Jazz Education

What North Indian Music Practice Can Teach Jazz Musicians

The improvisational language of jazz and that of Hindustani (North Indian) music share manysimilarities, which we will get to in a minute, but first the main difference: the absence ofharmony in Indian classical music. While modal improvisation is familiar to jazz, the variety ... more

The Distilled Sounds Of Melodic Minor

The melodic minor scale (in its ascending form) is notoriously elusive for intermediate jazz students. It is also indispensable, and is often referred to as ‘jazz minor’. Featured prominently in countless standards and jazz classics such as ‘Solar’, ‘I Hear a Rhapsody’ ... more

Experience the joy of jazz improvisation with Patience Higgins

You are a musician, working at your instrumental or vocal technique yet you reach a dead end. Your goal is to play jazz, and you may have had private instruction but found that is not really working, and that’s why New York Jazz Workshop can assist with your needs. The New ... more

Discover the instrument everyone owns: the voice, with Olivia Foschi

For vocalists who have tackled other styles of music, they may wonder where they can learn jazz vocals to broaden their horizons and take the vocal workshop with the renowned Olivia Foschi. The New York Jazz Workshop , conveniently located at 265 W. 37th between 8th avenue in ... more

How has the pandemic impacted jazz as we go forward in a new reality?

How has the pandemic affected jazz in a new reality? When COVID manifested itself in January 2020 worldwide, there were a ton of questions about how society would function? How would musicians make money? Would they be able to attain gigs? The pandemic saw some venues in the ... more

Were Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart jazz musicians?

Were Beethoven, Bach and Mozart jazz musicians? That seems like a loaded and frankly ridiculous question to ask. The answer is quite obviously no, but jazz has been so influenced by classical composers because it is directly in the DNA alongside it’s African and Latin ... more

Experience is the best teacher: A few questions with Giacomo Gates

Giacomo Gates, and his velvety toned baritone voice will grace the New York Jazz Workshop teaching a masterclass on May 19th. As a supplement to the profile piece just published, I had the opportunity to ask him a few brief questions. In this very rich interview you’ll ... more

Dave Liebman in Conversation with CJ Shearn

Dave Liebman is one of the most individual, inventive saxophonists and flautists in all of jazz. Over the course of his fifty year career, Liebman has played with Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, Richie Beirach, McCoy Tyner and many others. He is also a superb jazz educator having ... more

New York Jazz Workshop Podcast Series with CJ Shearn #1: Jim Ridl

The New York Jazz Workshop Podcast Series is designed to feature interviews with faculty on their approaches to jazz education. Occasionally, interviews with the biggest stars on the jazz scene will be featured where they discuss their new releases, and thoughts on jazz ... more

Marc Mommaas’ “Irreversible Momentum” by CJ Shearn

Marc Mommaas is a multifaceted saxophonist, and jazz educator who is free of boundaries; freedom is the very essence of this music we call jazz. In 2009 he co-founded New York Jazz Workshop School of Music and Marc’s generous spirit has contributed mightily to the ... more

Talking about “Kin” (<-->) with Pat Metheny: by CJ Shearn

Pat Metheny has been one of the greatest musicians in jazz or any other genre over the past 30 plus years. The guitarist has done what every great musician should do: create their own voice and add to the grammar of a music ever expanding. He has won an unprecedented 20 Grammy ... more

What are the elements of Jazz?

What are the elements of Jazz? Jazz is a music with many different elements, and styles. As previously discussed in What Makes Jazz Different from Other Music? the form retains it’s essential character no matter what influences it absorbs. Some of the earliest ... more