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Home SUMMER PROGRAMS Berklee in Umbria Jazz Clinics

Berklee in Umbria Jazz Clinics

July 2–14, 2013

What's the program like?

The Berklee in Umbria Jazz Clinics is an opportunity to spend two weeks learning and improving your performance and writing skills with faculty from the acclaimed Berklee College of Music. With twelve days of intense classes and performances, this program provides aspiring musicians with hands-on educational experiences that can foster musical growth and development. All classes and ensembles are taught in the world-famous Berklee tradition with its emphasis on the use of jazz and contemporary music as the focal point for musical understanding.

The 2013 Berklee in Umbria Jazz Clinics represents the 28th year of the Berklee Umbria Jazz collaboration, which over the years has presented this remarkable educational opportunity to nearly 5,000 students from all over the world. Located in the beautiful city of Perugia in the center of the province of Umbria, Italy, the program brings together over two hundred students to form a community of musical dedication and enthusiasm that permits a shared learning experience unlike any other in Europe. Located in a school in a historic section of Perugia, a campus environment is created to emulate the learning environment of Berklee in Boston: performance classrooms are equipped with rhythm section instruments; large lectures are supported by audio, visual, and computerized presentations; a dedicated outdoor stage features daily concerts and jam sessions; and practice rooms and supportive staff and administrators assist students' individual needs. Additionally, all students will receive free passes to Umbria Jazz Festival concerts, which are ongoing throughout the program.

All in all, Berklee in Umbria Jazz Clinics, combined with the 10-day Umbria Jazz Festival, affords a unique opportunity to learn by day and to listen by night—a rare educational and entertainment experience indeed.

Program components:

Performance

  • Group Lessons: These daily lessons will address topics normally included in traditional private lessons. You will receive instruction in instrumental technique (tone, articulation, intonation, expression, and more), practice habits, and other related topics.
  • New Vocal program:  For vocalists, this year’s program will feature three elite vocal teachers, each one of them focusing on style, technique, and performance skills.
  • Ensembles: You will have the opportunity to play in group settings with students of similar playing abilities. While the emphasis is on jazz, other styles (such as pop, rock, and latin) will be offered within the program. Ensembles will meet each day of the program and all students will perform in a concert during the final days of the event. Some ensembles and students will perform within the Umbria Jazz circuit at the conclusion of the program.
  • Theory and Improvisation: You will be taught music theory and how to apply it to improvisation and composition. This daily class will provide you with a basic understanding of chord/scale relationships in direct correlation with the improvement of one's aural skills.

Contemporary Writing and Production Lab

These workshops focus on the writing, performance, and production aspects of contemporary music. The course of study/tract will be presented in special lectures on a daily basis and is open to all students in the program.

• The Art and Craft of Writing Music. This series will cover the process of composing and arranging music, beginning from the initial idea and ending with the finished work.

• Rehearsal Techniques for Writers. Geared for composers and arrangers, this lecture/demonstration will focus on how to conduct and rehearse new music.

• Critique sessions. Students are encouraged to bring audio recordings of their work to share with the instructor and the other students. The instructors will discuss aspects of production, composition, arranging, and performance.

• Song Arranging Workshops: Open to both writers and players, these workshops deal with specific techniques for contemporary arranging songs, including setting the style, tempo, and feel; making a basic chord chart; creating grooves in the rhythm section; and working with the form of the song.

 • Brazilian Song Styles. A hands-on writer workshop in studying how harmony interacts with melody, lyric, rhythm, and style in Brazilian popular song. Students will use these ideas to write, arrange, and adapt their own songs to styles common in Braziian MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira).

Activities Open to All Students

  • Master Classes: These will be lectures/demonstrations by guest artists on various aspects of performing, improvisation, composition, songwriting, and personal experience. There will be a wide variety of topics, and at times there may be group participation. Questions and group discussion will encompass part of the class, providing you with an opportunity to explore the artists' opinions and strategies for success.
  • Special Lectures: Each day faculty will give special presentations that provide support to the scheduled daily classes. These special lectures usually combine faculty in joint teaching roles and focus on real-world experiences and music industry challenges.
  • Jam Sessions: These daily "after hour" jam sessions will be relaxed playing and singing situations on the Berklee stage. These informal sessions will be open to students of both tracks.
  • Scholarships and Awards: Throughout the program representatives from Berklee's Admissions Office will be available to advise those students who wish to continue their musical education at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Discussions about Berklee's audition and interview initiative for scholarship support to study in Boston will be available to all. For participants who indicate an intention to attend Berklee College of Music, a special scholarship fund exists. At the graduation ceremony on the final day of the program, select students will be presented with incentive scholarships to attend Berklee based upon outstanding vocal, instrumental, and/or songwriting ability; positive attitude; work ethic; and demonstrated suitability for Berklee.
  • Graduation Ceremonies: The final three days of the program feature a series of concerts in which all students and all ensembles participate. Concerts will be held on the Berklee stage and also on an Umbria Jazz Festival stage. Families of the students are invited to attend these concerts.

Who Are the Instructors?

All instructors are renowned Berklee faculty members, including:

Where will I eat and sleep?

Students are required to make their own housing arrangements. For information regarding hotels and apartments at special student rates, email alloggiclinics@libero.it or clinics@umbriajazz.com. For better rate opportunities, participants are encouraged to make housing arrangements early.

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