This week, dozens of high school and college students will be gathered at UNC-Chapel Hill for a Summer Jazz Workshop taught at the university. Ambrosia DeConto, a junior at UNC majoring in music and communications, said she was enjoying learning new ways to play the guitar.
The course consists of a week’s worth of instrument lessons, combo rehearsals, and clinics with guest musicians. Participating college students earn 3 credit hours by completing the course work.
“I love the flexibility of the workshop. I was able to choose between beginner and advanced levels for performing and music theory, and I’m learning an entirely new genre of music,” said DeConto.
In addition to instruction in jazz performance and music theory, students are treated to a number of concerts put on by faculty and guest musicians. Featured performers this week include Rahsaan Barber, Kate McGarry, Juan Alamo, and others!
The week will culminate in a performance by student ensembles called “combos”. DeConto said that this performance experience is a really exciting opportunity for participants.
“We’ll be playing a tune called Killer Joe, which is about a drug dealer. It’s a kind of sad piece, even though it’s uptempo. Understanding the story behind the song, and the emotions that playing are supposed to bring up, has been a big part of what we’re learning in rehearsals,” DeConto said.