Berklee at Umbria Jazz Clinics

Applications for this program are now open. Click here to access the application. It typically takes between seven and 10 business days for an application to be processed. Please note, however, that processing will not begin until the week of January 7, 2019. Applications submitted before that date will have a longer processing time.

Program tuition is €490.

Your participation is not confirmed until your tuition payment is received.

Once accepted to the program:

• Students must immediately proceed with the payment of the course fees. Instructions are available at umbriajazzclinics.it.
• Please note that registration on the Berklee site and acceptance to the program does not guarantee a space in the program. Registration will only be confirmed after payment has been received.
• After May 1, 2019, students must first check with the Umbria Jazz Clinics office to ensure that there are spaces available in their chosen course prior to submitting payment. Please do this by emailing ujclinics@gmail.com.
• Payment of the program tuition fee of €490 can be made by bank transfer only. Please specify the name, surname, and chosen instrument of the student in the details section of the transfer.
• After the payment has been made, the following items must be sent via email or by post to Umbria Jazz Clinics: (1) a photocopy of the payment receipt; (2) two passport-size photos with the applicant's full name and chosen instrument written on the back or underneath each photo; and (3) the applicant’s personal details, including name, surname, date of birth, postal address, contact phone number, and email address. This information can be sent to us via email at ujclinics@gmail.com or placed in an envelope and sent to Umbria Jazz Clinic, Piazza Danti 28, 06122 Perugia, Italy.
• As soon as all information has been received, a letter of confirmation will be sent via email to each student.

  Contact information: Ms. Giulia Truffarelli at ujclinics@gmail.com.

Performance

• Group Lessons: These daily one-hour lessons will address topics normally included in traditional private lessons. As a student, you will receive instruction in instrumental technique (tone, articulation, intonation, expression, etc.), practice habits, and other related topics.

• Vocal Program: This year’s vocal program will feature three elite voice teachers focusing on style, technique, theory, and performance skills. As a voice student, you will have the option to study the style of your choice. In addition, you will have the unique opportunity to perform with a variety of ensemble combinations, including the gospel choir.

• Ensembles: As a student in the program, you will have the opportunity to play in group settings with students of similar playing abilities. While the emphasis is on jazz, other styles (pop, rock, Latin, etc.) will be offered within the program. Ensembles will meet each day of the program, and you will perform in a concert during the final days of the event. All ensembles will perform onstage within the Umbria Jazz Festival circuit at the conclusion of the program.

• Theory and Improvisation: As a student in this program, you will be taught music theory and how to apply it to improvisation, performance, and musicianship. This daily class will provide you with a basic understanding of chord/scale relationships in direct correlation with the improvement of your aural skills.

Activities Open to All Students

• Master Classes: These will be lectures/demonstrations by Berklee faculty and guest artists (pending availability) from the festival on various aspects of performing, improvisation, composition, 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.

• Jam Sessions: These daily after-hour jam sessions will be informal performances on the Berklee stage. They will be open to all students.

• Graduation Ceremonies: The final two-and-a-half 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.

All instructors are Berklee faculty members, including:

• Matthew Nicholl, academic director/special lectures
• Jim Kelly, guitar
• Nick Grondin, guitar
• Fernando Huergo, bass
• Suzanna Sifter, piano
• Yoron Israel, percussion
• Jim Odgren, woodwinds
• Jeff Stout, brass
• Patrice Williamson, voice
• Dennis Montgomery III, voice
• Jeff Ramsey, voice

Program assistants will be announced at a later date.

Students are required to make their own housing arrangements. For information regarding hotels and apartments at special student rates, email alloggiclinics2019@libero.it. For better rate opportunities, participants are encouraged to make housing arrangements early.

Applicants are given the opportunity to indicate on their application whether they would like to be considered for a scholarship audition during the program. We will select a limited number of qualified students to participate in a live audition and interview where we will award scholarships to the undergraduate program in Boston, full-tuition scholarships to our Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive program in Boston, and two full-tuition scholarships to Berklee Online classes. All decisions for scholarships will be based on students' demonstrated performance during the live audition and interview process.

