|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| Giant Steps Jazz Guitar Weekend World famous guitarist and TV/radio celebrity John Etheridge and Oxford-based guitarist, band-leader and promoter Pete Oxley will be running their highly successful Jazz Guitar Weekend for the fourth successful year 31st July to 2nd August 2009. Highlights of the weekend include an icebreaker event on Friday night, a concert at The Spin Jazz Club on Saturday and the opportunity to perform in a masterclass on Sunday, leading a professional rhythm section. For those choosing the tuition track, there are sessions throughout the weekend on topics ranging from 'comping' to playing 'outside' (that's playing outside the scale, not outdoors!) Attendees are free to move between performance and tuition tracks and they enjoy the different leadership styles of the two performers. John is a hugely entertaining raconteur and gifted teacher. Pete's sessions are often more 'hands-on' and he's an absolute genius at getting the best from musicians of all levels, no matter how nervous they are. Last year, Felix Josa, a 17 year old guitarist from Devon benefited from an assisted place on the Jazz Guitar Weekend (JGW). He also managed to obtain financial help with his travelling costs through a local grant. According to Felix: "The whole JGW experience was invaluable for me and I really took a lot from it which I have spent time exploring over the past few months. JGW was certainly a big boost for me musically and I have since decided on applying to do Jazz at University - I am currently in the Auditions process at Guildhall, Trinity, Royal Academy, Royal Sottish (have been accepted there already), Birmingham Conservatoire and Leeds. I was really inspired by seeing wizards in the flesh at JGW!!" A quote from the organiser: Russ Lewis "It is wonderful to hear that a young and talented individual such as Felix has benefited from our course in this way. These events are very inspiring for attendees, many of whom have been playing for most of their lives and often emerge with a determination to carry-through and become better players. Felix has been playing for only six years and has now chosen to do something many people wish they had done at his age. I'm sure his fellow attendees will be very pleased for him and join me in wishing him every success with his chosen career." Places are strictly limited to 22, so that most sessions have only about a dozen people at a time. At the time of writing, 10 places have already been booked, mainly to people returning for their second or third years. Giant Steps in Music is dedicated to producing the highest quality of music education for the benefit of aspiring players, from all walks of life. Assisted and scholarship places are regularly awarded to courses, entirely at the discretion of the organisers. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Jazz News :: home page |