The camp is essentially divided into two areas......music theory and
"appreciation" and combo practice. At the beginning you'll have to take a
theory test (to determine which theory group you're in) and a "tryout" on
your instrument where you'll play through a chart (probably one you've seen
if you've played for a while and be asked to improvise)...sounds like you're
a guitarist like me. You'll be assigned a combo of from 5 to 8 people, all
about your level. During the week you'll work on 6-12 songs, all standards,
many blues based or simple progressions (see Aebersold's Maiden Voyage
practice CD for examples) and then perform one of the songs in a mass
"concert" which runs all day the last day. At night there are some GREAT
concerts by the teachers and a jam session afterward.
Is it worth it? Yeah, for the most part. By the second year I was in
advanced theory with David Baker and learned a bunch of bebop related stuff.
I also studied theory for a year like hell in preparation. My combos have
been OK but I'm not playing through Giant Steps at the end. To a certain
extent the whole experience is what you make of it and how involved you want
to be. If you just want to "hang out" chances are it won't be a great
experience. But if you throw yourself into it it can be way cool.
The teachers are absolutely amazing. Guitar was taught by Fred Hamilton,
Steve Erquigua (sp?), Frank Portolese and a few others.....all master
players and teachers, mostly at the university level. Other teachers, if I
can remember, were guys like Willie Pickens (p), Don Byas (horns), David
Baker (everything, but now cello), David Liebman, etc. All are real
approachable. Some of the students are kids but WAY into jazz and amazing
players. Some are just learning blues progessions.
I'd check it out. Except for the creepies associated with the tryout it
wasn't boot camp and a nice way to spend a week playing jazz which is often
hard to find at home. You'll learn new tunes and how to play well in a
group. Jamie's to be well commended for these camps, which now have run for
years. I'm not going to go for a while (bluegrass camp calls) but would go
back if I could afford the time.
Charlie Neff
PS == Freud aside, you're lucky to have a dad who's into jazz and wants to
take to time to work with you on it. If I recall there's this family named
Marsalis, or was it Monk, who..........................
| Anyone out there been to one of these things? I'd welcome any
|feedback, plus or minus, before I sign on the dotted line. I mean, they
|don't make you march with a Marshall stack on your back, or roll around
|naked in sand-fleas, or anything like that, do they?
|
| And..well...my Dad and I are going away for a week to "blow"
|together...what would Freud say about that??
|
|peace,
|Skip
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