High School Jazz Ensemble |
Webster University, well-known for its innovative jazz studies program and the Jazz@Webster concert series, is offering a new remote program for high school jazz students during the school year.
Under the leadership of Paul DeMarinis, Webster’s Jazz Studies Director, and Nick Savage, Jazz Ensemble Director, rising young jazz musicians will work on improving their improvisational skills, ensemble interaction, and personal musicianship. All melodic instruments are welcome to participate and experience a variety of jazz styles from the 1930s to the present.
This ensemble is a part of the Department of Music at Webster University and is administered with the assistance of the Community Music School of Webster University.
The ensemble will feature: Brass, Woodwind, and String instruments plus a rhythm section
of Guitar, Vibraphone, Piano, Drum Set, Latin Percussion, and Bass (electric or acoustic).
No vocal at this time.
AGES: Students entering grades 8–12
FEES: $486 for the two-semester program
A non-refundable registration fee of $30 is assessed once per academic year per student
upon enrollment
Upon acceptance, tuition is billed in October. Limited tuition assistance is available.
APPLICATION: Application deadline is Friday, August 31, 2020
Audition by appointment. You will be contacted by the Jazz Ensemble Director for an
appointment.
AUDITION DETAILS: Prior experience in jazz is helpful but not mandatory.
- Students should play two pieces, a 12 bar blues and a standard from the jazz repertoire,
or
selections from their school jazz band materials. - The audition pieces should display technique, rhythmic agility, phrasing, and melodic sensitivity.
- Suggested jazz works for the audition can be located in the jazz play-along books
published by
Hal Leonard, Aebersold, and Alfred. - A CD player, digital or live accompaniment will be included for the audition.
- Drum set auditions include playing in the following styles: medium and fast swing, ballad, bossa nova, samba, jazz waltz, shuffle, and ½ time funk. Digital or live accompaniment will be included.
- Students may audition on auxiliary percussion instruments
- Piano, bass, guitar, and vibraphone auditions include playing written parts and reading chord symbols.
WEEKLY REHEARSALS:
Tuesdays, 4:45–5:45 pm, beginning September 8, 2020
CONCERTS:
Friday, December 11, 2020, at 8 pm
Friday, April 23, 2021, at 8 pm
Resources for Current Students
- 2019-2020 HSJE Student Handbook
- 2019-2020 HSJE Participation Contract
- 2019-2020 HSJE Season Schedule
Connect with Ensemble
- Call 314-246-7032
- Email Paul DeMarinis, Jazz Studies Director
- Email Nick Savage, Ensemble Director
- Email Department of Music
- Review Jazz Ensemble Policies
Nick Savage,
Jazz Ensemble Director
