Educational Blogs
Teaching Jazz: Tailoring Music Lessons for Every Student – 21/4/25
Delivered by JMI's Course Coordinator, Charlotte Mclean, this workshop is aimed towards teachers looking to develop their skills in lesson planning and development in teaching jazz. Teaching is more than delivering information—it's about connection, creativity, and...
Creative freedom through variation
We asked JMI lecturer Graeme Norris (Woodwind, Improvisation Techniques) about some of his approaches to teaching improvisation here at JMI. Have a read below about his thoughts on developing creative freedom through variation on themes. Creative freedom through...
Exploring Jazz When You’re Unsure of What to Listen to
Exploring Jazz When You're Unsure of What to Listen to By Charlotte Mclean, JMI Course Coordinator Jazz is a labyrinth of different styles, eras, and instrumentation and deciding where to start can often become overwhelming. Whether you're a seasoned Jazz musician or...
Interview with JMI Student Chris James
JMI's Course Coordinator, Charlotte Mclean, recently sat down with current JMI Bachelor student and alto saxophonist Chris James to chat about where his affinity for music began, his experiences at JMI and his love for Sonny Stitt. Please tell us a little about...
What is Swing? Getting Inside the Sound We All Love
By Charlotte Mclean, JMI Course Coordinator The word "swing" in Jazz serves multiple purposes, encompassing the genre itself, its rhythmic essence, the approach of musicians, and the quality of the music itself, sometimes described as “having the Jazz spirit" or...
How to solo on a jazz blues (Part 4 of 4)
HOW TO SOLO ON A JAZZ BLUES - PART 4 Chord extensions & substitutions By Travis Jenkins, JMI lecturer (Guitar, Jazz Materials, Ensemble, Jazz Composition) Part 1 of How to Solo on a Jazz Blues focused on using the melody and different formations of the major and...
How to solo on a jazz blues (Part 3 of 4)
HOW TO SOLO ON A JAZZ BLUES - PART 3 (Guide tones, Approach Tones and Enclosures) By Travis Jenkins, JMI lecturer (Guitar, Jazz Materials, Ensemble, Jazz Composition) In Part 1 of How to Solo on a Jazz Blues, we discussed how you can use the melody and different...
How to solo on a jazz blues (Part 2 of 4)
HOW TO SOLO ON A JAZZ BLUES - PART 2 By Travis Jenkins, JMI lecturer (Guitar, Jazz Materials, Ensemble, Jazz Composition) In Part 1 of How to Solo on a Jazz Blues, we looked at using the melody and different formations of the major and minor blues scale to improvise...
How to solo on a jazz blues (Part 1 of 4)
HOW TO SOLO ON A JAZZ BLUES - PART 1 By Travis Jenkins, JMI lecturer (Guitar, Jazz Materials, Ensemble, Jazz Composition) For most musicians who have had some experience with improvising, the blues form is already something they will be fairly familiar with. The 12...
Jazz voice: Navigating your own unique path
Jazz voice: Navigating your own unique path By Charlotte Mclean, JMI Course Coordinator Like professional singers of any genre, Jazz singers work hard to hone their craft and find their own individual sound. But how does Jazz differ in practice and how does one find...
Project Week at JMI: A week of exploration and growth
At Jazz Music Institute, we believe in the power of immersion and exploration. Music isn't just about theory and practice; it's about the experiences, the journeys, and the stories that music can tell. This philosophy is beautifully encapsulated in our annual Project...
A Week with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
JMI were very fortunate to spend an entire week with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra from the 4th to 9th September, 2023. We're still buzzing from all the amazing experiences we had, so we thought what better way to do so than to share with...