The Berklee Office of Admissions will review each student based on the performance materials they submitted as part of their application to the program and select 50 students, who will be notified via email of their 15-minute live audition and 15-minute interview appointment one week prior to the start of the program. A listing and schedule of those students selected to participate will also be posted in the program office at the beginning of the program. Berklee faculty will observe the students during their first week of the program and nominate 10 additional students who they feel are performing well in the program to be scheduled for an audition.

Auditions and interviews will take place on Tuesday, July 16; Wednesday, July 17; and Thursday, July 18. Scholarships will be announced at the closing ceremony of the program on Sunday, July 21.

Scholarship recipients are not automatically admitted to any of the Berklee programs and need to formally apply in order to redeem their awards. An admissions representative will be available in person the second week of the program to answer any questions and to meet with students individually to discuss the application process and admissions requirements for the various Berklee programs. All interested students can sign up in advance for individual meetings or attend a group information session. (Students selected for an audition will be scheduled for a separate interview meeting with the admissions representative outside of the additional office hours.)

A group information session will be held at the gymnasium on Monday, July 15 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. All students and interested parents are welcome to attend. The admissions information session will be held in English and Italian.

On the first day of the clinics, Tuesday, July 9, the faculty will each host ensemble workshops to get things started. The regular class schedule will begin on the second day of the clinics.

Instrumentalists:

Instrumentalists should look at these three tunes and be prepared to play them during the workshop on the first Tuesday:

• "Blues in the Basement" (beginner)
• "In-Competent Hands" (intermediate)
• "Beautiful Love" (advanced)

Using this link, find the lead sheets to these three tunes in their key (B-flat for trumpet, tenor; E-flat for alto, baritone; bass clef for trombone and bass) and choose their play-along version from the dropdown menu. 

Vocalists:

Here are tunes for vocalists in a few different genres: pop, jazz, and R&B. Please select one of these three genres to focus on, pick your key, and learn the lyrics in English. The tunes are all easy to find online.

Instructor: Jeff Ramsey
Genre: Pop

• "Fever"
• "Lovely Day"
• "Angel Eyes, or Watch What Happens"

Instructor: Patrice Williamson
Genre: Jazz

• "What Is This Thing Called Love" (Ella Fitzgerald, key of G)
• "What is This Thing Called Love" (Frank Sinatra, key of A)
• "Skylark" (Maxine Sullivan, key of A-flat)
• "Skylark" (Tony Bennett, key of E-flat)

Instructor: Dennis Montgomery
Genre: R&B

• “All That I Can Say” (Mary J. Blige)
• “2 Bad Habits” (Angie Stone)
• “I Can’t Stop Loving You” (Kem)
• “Like This” (Ledisi)
• “Focus” (H.E.R.)

 Additionally, all vocalists will have the opportunity to participate in the gospel choir. Please review the following songs before the program to help you prepare in advance. You can find all of these selections on YouTube.

• “I Will Bless the Lord” (Tye Tribbett)
• “Love Theory” (Kirk Franklin)
• “Keys to the Kingdom” (Ricky Dillard and the New Generation Chorale of Chicago)
• “Walking up the King’s Highway” (Loretta Oliver)
• “Hosanna” (Kirk Franklin)
• “Something about the Name Jesus” (Kirk Franklin)
• “The Prayers” (J. Moss)
• “Anointing” (J. Moss)

Perugia, Italy
Giulia Truffarelli
c/o Segreteria
Associazione Umbria Jazz Clinics
Piazza Danti, 28
06122 Perugia, Italy
telephone: +39 075 5724838
cell: +39 333 9820803 
fax: +39 075 5722656
Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (UTC)
ujclinics@gmail.com
umbriajazzclinics.it

Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Berklee College of Music
1140 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02215
Office of Global Initiatives
telephone: +1 617-747-2700
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (EST)
bor@berklee.edu