Individuals
US$48.00
per week per student
Basic Jazz Theory and Improvisation for All Instruments
First Name
Steven
Last Name
Rudolph
Course Summary
The musical art form Jazz is one of the most wonderful contributions from the American experience to the world's musicians. In jazz, every voice has the opportunity to express their creative nature, an authentically democratic environment that enables originality. Music is a language with a universal tongue and jazz studies train musicians to converse freely at the moment with players from all nations.
Lives In
Harrisburg, PA
United States
Course Duration
30 Weeks
Number of Students per section
2
Course Level
Beginner
Instruction Language
English
Educator Profile
Profile Picture
Instructor
First Name
Steven
Last Name
Rudolph
Number of years of relevant experience
40 Years Experience
From: United States
Study Details
Butler University
Work Details
Organization / Institute Name
Central PA Friends of Jazz
Organization / Institute Name
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
Course Details
Steven Rudolph is a great believer that while playing jazz, every voice has the opportunity to express their personal creative nature through improvisation and that jazz can create the perfect environment to foster each musicians originality. To allow students to become comfortable with improvisational playing, Steven will instruct them through the essential basic skills and jazz theory which can help students to understand how and when to improvise when playing with other musicians.
Steven will initially conduct a question and answer session which each new student to gauge their individual interests and skills within the medium of jazz. From this discussion, he will create a bespoke lesson plan, tailored specifically to each student's individual skills, experience level, aspirations and goals. Students will be taught basic jazz theory, how to improvise properly with their instrument, basic composition and developing basic jazz vocabulary through ear training exercises.
Student's must have competent knowledge of their chosen instrument, especially an understanding and demonstratable knowledge of major chords and scales. They must also have a desire to learn the art of improvisation. Lessons can be tailored towards the student's schedule, with classes conducted weekly, bi-weekly or monthly to suit their needs.
In summary, during each 45 minute class, Steven Rudolph will instruct students on many aspects of basic jazz theory, improvisation, basic composition, and assisting students on ear training with an emphasis on developing jazz vocabulary. Steven will help students to find their unique style and voice to help them to express their creativity through the medium of jazz. Students from all instrumental backgrounds are welcome on this course and classes will be scheduled around their timetable.
About the Teacher: Steve Rudolph has had an inspiring career in his 50+ years of professional music-making. With fourteen acclaimed CDs as a leader, he has acted as an arranger, performer and producer on many various recordings. His immense experience has allowed him to be part of concert performances with many jazz masters and he has toured throughout the U.S, Europe, India, Russia, Canada and throughout the Caribbean. He is co-leader of Alberta's River City Big Band and the pianist alongside Phil Haynes and Drew Gress in the acoustic trio Day Dream. In 2002, Steve was the winner of the Harrisburg Arts Award for his dedication to the arts and services to the community. He has also received two Composition Fellowships from the PA Council on the Arts and his original compositions have been performed by many jazz ensembles as well as the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra.
The ipassio Edge
Students enrolling for this course on ipassio can be sure that they receive individual attention from the teacher, as the class strength is limited to 1 or 2 students. It also gives teachers the opportunity, to gauge their student's progress in-depth and make changes whenever and wherever required, to ensure the student gets the maximum out of this course. Since this course is detailed, students get the advantage of learning intricate details about this art form. The limited strength of the class also ensures that there is a strong bond between the students and their teacher clearing out any inhibitions that the student might have. The sustained guidance available from the teacher ensures that the student does not deviate from set goals or targets. Learning from a revered, experienced exponent of this art form, through the long duration of this course, keeps the student inspired and motivated to achieve more.
Course Specific Benefits
You will learn basic music theory as it relates to jazz - how to utilize scales, intervals, modes, chord patterns, and jazz rhythms to build melodies and improvise. The course includes studying many compositions that have become jazz standards, learning to play in all keys, and improve your ability to play by ear. You will also learn about the history of the music, become aware of the varied styles of jazz and its influential artists.
