The Academy maintains a pre-screened roster of professional musicians in the local area that are qualified to provide one-on-one instruction to Academy Member Students. The Academy provides course guidelines, training, tools and communication facilities to the instructor-musicians. Private instruction on all instruments covering applied music fundamentals as well as, jazz music and improvisational techniques is available. Prospective students and parents may review the instructor roster bios and make a preliminary selection of the instructor(s) that best suits your requirements. The Academy will arrange an interview between you and the instructor(s) to confirm and ensure the selected instructor(s) suitability. The private instruction sessions are offered based the student’s age and level of proficiency on the instrument. Recommended duration for private sessions are as follows:
Private Lessons
Beginners [Ages 8-11]
30 minutes
Less than one year playing a musical instrument. Limited formal instruction. No to limited ability to read music.
—
Beginners [Age 12 and over]
1 hour
Less than one year playing a musical instrument. Limited formal instruction. Limited ability to read music.
—
Advanced Beginner
1 hour
More than one year but less than two years playing a musical instrument. Has memorized and can play 3 major scales. Understands key signatures, can recognize and observe most often used symbols pertaining to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and other expressive details and can read and perform simple musical excerpts never seen before.
—
Intermediate
1 hour (30 minutes improvisation)
More than two years playing a musical instrument. Has memorized and can play 6 major scales. Can recognize and observe all symbols pertaining to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and other expressive details and can read and perform a musical score never seen before in simple and compound meters. Can extemporaneously create a melody using the pentatonic scale on the Blues progression. (Beginning improvisation)
—
Company
1.5 hours (1 hour improvisation)
More than three years playing a musical instrument. Has memorized and can play all major, minor, blues, and pentatonic scales. Can recognize and observe all symbols pertaining to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and other expressive details and can read and perform a musical score never seen before in simple and compound meters. Can recognized different jazz styles and can play expressively, incorporating appropriate contrasts of dynamics, phrasing and articulations in the style of music being performed. Can extemporaneously create a melody that is compatible with complex chord progressions (improvisation). Can transpose music from one key to another.
Students achieving the level of Company are periodically chosen to perform in concert with area professional musicians. All students admitted to the “Company” level of proficiency, who are pursing high school diplomas, are expected to maintain at least a “C” average. Students who do not maintain a “C” average for two consecutive grading periods will not be eligible for any performance opportunities during the school year.
—
Advanced
1.5 hours (45 minutes improvisation)
More than three years playing a musical instrument. Has memorized and can play all major scales. Can recognize and observe all symbols pertaining to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and other musical terms. Can read and perform a musical score never seen before in simple and compound meters. Can recognized and improvise on the Blues form and simple Rock and Latin progressions.
Specific times and locations of the lessons are arranged directly between the student and the selected instructor. Students may however, view instructor availability and schedule lessons through this website. The fee schedule for each instructor has been pre-negotiated by the Academy.
Saxophone – Paul Carr
Paul Carr, a Houston native and 1985 Howard University graduate, has dedicated his professional career to mastering the saxophone and the art of Jazz.
Bass – Pepe Gonzalez
Pepe started his music career playing the electric bass in his late teens, when he formed one of the first integrated bands (between African-Americans and
Hispanics) in the Washington, DC area. In his early twenties, Pepe became inspired by the virtuosic bass sounds of Paul Chambers and Charles Mingus. For the past 35 years, he has studied the jazz idioms along with the African influenced styles, while maintaining a career in classical music as well.
Presently Pepe is the Assistant Director of the Jazz Academy under the Director Paul Carr. He teaches Jazz Bass and Jazz Studies at the Levine of Music and is also a clinician around the Mid-Atlantic Region.