Summer Concerts Monday through Friday at 7:30 p.m., there are major concerts in our 1000-seat Shea Auditorium featuring top-level professional jazz artists. These concerts, open to the public, are the summer portion of the acclaimed WP “Jazz Room” concert series, which also takes place in the spring and fall. Workshop students are admitted to these summer concerts free of charge as part of their enrollment. For current listings of upcoming Jazz Room events, see: http://www.wpunj.edu/wppresents/jazz.html “Meet and Greet” Sessions for Workshop Students Every day during the week at 4:00 p.m., the workshop students attend is a “meet and greet” session with that evening’s performing artist. Speaking candidly to students, the artist usually shares details of their successful professional life, such as how they became interested in jazz, learned to play it, got their first gigs, took care of music business dealings, dealt with life on the road, and recount interesting anecdotes about legendary jazz icons with whom they have worked. Frequently, the evening’s entire performing ensemble attends the session, not just the headlining artist. There can be spontaneous performances, informal instruction, or demonstrations for students after the formal session ends. A lengthy Q & A session is always included. This is a great opportunity for dialogue and interaction between aspiring students and some of the biggest names in jazz! Specialized Master Classes During the week after dinner, we offer specialized master classes for workshop students: A rhythm section master class for pianists, guitarists, bassists, and drummers A brass master class for trumpet and trombone players A saxophone master class for all saxophone players A vocal master class for singers These master classes give the students valuable instruction on their instruments in a group setting. Past master class clinicians have included saxophonist David Demsey, trumpet players Freddie Hendrix and Chris Rogers, guitarist Paul Meyers, and drummer Horacee Arnold. Private Lessons Private lessons are available from our staff members, who are all graduates of the WP Jazz Studies programs, and are working professional jazz musicians. Many of them are “up and coming” on the New York/New Jersey jazz scene. The cost of lessons is included in the workshop tuition.
