/high schools in NSW as well as The New School, New York City, USA. Monique has recorded several CDs and performed widely at The Basement, Manly Jazz Festival and the Moscow Circus on Ice. Monique has an Associate Diploma of Jazz Studies, Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has been a tutor of the YWJIW for many years.

ZOE HAUPTMANN: ACOUSTIC AND ELECTRIC BASS, IMPROVISATION
Zoe Hauptmann has cemented her position on the Sydney music scene as one of the most versatile bass players. Equally at home on the acoustic and electric basses and possessing a sweet and playful singing voice, her regular projects are as far reaching as the art rock of CODA to children’s performances with Playschool’s Justine Clarke. Zoe toured the United States twice in 2009 with folk icon (and Paul Kelly’s favourite song writer) King Curly, as well as touring nationally for the release of up and coming songstress Elana Stone’s latest album. Her own ensemble, Zoe & the Buttercups, (dubbed ‘jazzabilly’) has a self titled release on the jazzgroove records label. Zoe is an experienced music teacher expert in leading rhythm section workshops.

JESS GREEN: GUITAR
Jess Green (Guitarist/Composer/Vocalist) has been performing and recording original Jazz, Blues and Rock in Sydney for several years. Her debut album “The Singing Fish” established her firmly in the Australian Jazz Scene and she performs with various ensembles including her own “Jess Green’s Bright Sparks” as well as “Dave Reaston’s 10 Guitar project”, “The New Dynamites” and “Jim Conway’s Big Wheel”. Jess has been teaches at SCEGGS Darlinghurst and lectures at The Australian Institute of Music as well as recently at University of Western Sydney. She also tours nationally for Musica Viva.

JANE IRVING: MAIN VOICE TUTOR
Whilst some singers make claim by including evergreens from the Great American Songbook in their repertoire, Irving is a jazz singer. Her scatting would be among the most sincere recorded in Australia since Kerrie Biddell as it has genuine instrumental purpose. – ABC Limelight Magazine, May 2008. Jane has a willingness to explore a wide dynamic vocal range. This combined with her unique phrasing and rare ability to interpret a lyric has won her acclaim from audiences and respect from her fellow musicians. Jane has played with Matt McMahon, Kevin Hunt, John Harkins, Andrew Dickeson, John Morrison, Phil Stack, Craig Scott, Alan Turnbull, Brendan Clarke, was vocalist with Evan Lohning’s Jazz Orchestra, The Lost Cosmonauts, Michael Bartolomei, James Waples and Ben Waples, Bobby Gebert, Don Rader, Dave Panici to name just a few.

GUEST TUTORS

CRAIG SCOTT: BASS,IMPROVISATION, ENSEMBLE
Craig Scott has been one of Australia’s leading bassists for over 25 years. As Chair of Jazz Studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and coordinator of the Master of Music (Jazz) Degree, he is deeply involved in jazz education and frequently gives master classes at tertiary institutions around Australia and New Zealand as well as Berklee Music School in Boston, U.S.A. Craig holds a Masters Degree in Music (Jazz Performance) from the Australian National University and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education from the Sydney University. Performing since 1980, he has worked with many local greats including Don Burrows, James Morrison and internationals including Joe Henderson and Bobby Shew. He currently leads his own quintet.

TOBY HALL: DRUMS
Toby Hall is one of the most highly regarded Australian drummers. He has played on over 20 CDs and performed with virtually every major Australian jazz artist, as well as many top internationals. He is a member of several leading Sydney jazz bands, including Sandy Evans Trio, Alister Spence Trio and The World According to James here and abroad. A recent highlight was being invited to perform for the Luminous Festival curated by Brian Eno with the Alsiter Spence Trio. As an educator, Toby has taught both privately and for many of the leading academic institutions throughout Australia, including the University of NSW, the Australian Institute of Music, Sydney Conservatorium Access Centre, the Victorian College of the Arts and SIMA’s Womens Workshops since it’s inception as well as Musica Viva’s Music in Schools.

KRISTIN BERARDI: VOICE
Composer and Winner of the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival’s Shure International Vocal Competition, as well as taking the first prize at the 2007 Freedman Jazz Awards, Kristin has been named as “probably the finest jazz singer Australia has produced” by the Sydney Morning Herald. Kristin has released an acclaimed debut CD solely of her originals and continues to work on new material. As well as leading her own band, Kristin regularly works on collaborative projects with many well-known musicians. She has taught at Australian National University and Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music as well as tutoring privately and on this course for SIMA.

What students have said

Improvisation is no easy feat. But when you have experienced tutors like Sandy Evans, Jess Green, and many others, including guest tutors on your side, you can learn how to create a variety of improvised solos that can captivate an audience. They want you to get the best out of the course, to extend your playing capabilities. As you go through the course, you meet other girls who like jazz as well, who like music, who want to get together and have fun making music. If you have the right people, you could even form a band out of the course!
Shawna – student, 2008

This course has played a pivotal role in my development as a jazz musician. A magical thing happened in this course and after only 3 workshops, I performed my first guitar solo at a gig with my band. This has not only improved my own musical experience, but theirs as well. I would love to return and do the course again next year. Thank you so much!
Cassandra – student, 2008

Conservatorium Open Academy

Since 1974 the Open Academy at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music has opened the doors of the Conservatorium to the community through programs, courses and workshops for school students, musicians, music teachers and to all those who are interested in learning more about music.

Contact
Conservatorium Open Academy
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
T: +61 02 9351 1208 | F:+61 02 9351 1210
E: music.openacademy@sydney.edu.au
W: http://sydney.edu.au/music/openacademy