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.
Intermediate Jazz Theory, Totally II-Vs
Totally II Vs is a yearlong course developed and taught by Jazz Night School founder and executive director Erik Hanson to build proficiency improvising in all keys. The program includes three ten-week quarters focused on major, minor, and mixed tonalities.
Sooner or later, every improviser needs to develop fluency in all 12 keys. Whether playing within the overall tonality or creating melodies on chords of the moment, ease in each key is essential. Using II V I studies as the foundation builds 12-key fluency while also providing the skills needed to improvise comfortably over the majority of harmonies found in songs. The only way to gain this fluency is through dedicated work—join us to level up your comfort and skills with:
- II V I progressions
- Releases and tensions
- Scale facility and scale patterns
- Diatonic triads and seventh chords
- 7s to 3s / Guide Tones
By the end of the course, students can expect to have significantly improved their 12-key fluency and ability to instantly recognize and improvise over II Vs in every key.
Homework: Recommended homework and practice schedule will vary from week to week. Instructor will provide weekly homework assignments and give feedback on student work throughout the quarter.
Students requirements: Regular attendance and daily exercise is critical for maximizing learning and integration of skills into a student's performances.
Knowledge of note names on your instrument and at least a general knowledge of major scale construction.
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.