drummer. composer. educator.
PRESENTING THE INAUGURAL
Jazz Rhythm Section Intensive online camp!
Many summer music camps have cancelled due to Covid-19, so we want to bring learning and performing music into your home.
This is a completely new, interactive online rhythm section workshop specifically crafted to help young rhythm section players improve their technique, understand new ways to actively listen to fellow musicians, and expand their abilities as musicians and instrumentalists. We will be focusing on the way in which the piano, bass, and drums work as a team within the music.
What is the Rhythm Section?
PIANO
DRUMS
BASS
Pianists, bassists, and drummers make up the rhythm section in a typical jazz trio or ensemble.
Guitar, vibraphone, and percussion are also considered rhythm section instruments and are welcome to attend, although for this course we are focusing on our area of expertise - the piano trio.
Who is this For?
13+
RHYTHM MUSICIANS
College and high school music students age 13 and up who have been playing their instruments for 12 months or more, and have jazz ensemble experience.
Rhythm section musicians who want to further improve their group awareness, and jazz performance skills.
Why Choose JRSI?
TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONALS WITH REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
The Jazz Rhythm Section Intensive (JRSI) is being taught by a professional working rhythm section: Dan Schnelle on drums, Josh Nelson on piano, Alex Boneham, on bass. Together they have recorded and toured worldwide as the Josh Nelson Trio, in addition to working as a rhythm section for a range of prominent artists.
Having actively worked for many years in a trio format, we will draw on real-world experience to discuss various aspects of what it means to play and engage individually, and in a larger ensemble.
INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING
With space limited to only 5 musicians per instrument, each student will get individualized attention and learning time.
ORIGINAL PRACTICE MATERIALS
The Trio will create original play-a-long recordings specifically for this camp to work on different aspects of playing in a rhythm section. The students will work with these recordings throughout the week, and keep their recordings after the camp.
Logistics
How It Works
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The JRSI will be a 5 day long intensive camp with daily sessions covering technique, ear-training and listening skills, musicianship classes, master-classes, and individual lessons.
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There will be approximately 3-4 hrs of interactive class time for every student each day. We will also utilize recording technology to create play-a-long tracks for the students to practice and record with, and to share with fellow attendees throughout the week.
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The classes will take place over Zoom and will be spaced throughout the day, allowing time in between for practicing new concepts, as well as ample time to get away from the computer to stretch, eat, and go outside.
Program Dates & Tuition
SESSION 1
July 27 - July 31, 2020
SESSION 2
August 3 - August 7, 2020
Both camps will cover similar material.
We are committed to keeping the cost of this camp reasonable. Your tuition will go towards paying the artists, as well as costs for technology and preparation of tracks. Payment in full is required to register, and there are no refunds after registration.
TUITION: $500. Sign up by July 1st for a $50 discount!
Audition Requirements
To ensure the experience runs smoothly for all attendees, we ask that each participant has a minimum level of jazz ensemble experience. Each applicant should submit one video link to a performance of a jazz standard or blues with their application. The video does not need to be professional quality and can be solo, or with an ensemble.
If you have any questions regarding the audition requirements, feel free to reach out.
Get to Know the Instructors
Dan Schnelle
DRUMS
Dan Schnelle is one of the most talented, in-demand drummers in the Los Angeles area. He understands how to make other musicians comfortable, while bringing enough of the unexpected to his playing to keep it consistently exciting. Unsatisfied with the idea that the drum set is merely a time-keeping device, Schnelle is thoughtful about how this unique instrument, with its nearly limitless variety of sounds, can be tastefully and effectively deployed in a wide variety of musical situations. Find him performing, recording or collaborating with great artists, including Billy Childs, Anthony Wilson, Josh Nelson, David Binney, Larry Goldings, Alan Ferber, Sara Gazarek, Laurence Hobgood, Walter Smith III, Joshua White, John Daversa, Dayna Stephens, Jeff Babko, Phillip Dizack, Nick Finzer, Larry Koonse, David Benoit, Karrin Allyson and many more. He formerly taught for both the Henry Mancini Institute and the Thelonious Monk Institute, and currently teaches at Cal State University Northridge and he has given countless clinics at universities across the country.
Josh Nelson
PIANO
This incredible pianist-composer-bandleader has performed with some of the most respected names in jazz including Kurt Elling, John Pizzarelli, Benny Golson, Sheila Jordan, John Clayton, George Mraz, Jeff Hamilton, Eddie Daniels, Joe Chambers, and Peter Erskine. Nelson toured with legendary vocalist Natalie Cole for six years and continues to tour with vocalists Gaby Moreno, Freda Payne, Alicia Olatuja, accordionist Richard Galliano, saxophonist Tom Scott, multi-instrumentalist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and violinist Christian Howes. He taught jazz for four years at Soka University and more recently at Cal State University Northridge. In 2006, Nelson was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. He has released 7 albums under his own name, and many others as a collaborator.
Alex Boneham
BASS
Bassist, composer and educator, Alex Boneham, is one of the most in demand bassists on the West Coast today. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Alex has worked extensively worldwide with a broad array of artists from across the musical spectrum.
In 2014 Alex relocated to Los Angeles, CA, to attend the prestigious Thelonious Monk (now Herbie Hancock) Institute of Jazz. During that time he both studied, and shared the stage with living legends such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Al Jarreau and Dee Dee Bridgewater, including a special performance at the White House for President Obama.
After finishing the Institute, Alex became the bassist of choice for many of Southern California’s leading creative musicians such as Billy Childs, Bob Sheppard, Eric Reed, Sara Gazarek, Josh Nelson, Walter Smith III and Joshua White. He has also been a prolific recording artist, appearing on over 40 studio albums, including Sara Gazarek’s 2x GRAMMY nominated album Thirsty Ghost. He can also be heard on various film and television scores, including the recently Oscar-nominated film, Ford vs Ferrari.
