Aims

The aims of the Saturday Workshops are:

To support SJGS members who are in the early stages of their learning by teaching the rudiments of jazz guitar in an informal setting;

To prepare members for jazz guitar performances at SJGS club nights or in a concert/gig setting.

Background

Following the popularity of the ad-hoc workshops held on Tuesday club nights, Marc Tuddenham and Simon Newton agreed to run an all-day Saturday Workshop in April 2005 at Romsey Community School. The session on soloing over dominant 7th chords using the chord sequence to the standard “Sweet Georgia Brown” as a basis was popular with members and as a result 10 further Workshops (up to February 2011) have been organised and tutored by Marc and Simon covering a variety of jazz guitar related topics such as comping, jazz blues, chord/melody arranging and major and minor ii V 1’s.

Format

The sessions run from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm with 40 minutes or so for lunch and tea/coffee breaks taken at appropriate points in the day.

The teaching approach is friendly and informal. Each Workshop is aimed at jazz guitarists fairly new to jazz and of a particular standard, classed as “ Real ”, “Intermediate” or “ Experienced” Beginners. These categories have been defined by the SJGS as follows:

REAL BEGINNERS:

Aspiring to be able to play the melody of a 'jazz tune' in time and reasonably accurately;
Able to play the basic chord sequence of the tune which they have learnt and can comp using it in '4 to the bar' style;
Not yet comfortable to perform in front of others.

INTERMEDIATE BEGINNERS:

Can play a number of learned tunes;
Can play a few learned chord sequences from memory;
Comfortable to perform the above in front of others;
Can improvise a basic solo on tunes they have learnt.

EXPERIENCED BEGINNERS:

Can play a number of learned tunes;
Can play many learned chord sequences from memory;
Can read written chord sequences at sight, and comp using these behind soloists;
Can play creative solos, both on learned tunes, and over chord sequences they are reading from sight;
Do occasional or regular paid jazz gigs.

The Workshops are of a hands-on nature, the morning sessions covering technique and theory with demonstrations by the two tutors, whilst the afternoon sessions are taken up with one-to-one advice on technique, preparation for performances, performances in pairs and appraisals. The sessions are light-hearted, students competing for the coveted “Les Dawson Award” for the best “outside ” note of the day, and there is no pressure placed on students to perform in front of other group members if they do not wish to.

Prior to the Workshop, which is always based on a well-known jazz standard, students are asked to prepare for the day by familiarising themselves as far as possible with the chord sequence and tune for this and prepare the necessary scales and arpeggios. A Learning Plan is sent to students in advance setting out details for the day’s learning with aims and objectives.

As from February 2011 Workshop attendees will sometimes receive for their personal use a video clip in MP4 format showing a demonstration of a sample solo, chord sequence or technique.

Club Night Beginners and Intermediate Sessions

Where possible the organisers will co-ordinate a particular Workshop with club night Beginners and Intermediate sessions, so that these can be used as a platform for Workshop preparation and consolidation.

Prices and Funding

The standard price for each Workshop for 2011 is £32 for members and £36 for guests. SJGS members take priority over guests, the sessions being opened up to the latter if spaces are available. This price covers room hire, tutor costs, comprehensive handouts, follow–up advice, video clip and refreshments, but not lunch.

The price for a particular Workshop may vary from the standard price according to take-up. Although the Workshops are primarily intended to cater for the learning requirements of SJGS members, they are run on a professional freelance basis by Marc Tuddenham and Simon Newton and are supported by but not funded or subsidised by the SJGS.

Occasionally a particular Workshop will be opened up to other instrumentalists not connected to the SJGS in which case places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.
Programme 2011

Please see the diary for the 2011 programme. The organisers welcome suggestions from members for further Workshop topics. The 2012 programme will be published in December 2011. A listing of workshops which have taken place since inception is shown below.