Jazz Music Studies in Italy – SUMMER 2026
The Schedule
Sunday, June 7th – Saturday, June 13th, 2026
Day 1(Sunday, June 7th)
- Arrival at San Miniato Train Station.
- Transfer to Agriturismo La Pineta. Settle in, unpack luggage, relax by the pool.
- Evening: Al fresco welcome dinner in the garden with Tuscan specialties and wines.
Day 2(Monday, June 8th)
- Morning: Morning swim (optional), breakfast, rhythm at the pool.
- Afternoon: Ensemble session and masterclass.
- Evening: Vineyard tour, wine tasting, and pasta making class.
- Dinner: Handmade pasta dinner in the garden.
Day 3(Tuesday , June 9th)
- Morning: Morning swim (optional), breakfast, rhythm at the pool.
- Afternoon: Free time to practice or your choice of excursion: beach trip or thermal baths.
- Evening: Dinner followed by optional evening hang/jam session.
Day 4(Wednesday, June 10th)
- Morning: Breakfast, rhythm at the pool.
- Afternoon: Ensemble session.
- Evening: Optional trip to Florence in the late afternoon followed by dinner.
Day 5(Thursday, June 11th)
- Morning: Breakfast, rhythm at the pool.
- Afternoon: Ensemble session and masterclass. Free time to relax by the pool, practice, or optional excursion.
- Evening: Dinner for all in Torre and evening hang.
Day 6(Friday, June 12th)
- Morning: Breakfast, rhythm at the pool.
- Afternoon: Ensemble session, rehearse for concert .
- Evening: Final concert in Fucecchio!
Gallery
PRICING
Prices include accommodations, all musical activities, group meals, and excursions.
| Room Type | Single guest (with music course) | Single guest (without music course) | Bring a guest (not participating in music course) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entire Apartment (On or walking distance from property) | $3300 | $1650 | $850 |
| Regular Rooms at La Pineta or nearby (may share foyer and bathroom) | $2900 | $1250 | $775 |
| Additional Nights (If arriving early or staying between sessions) | N/A | $275 | $140 |
| Regular Rooms at La Pineta (with shared foyer and bathroom) | N/A | $208 | $129 |
Includes accommodations, group meals, and scheduled excursions. Music sessions are not included.
Airport transfers from Pisa or Florence $145 each way.
Meet the Faculty
Marc Mommaas
Marc co-founded the New York Jazz Workshop with Marco Chelo and the Hudson Jazz Works with Armen Donelian, has done masterclasses at conservatories across the globe, and he is an in demand saxophone and composition teacher in NYC. Marc is currently working on a text book on “a rhythmic approach of improvisation and composition for linear instruments” as well as a jazz theory book.
Marc made his debut as a leader in his 1999 recording Global Motion Trio with Nikolaj Hess (piano) and John Hebert (bass). In 2001 the acclaimed drummer Tony Moreno joined the group which became Global Motion. Their recordings, relesed by Sunnyside Records, earned critical acclaim in Downbeat, Jazztimes, Jazzimprov, All About Jazz and numerous online news outlets.
Marc has toured the world with many formations including the Amina Figarova sextet, and with other formations lead by Tony Moreno, Tim Horner, Armen Donelian and many more. He played all the main stages, from the New Port Jazz Festival to Carnegie Hall.
Kenny Wessel
Kenny Wessel, a versatile, sensitive and soulful guitarist and composer, has performed in 27 countries. He toured with revolutionary jazz artist Ornette Coleman for over 12 years as a member of Prime Time, Ornette’s groundbreaking ensemble. Kenny can be heard on Coleman’s CD, Tone Dialing. Performing Ornette’s “Skies of America,” Wessel has appeared with Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic and London’s Philharmonia Orchestra.
A vital and personal voice on the jazz guitar, he has also worked with Donald Fagen (featured guitar soloist on Fagen’s Morph the Cat), David Liebman, John Abercrombie, Karl Berger, Debbie Harry, Gloria Lynne, Adam Rudolph and others from the jazz, pop and world music spectrum. Ken has a strong interest in world music, particularly with North Indian music, and he has performed with Debashish Bhattacharya, Karaikudi Mani, V.M. Bhatt, Samir Chatterjee, Steve Gorn and others.
Wessel co-leads a trio with jazz tabla master Badal Roy. Their CD, Daybreak was included in JAZZIZ magazine’s Top 10 Critic’s Picks. Ken and Badal toured India and the U.S. with their composition, “Testimony,” which was commissioned by the Battery Dance Company. Wessel’s most recent CD, Weights & Measures received 4 stars in Downbeat magazine and has made critics’ best of 2012 lists. As a U.S. Jazz Ambassador, Ken has toured South Asia and South America, visiting India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bengladesh and Venezuela in 2002-03. A dedicated jazz educator, Wessel currently teaches at LIU, CCNY, and Western Connecticut State University, in addition to leading 2 ensembles at the New York Jazz Workshop. He also gives clinics and workshops around the world and has taught at universities and festivals, including: Oslo Music Academy, ICSMS Festival (Istanbul, Turkey), Mahaidol University (Bangkok), Yale University, Manhattan School of Music, and many others.
Michelle Walker
Michelle Walker is a New York City based jazz vocalist, arranger and educator with an international resume of concert and festival performances, touring Russia, the UK, and the Netherlands. Other performance highlights include The Lincoln Center-Women in Jazz Festival, The Silver Spring Jazz Festival and live jazz performances throughout the US.
Michelle is often compared to Cassandra Wilson, Nina Simone and Betty Carter in style and tone. She has opened in concert for Wynton Marsalis, Rene Marie, George Benson and Mark Murphy. Her arrangements of straight-ahead standards and contemporary pop tunes blend genres effortlessly. Critics have noted that she has a singular voice with a high level of originality that is solidifying her own distinctive sound. Michelle has been on the New York Jazz Workshop faculty since 2018. Michelle is on the board of directors of the New York Music Institute an organization dedicated to expanding access to music education.
What You Can Expect
Included
Not Included
Ready to Join?
Secure your spot today! Register Without Commitment for More Information and be part of an unparalleled jazz experience in Italy.
Topics and Prerequisites
Jazz Improvisation Workshop in Italy – Topics: – melody, harmony , rhythm., Ear-training, formal versus informal – Composition as a tool to find your voice – Ornette Coleman’s Muse – Alterations and Superimposition – Rhythm in an harmonic context and Rhythmic expansion – Practicing routine, how to organize your materials
Participants Max and Rhythm Section: – We will accept a maximum of 15 participants. Which divided in two or three groups will guarantee an intimate and personal experience and will allow the teachers to balance out the materials according to the needs of each student – There will be a rhythm section at all times, either consisting of the participants or professionals