April 1, 2011

Jazzin’ Up CPS:

Incorporating Jazz into the Music Curriculum

DePaul University Conference Center

1 East Jackson 8th Floor      Fee: $20  Earn 5 CPDUS

This  workshop is designed and presented by Chicago Public School (CPS) Jazz Instructors in partnership with the Jazz Institute of Chicago for all CPS General Music Instructors, Instrumental Specialists, Choral Instructors, and any educator interested in incorporating jazz into their classroom curriculum. This year we are pleased to be partnering with the Auditorium Theatre and The Miles Davis Festival, celebrating the late musician's 85th birthday. The Auditorium Theatre's Miles Davis Festival pays homage to this jazz icon that was born in Illinois, in a four-month long celebration of concerts and educational initiatives.  A listing of all Miles Davis Festival shows and activities can be found at www.milesdavisfest.org.

You can download the registration form here--just fill it out and mail it to

The Jazz Institute of Chicago

410 S. Michigan Ave.  Ste 500

Chicago, IL 60605  Att: Diane Chandler Marshall

OR you can fax it to 312-427-1684 and pay the registration fee on the day of the workshop

Feel free to give me a call at the office at 312-427-1676, ext. 4 with any questions or email me at diane@jazzinchicago.org.

Diane Chandler-Marshall Education Director, Jazz Institute of Chicago

2011 CURRICULUM

 Keynote Speaker Robert (Baabe) Irving, III

Robert Irving, III is a pianist, composer, arranger and music educator. He is one of a group of young Chicago musicians that in the late '70s and early '80s he performed as part of the nucleus of Miles Davis' recording and touring bands. Irving left the Davis band in 1989, and has gone on to a prolific career as touring musician, composer, arranger, producer, educator and interdisciplinary artist, recently resuming his career as a recording artist under his own name.  In 2009 Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz commissioned Irving to write Sketches of Brazil based on earlier work he did with Miles Davis and Gil Evans. He had served as a Mentor for the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Jazz Links Student Council and Jazz Ambassadors and anchors the piano for the monthly Jazz Links Jam Sessions.

Jazz Styles/Blues As An Elementary Approach

This session will explore many of the commonly asked questions regarding starting and teaching jazz at the elementary school level. It will show participants how elements of "Blues" techniques can provide success in music classroom endeavors. It will further provide an understanding of why "jazz" is an important part of music education.

Presenter, Dean M. Thornton is in his 19th year with Chicago Public Schools (CPS). He is currently in his 11th year at Harold Washington Elementary School as the main Music instructor for all of the General Music Classes. He has started a Beginning Band, Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band and restarted the String Program at the School. Dean is a member of the CPS All-City Staff and performs with several local jazz groups.

Improvisation: The Heart of Jazz?

This workshop is a synopsis of Orbert Davis’ course on the art of jazz improvisation.  Participants will receive instruction on developing skills that will enhance their ability to improvise and will be able to transfer information for the benefit of their students.  Topics include “Creative Freedom,” “Jazz Theory 101,”  “Learn from the Masters,” “How to Develop One’s Own Style,” and “The How, What, When, Where and Why of Practicing Jazz.”  Come prepared to BLOW! You will need to bring your instrument to receive the full benefit of this session.*

Presenter, Trumpeter, composer Orbert Davis is a clinical associate professor of music at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Orbert is also the co-founder, conductor and artistic director of the critically acclaimed Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, a 55+ member jazz-symphonic orchestra dedicated to multi-genre projects.  Composer, conductor Gunther Schuller describes Chicago Jazz Philharmonic as 'the only professional Third Stream orchestra in the US.' Orbert's 2004 CD release Blue Notes peaked at number eleven on the JazzWeek national radio charts, while his 2002 CD release, Priority, reached number seven and received a ‘four-star’ review from the Los Angeles Times. Having recorded over 3000 commercial jingles and record projects, he was named one of the "Chicagoans of the Year" for 2002 by Chicago Magazine. Winner of the 1995 Cognac Hennessy National Jazz Search, Orbert was chosen as one of the Chicago Tribune's 1995 Arts People of the Year and in 2000 Chicago Magazine named him Y2k Best Trumpeter in Chicago. Orbert has performed with Wynton Marsalis, TS Monk, Stevie Wonder, Dr. John, Kurt Elling, Ernie Watts, Ramsey Lewis, Grover Washington Jr., the Smithsonian Masterworks Jazz Orchestra and Bill Russo’s Chicago Jazz Ensemble, where he served as concertmaster from 1988-1998.
 

Show Me The Money – (Grant-Writing Workshop)

This workshop will assist participants in finding where the money is for their pet educational projects. Find out how a quest for funds to build a MIDI electronic piano/computer laboratory was successfully completed. Learn what it takes to write grants that can be funded from a practitioner who has been successful in garnering $200,000 in grant awards for programs in Chicago Public Schools. Participants will learn how to draft a letter of inquiry and receive lists of grant prospects.

