Patron: Kenny Wheeler

Junior Jazz
at the Royal Academy of Music on Saturdays
for entry in September 2011
A jazz musicianship course for
talented young musicians aged 13-18

Course director: Gareth Lockrane BMus, LRAM, ARAM, MA (NFTS)

Course administrator: Karen Ingram BA(Hons), Hon ARAM

Marylebone Road, London NW1 5HT

Tel. 020 7873 7380 • Fax 020 7873 7374
www.ram.ac.uk/juniors • Email: juniorjazz@ram.ac.uk
Registered Charity No. 310007
Junior Jazz
The Junior Jazz course was established in 2003 to help to
develop young students of school age with a strong interest in jazz. The
course is run under the auspices of Junior Academy.

The course

The course places young musicians into small ensembles where most of
their learning and performing is done. Work is largely practical, focusing on
improvisation, study of harmonic and rhythmic elements and playing in a variety
of styles. The importance of the ‘ear/instrument relationship’ in jazz performance
is strongly emphasised and listening across genres is encouraged throughout
the course. The course also includes the arrangement of standard jazz tunes for
ensembles. An appreciation of the key events and musicians who have shaped
the development of jazz in the past is given due emphasis.
We welcome applications from the following:
Piano, bass, drums/percussion, guitar, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, flute
(singers and other instrumentalists should contact us before applying).
The Junior Jazz course also provides the invaluable opportunity to meet and make
music with like-minded young players. Although the course cannot guarantee
subsequent entrance to the undergraduate Jazz course at the Academy, an aim
of the provision is to prepare students thoroughly for further specialist study at
Higher Education level and graduates of the Junior Jazz course have had an almost
100% success rate of gaining entry to one of the UK Conservatoire jazz courses.
There are close links with the Senior Academy Jazz Department (director Nick
Smart) and senior students regularly work with the Junior Jazz course.

Tuition and performance

Teaching sessions take place on Saturdays at the Royal Academy of Music,

from either 10am – 1pm or 2pm – 5pm. Performances are given regularly at the
Academy as part of the course, but also at other notable venues. Since 2006 the
summer term concerts have been at Soho Pizza Express with Kenny Wheeler and
then Ronnie Scott’s with John Parricelli, Gerard Presencer and Norma Winstone.
Workshops and masterclasses have been led by some of the country’s leading
performers and educators including Kenny Wheeler (patron of the Junior Jazz
course), Stan Sulzmann, Pete Churchill, Tim Garland, Gwilym Simcock, Nikki Iles,
Paul Clarvis and Soweto Kinch. Every year a leading ensemble spends a day
working with students. These have included The Perfect Houseplants, Neon Trio
and Partisans. Through the senior department many international artists are also
available to Junior Jazz and students have participated in masterclasses with Dave
Liebman, Mark Turner, Mike Moreno and Joe Lovano. The progress, involvement
and commitment of all students is monitored throughout the course.
Applications

Application should be made on the enclosed application form, with a deadline of

1st April 2011 for entry in September 2011.
There is a non-refundable application/audition fee of £22.
Auditions take place in the form of an ensemble workshop to observe how well
the players respond to the types of learning processes they would experience on
the course, and to give them a chance to see in more detail the type of teaching
on the course. Offers of places on the course will be made following the auditions
on Sunday 8th May 2011.

Fees and conditions

Fees for the academic year 2011/12 will be £420 per term (£1,260 pa), and there
will be a modest percentage increase for 2012/13.
A limited amount of bursary assistance is available for students who can
demonstrate financial need.
The course is nominally a two-year programme and places on the Junior Jazz
course are offered subject to continuing satisfactory progress and commitment.
The student’s best interests are the priority and they will be placed in the most
appropriate ensemble accordingly. A full term of notice in writing is required for
withdrawal from the course or a term’s fees are payable in lieu of notice.
There are three terms of eleven teaching weeks, following the normal pattern of
school terms, with a half-term Saturday break in the middle of each term.