Teaching Improvisation

June 25-28, 2010
Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center
New York City

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The Eleventh Annual Jazz at Lincoln Center Band Director Academy provides music educators the opportunity to study the essentials of teaching jazz, with a focus on teaching improvisation. All classes at the Academy emphasize hands-on learning and focus on concepts and techniques to be immediately applied in the classroom. 

Highlights:

• Four days of intensive study of the essentials of teaching jazz and sharing best practices
• Outstanding faculty and team-teaching environment
• Opportunity for individual attention and hands-on learning
• Free educational materials (teaching guides, sheet music, and recordings) and T-shirt
• Jam sessions, a film screening and faculty performances
• Optional graduate credit

2009 Band Director Academy participants said:

"Even though I've been playing for a long time and teaching a long time, you can always learn. Some things said I knew, some I didn't, and some I learned a new way to say it. Each class was well structured for easy following."

"As always, each session is brilliantly conceived to address an area of real concern to directors. The proof of the success, from conception to execution, is that directors of all levels of experience find something new to learn."

"I realize now that it doesn't matter how large or small my band is, or what my band is playing. What matters is if my ensemble and I are working on mastery and singing and dancing, connecting the heart and mind. This isn't an academy for aspiring EE winners, it is for everyone. From my heart, thank you!"

"Thank you for creating a forum where questions can be asked and answered without fear of being thought "too basic", "too simple" or " too elementary."  The fact that the faculty and staff respect every director at the level where they are is a huge benefit. With the intimidation factor gone, directors can get what they need and move forward in their own development."