"I won't teach you trumpet or piano or drums, but I'll teach you the history, the context, the culture, while telling you some good stories."
                                                     — Phil Schaap, Jazz at Lincoln Center Curator

Swing University explains jazz, its development, and how to be an effective listener. Class members learn how to follow song form, understand the uses of ensemble and soloist in a jazz performance, and explore the significant events in the music's history. Taught with the help of special guest lecturers and guests Dick Katz, Vincent Gardner and Lewis Nash, Swing University offers a wide range of courses to suit all jazz lovers from novices to jazz cats.

SPRING 2009 TERM

Lester Young with Phil Schaap
Mondays, 3/23; 3/30; 4/6; and 4/13

Tenor saxophonist Lester Young was the primary soloist in the original Count Basie Orchestra and Billie Holiday's favorite accompanist. Phil Schaap, a former neighbor of Young’s and a family friend, will teach you the essentials of"Prez"-idential history.

BEBOP! with Vincent Gardner

Tuesdays, 3/24; 3/31; 4/7; 4/14; 4/21; 4/28; 5/5; and 5/12
8-class session: $200

Virtuosity, fuller harmonies and a new rhythmic sense established this sound as a new type of jazz. Join JLCO trombonist Vincent Gardner for a close look at how Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie paved the way for other masters of this innovative sound.

JAZZ 101 with Phil Schaap

Tuesdays, 3/24; 3/31; 4/7; 4/14; 4/21; 4/28; 5/5; and 5/12

8-class session: $200 (Introductory)

Discover the A to Z of jazz. Meet the Crescent City pioneers who taught musicians everywhere how to swing and the Big Band Era heartthrobs who brought jazz into prime time. Relive the bebop revolution and follow its descendents – cool, hard bop, modal and free jazz – into the Modern Era.

RAGTIME & JAZZ with Terry Waldo

Wednesdays, 3/25; 4/1; 4/15; 4/22; 4/29; 5/6; 5/13; and 5/20

8-class session: $200

Pianist-scholar Terry Waldo takes us back to the 19th century and Jazz in its pre-dawn. Our own Wynton Marsalis cites Terry as the guy to go to for the study of Ragtime.

JAZZ 301 with Phil Schaap

Wednesdays, 3/25; 4/1; 4/15; 4/22; 4/29; 5/6; and 5/20*

7-class session: $250

You may know King Oliver, but what about Freddie Keppard? Can you distinguish John Coltrane from Sonny Rollins by ear? These intensive three-hour classes will help you answer these questions as we chart the same Jazz 101 and 201 trajectory but in greater depth. An optional final will be given two weeks after the last class, outstanding students will receive a certificate signed by Wynton Marsalis and Phil Schaap.

To register for classes, call Subscription Services at 212-258-9999

VIEW THE FULL 2008-09 SWING UNIVERSITY SCHEDULE