Presenter Saundra Oliver-Brown has over forty years of progressive teaching and managerial experience. In her current role as Music Instructor at Harlan High School she has successfully raised $200,000 in grant awards. She has served as the Professional Development Coordinator for the Lyric Opera Company in Chicago and has been awarded grant funds from:  the Beaumont Foundation; Chicago Botanic Gardens; the Oppenheimer Family Foundation; the Chicago Foundation in Education and the City of Chicago Neighborhood Arts Program. Ms. Oliver-Brown is a member of the Organization of American Kodaly Educators (OAKE), Music Society.

Classroom Recording Techniques

This workshop is designed to discuss ways to choose a recording studio for performing groups and how to prepare your students to get the most out of the studio time. Techniques and effective low-cost ways for recording your own rehearsals will be introduced. Presenter, Mark S. Coulter is the Fine Arts Coordinator at Lenart Regional Gifted Center. He is the Principal Conductor for the All-City Elementary Jazz Ensemble and Trumpet Coach for the All-City Elementary Concert Band. He has a B.S. in Music Merchandising from Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina and a M.S. in Elementary Education from Chicago State University.

Presenter, Allen Kern is currently the Jazz Band Director at Julian High School. He studied 'recording technology" as an undergrad at Roosevelt University and gained experience video and audio taping musical and classical events for Columbia's Audio/Visual Department. He is currently studying "audio training" while completing his Masters in Music Business at Columbia College .Allen has also established his own recording studio - "Senses To Soul".

Tour of the Auditorium Theatre

This session will outline the steps it takes to ensure success in your music classroom.  This hands-on, interactive approach will be explored through participation. It is designed for the general music educator and the band director. You will need to bring your instrument and a folding music stand to receive the full benefit of this session.*

Presenter Diane “Lil Sax” Ellis is a master musician and solo alto saxophonist, tutored by musicians such as Sonny Stitt, Hank Crawford, Jimmy Ellis, and many more. She has performed with Jimmy McGriff and Charles Earland and as a soloist at festivals around the world. In addition to leading her own group she performs with several local big bands and also freelances with small combo groups around the Chicago area. Diane teaches music appreciation and band to over 850 children during the course of a week at the Arthur Dixon Elementary School.

The Diane Ellis Approach to Teaching Jazz Techniques for the Elementary Student

This workshop will give the band director insights and best practices on how to assist concert band students to perform jazz music in a big band or combo setting.

Presenter, William Braddan McClellan is currently the Music Curriculum Supervisor for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Office of Arts Education. . He began his teaching career in 1971 at Hess Upper Grade Center and over the years has served as band director at John Hope Middle School (1974); band director at Fenger High School (1976-1981); orchestra director at Chicago Vocational High School (1981), Curie Metro High School (1982-1988), George W. Collins High School (1989-1993), Steinmetz Academic Center (1993-1995) and Kenwood Academy (1995-2003). In 2005 he was appointed the Music Curriculum Specialist for the Chicago Public Schools Bureau of Cultural Arts. Mr. McClellan is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America and six-time recipient of the “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers Award.”

From Sousa to Basie

This workshop will give the band director insights and best practices on how to assist concert band students to perform jazz music in a big band or combo setting.

Presenter, William Braddan McClellan is currently the Music Curriculum Supervisor for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Office of Arts Education. . He began his teaching career in 1971 at Hess Upper Grade Center and over the years has served as band director at John Hope Middle School (1974); band director at Fenger High School (1976-1981); orchestra director at Chicago Vocational High School (1981), Curie Metro High School (1982-1988), George W. Collins High School (1989-1993), Steinmetz Academic Center (1993-1995) and Kenwood Academy (1995-2003). In 2005 he was appointed the Music Curriculum Specialist for the Chicago Public Schools Bureau of Cultural Arts. Mr. McClellan is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America and six-time recipient of the “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers Award.”
Teachers Award.”

Arranging Workshop/The Gil Evans Approach

This session will explore how to customize big band arrangements to your ensemble's strengths and weaknesses and add a bit of color ala Gil Evans.

Presenter Chip Gdalman teaches band and general music at Gompers Fine Arts Option Elementary School on the far south side of Chicago. He has also taught at the university level and is a working jazz saxophonist.
 

Miles’ Blues Are More Than A Color (A Vocal Approach)                                                                            

 Thislook at the blues form from a vocal approach.  Artist and participants will explore variations on the rhythmic placement of lyrics to discover the commonality of the blues song form.  An example of the harmonious overlapping of Miles Davis’ ALL BLUES with several other blues songs demonstrates song form, variations of rhythmic feel, call and response, and the jazz musicians' device of “musical referencing.”  Improvisation and spontaneous creative substitutions make this a fun workshop offering the opportunity for non musicians to also take part and contribute.

Presenter Maggie Brown has toured nationally and internationally in concert, released recordings with major artists and has her own independent label, MagPie Records. She is well known in Chicago for her appearances at Millennium Park, Chicago Jazz Festival and Symphony Center at colleges, schools and libraries throughout the city and suburbs.  The mother of three young boys, Maggie sees the need to work through the Arts to make an impact on young lives. Her message fosters care and respect for words, music, history and life. Maggie describes what she does as “edutainment.” Maggie Brown is committed to using her gifts to not only entertain, but educate as well. As the daughter of the late Oscar Brown, Jr., Maggie embodies a deep understanding of the essential need of the arts in the development of a well-rounded educated student.

You can download the registration form here