Just had my first improv workout with Eric. It was sooooo cool. And it makes sense.
Improv workshop was the first class I ever took at JNS some years ago and i took it again this winter. Erik has such a brilliant way of making it completely non threatening; getting everyone playing around in the shallow end of the pool and before you know it, you're paddling across the deep end. He's made the music-making essentials easy to understand and we spend most the time learning by doing. It was a great first class to take but it was also a great refresher and got me re-loosened up and feeling more confident in improvising. There is room to explore complexities along with the basics. Highly recommend!
As a beginning-ish musician with "just okay" ears, I found this class both invaluable and really enjoyable. It genuinely changed the way I listen to and interact with music. Erik's zero-pressure teaching style kept me from freaking out. The process is mysterious, but if you trust it and do the work, you will have revelations. Highly recommend. If you're on the fence, take it.
I think the “ask a question, answer a question” method used in this class is brilliant.
This class accelerated my musical growth more in one year than the previous twenty years put together.
Improv Workout
This class will meet weekly on Wednesdays running September 24th to December 3rd.
Improv Workout is Jazz Night School’s oldest and longest-running class, developed and taught by founder and executive director Erik Hanson. It is designed for students who have never improvised, are just beginning, or want to make their improvisation more engaging. Discover that improvisation—“spontaneous composition”—is easy when you tap into knowledge and abilities we all naturally possess.
- Build comfort and confidence in soloing
- Practice improv drills and exercises in a group performance setting
- Gain improvisation tools for practicing and applying in solos
- Learn foundational melodic composition concepts
This class is especially good for people who don't think they can improvise. Really!
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Beginning, intermediate, or advanced
Jazz Night School is a vibrant and welcoming community-based nonprofit music education program that is home to hundreds of like-minded learners. Our school offers great opportunities to meet other dedicated jazz students and artists. Whatever your skill level, we have a place for you.
Schedule a skills assessment
We strongly encourage all new students to schedule a complimentary skills assessment so we can help you figure out the best place to start.
What is it like to learn with us?
As a student at Jazz Night School, you'll be part of a friendly, supportive community that shares a love and deep appreciation for jazz music in all its various forms. Your development as a musician is our primary educational goal. Whatever your skill level, our program can help you improve your musicianship and discover your own unique musical voice. For new students, we provide a complimentary introductory session that includes a skills assessment. This session gives you a chance to share your goals and interests and helps us point you to the most appropriate offerings. Each quarter we offer a wide variety of classes and workshops on improvisation, harmony, ear-training, and specialized topics. Our online classes feature lots of discussion and opportunity for questions and answers. There are no grades at Jazz Night School; rather, instructors give each student individual feedback on an ongoing basis. Everyone's effort is valued. When public health restrictions are relaxed, we will return to offering group ensemble opportunities that culminate in a short performance at a local nightclub. This is a fun-filled evening where friends and family come to applaud student efforts and cheer them on to new heights of musical expression!
We understand that most of our students have important life commitments such as work and family. There may be days that you have to deal with a sick child or a pressing work deadline and you aren't able to put in as much practice time as you would have liked. We get it. Our goal is to support your musical aspirations at whatever pace you are able to sustain at this time in your life.
Instructors
Jazz Night School instructors are some of the finest musicians and educators in Seattle’s vibrant jazz community. Some have learned their art through old school traditions and others have studied at premier institutions such as Berklee College of Music, Eastman, Indiana University, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, and University of Miami.
All Jazz Night School policies must be adhered to for enrollment, policies can be found here.