About Teacher
Steve Rudolph has had an inspiring career in his 50+ years of professional music making. Jazz Improv magazine states, “Rudolph is a savvy, swinging, glimmering heavyweight… ...simply outstanding.” With fourteen acclaimed CDs as a leader, he has served as producer, arranger and performer on many recordings with Johnny Coles, Bill Goodwin, Ali Ryerson, Matt Wilson, Drew Gress, Roger Humphries, Cal Collins, Drew Gress, Phil Haynes, and Vinny Valentino. His vast experience encompasses concert performances with jazz masters Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, Terry Gibbs, Al Grey, Buddy DeFranco, Denis DiBlasio, and the Mills Brothers. Steve has toured throughout the U.S., India, Europe, Canada, Russia and the Caribbean. He is co-leader of the River City Big Band and pianist in the acoustic trio Day Dream with Phil Haynes and Drew Gress. Currently a Yamaha Keyboard Artist, he is in demand as a clinician and performer and has taught at Elizabethtown College, Bucknell University, Susquehanna University, and Penn State University among many others.
Steve was born in Evansville and was raised in Southern Indiana near Boonville where he began paying trumpet at age eight. He studied trumpet and composition under scholarship at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN, where he discovered an inspiring jazz community in the late 60's. He switched his main instrumental focus to the piano at age 22 and was hired by Buddy Morrow to tour with the legendary Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 1977. Since moving to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1978, he has been largely responsible for the growth and development of the thriving jazz scene in Central PA. His devotion to the art of jazz inspired him to found the Central PA Friends of Jazz, now in its 40th successful year of monthly concerts, youth band, jazz camp, and annual Central PA Jazz Festival. He served as the Executive Director of CPFJ from 2012 to 2019. Steve was the recipient of the 2002 Harrisburg Arts Award for dedication to the arts and community service. He received two Composition Fellowships from the PA Council on the Arts and his compositions have been performed by the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and countless jazz ensembles. Steve is well known in Central PA for his 22 year, 6 night a week gig as jazz pianist at the Hilton Harrisburg.
Prerequites
A competent knowledge of your instrument, major scales, and a desire to learn the art of improvisation.
Weekly Schedule
These sections are for individual students.
Click on Enrol corresponding to the Section that matches your schedule.
| If none of the above timings work for you, just sign up for a free session and we'll work out the timings. | Sign up for a Free Session |
| SECTION | DAY & TIME | Available | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Section
Section A
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Mon 10:00am - 10:45am America/New_York
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2 Seats |
| SECTION | DAY & TIME | Available | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Section
Section B
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Tue 10:00am - 10:45am America/New_York
|
2 Seats |
| SECTION | DAY & TIME | Available | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Section
Section C
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Wed 10:00am - 10:45am America/New_York
|
2 Seats |
| SECTION | DAY & TIME | Available | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Section
Section D
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Thu 10:00am - 10:45am America/New_York
|
2 Seats |
| SECTION | DAY & TIME | Available | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Section
Section E
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Fri 4:00pm - 4:45pm America/New_York
|
2 Seats |
| SECTION | DAY & TIME | Available | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Section
Section F
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Sat 4:00pm - 4:45pm America/New_York
|
2 Seats |
| SECTION | DAY & TIME | Available | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Section
Section G
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Sun 5:00pm - 5:45pm America/New_York
|
2 Seats |
FAQs
Question
Can this course be customized?
Answer
Yes, the course can be customized.
Question
Can students of all age enroll to this course?
Answer
All students who have a competent knowledge of their instrument, major scales, and a desire to learn the art of improvisation.
Question
How much time should a student enrolling for this course practice everyday?
Answer
Students should practice a minimum of 30 minutes every day. If they can devote more time to practice, they will learn better and faster.
Question
What if the teacher wishes to reschedule a class?
Answer
In case the teacher is unavailable for the scheduled class, he/she will inform the students two days prior to the class. The teacher will conduct the rescheduled class on or before the end (i.e. Saturday) of the ensuing week or such other time as may be mutually decided between the teacher and the student.
Question
What if a student is unable to attend an upcoming class?
Answer
The student is required to inform the teacher about his absence from a particular session, two days prior to the class. In such a case, the teacher will reschedule the class and conduct the rescheduled class on or before the end (i.e. Saturday) of the ensuing week or such other time as may be mutually decided between the teacher and the student. In case the student misses to give two days prior notice about his absence to the teacher, then the decision to conduct another class for that student is completely based on teacher’s discretion.
Question
How long will the teacher take to revert to a query raised after class hours?
Answer
The teacher will try to revert back to queries raised after class hours within a 24 hour period.