SUMMER 2026 INTENSIVE
We are very excited to introduce our three-day STRINGS Intensive as part of our Summer Jazz Intensive Workshop series.
About the Improvisation for STRINGS Program
Experience a one-of-a-kind opportunity to hone your skills and broaden your horizons with our exclusive three-day summer intensive. You will have the privilege of learning the art of improvisation from not one, not two, but three fantastic musicians Alyssa Chetrick (violin), Jackson Earles (violin) and Joshua Bieber (piano).
Throughout the intensive, each day will be led by a different faculty member who will provide you with invaluable insights and techniques to elevate your playing to the next level. With their diverse backgrounds and approaches, you will be exposed to a range of styles, compositions, and improvisational techniques that will help you expand your musical vocabulary and unlock new possibilities in your playing.
Don’t miss out on this unparalleled opportunity to learn from some of the most accomplished and innovative pianists in the industry
Topics:
– Ear-training, formal versus informal.
– How to learn a tune.
– Chord – scale relationships.
– Swing feel.
– Practicing routine, how to organize your materials.
and much more…..
Dates: Aug 26 – 27 – 28
Prerequisites:
-Instructors may ask for a recorded sample before admission
-At least 17 years of age
-Some of our intensives are better suited to intermediate and advanced musicians with a minimum of a few years on their instrument; other summer intensives, such as the beginner vocal and choir, are open to everyone. More details can be discussed during registration.
About the Faculty
Violinist and composer Alyssa Chetrick engages seamlessly between the jazz, theater, and classical scenes in New York and Tokyo.
At 19, she made her off-Broadway debut in Japan as an ensemble cast member (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812). She has since performed and directed for ensembles in venues such as Blue Note Place, Smalls Jazz Club, Lincoln Center, The Tokyo Metropolitan Theater, Jazz Gallery, The Schwarzman Center, 54 Below, and Nublu. As a sideman, she has worked with members such as Reggie Workman, James Griffin, Rin Seo, Eiko Ishibashi, and Marty Holoubek.
Chetrick obtained her BA/BFA in global studies (Lang) and Jazz and Contemporary music from the College of Performing Arts at the New School. She currently holds a chair in the Yale Modern Jazz Ensemble directed by Wayne Escoffery.
Chetrick composes for film, chamber, theater, galleries, and for her own ensemble; merging a dual musical background with contemporary influences. Her newest album “What Blooms in the Dark,” reflects on the environmental consequences of ‘business and usual,’ and was streamed on J-Wave Radio and WFUV.
Jackson Earles is a versatile, NYC-based violinist and fiddle player known for blending traditional bluegrass, old-time, and jazz styles. Originally from Colorado, he moved to New York to study at The New School and has since become an active part of the East Coast Jazz, acoustic and folk scenes.
Jackson grew up deeply immersed in Colorado’s acoustic music communities. Seamlessly shifts between hard-driving bluegrass fiddle and intricate, swinging jazz violin. He has a longstanding performance history with bands along the Colorado Front Range, playing at festivals like YarmonyGrass and the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown. Featured fiddle player for the Colorado-based acoustic and bluegrass group High Lonesome. Has contributed violin work for Nefesh Mountain, a prominent band merging American bluegrass with Jewish roots music. He is currently active in the New York City Jazz and acoustic folk-rock scene.
Joshua Bieber is a Jazz Pianist, Composer and Educator based in Inwood, NYC. Having graduated ‘The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music’ in 2019, Joshua has since garnered extensive experience working and performing in the New York music scene. Joshua has performed at prestigious festivals such as the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Jazz In The Valley (Hudson Jazz Festival), Harlem Nights Jazz (Uptown Night Market) and venues such as the Cotton Club or Rockwood Music Hall. As a bandleader, Joshua has performed extensively, notably leading trios and quartets at his weekly residency at NYC Jazz Club, “Melody’s Piano Bar” since 2022. In part under the tutelage of esteemed musicians such as Sam Yahel, Dave Kikoski, Kirk Nurok and Reggie Workman, Joshua has developed a unique musical personality that can be characterized by a loving embodiment of the jazz tradition with an introspective flare for classical and contemporary composition. Joshua’s influences are wide ranging and stretch from jazz masters such as Sonny Rollins and Barry Harris to composers such as Gustav Mahler and Shostakovich, even to songwriters such as the Beatles and Paul Simon. With his distinctive voice, technical prowess, as well as an eclectic collection of influences, Joshua Bieber is an emerging force making a dynamic contribution to the NYC jazz landscape. Joshua’s debut album as a bandleader, produced by renowned composer, Patrick Zimmerli, will be released later this year.
Tuition and Registration
Tuition:
$435 Early Bird – for registrations and payments received before March 31st
$465 for registrations received after April 1st
Registration:
To sign up for this Summer Intensive, fill out this brief registration form.
General Information
For more info regarding our summer program, housing, travel, and more, visit our Summer Workshop General Information page. For a more in-depth experience, inquire about adding a private lesson with someone from the NYJW Faculty during your visit. Feel free to reach out via email at info@newyorkjazzworkshop.com with any additional questions, including Learn more about how you can combine summer intensives to create a customized summer package.
What to expect:
When you join us for one or more of our intensives, you can expect to become a member of our tightly knit community. There will be musicians from all over the world looking to learn, explore and make connections. You will be making connections that last a lifetime. A typical day will be as follows:
10:00am – 12:00pm: Morning Sessions
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch Break
1:00pm – 4:00pm: Afternoon Sessions
Evenings: Free
Student will normally organize small groups or go check out some concerts. There will be opportunities for every student to perform outside of the school, more details coming up soon.
Alyssa Chetrick
Joshua Earles
Joshua Bieber