A new Summer Camp aims to instil passion for jazz...
Trumpeter Ryan Quigley and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama’s newly appointed Head of Jazz, Andrew Bain lead the team of tutors who are hosting a five-day jazz summer camp in South Lanarkshire from 7th to 11th August.
Located at Wiston Lodge, an attractive Victorian hunting lodge near Biggar in the Pentland Hills, the course offers tuition from highly experienced players including two former Young Scottish Jazz Musicians of the Year who have gone on to international success as recording artists.
“It’s a highly qualified and talented group of tutors who can give students the tools they need to become confident and expressive musicians,“ says Quigley whose own touring and recording credits include work with Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Michael Buble, Ron Carter, George Michael, and Burt Bacharach.
Quigley believes that jazz music is a powerful tool for personal and artistic growth and he and his tutors will be striving to give everyone on the course the passion and self-belief that will enable them to improvise, collaborate, and perform with ease.
The course curriculum is designed to cover all aspects of jazz music, from the fundamentals of jazz theory to advanced techniques in big band and ensemble playing.
“Above all, we want students to enjoy playing jazz and to feel a sense of achievement in their own playing and in playing with other musicians,” says Quigley.
In addition to Quigley and Bain, students can learn from saxophonist Helena Kay, who recently released her second album, Golden Sands to considerable critical acclaim. The piano tutor, Tom Gibbs has playing and recording experience with musicians from both sides of the Atlantic and double bassist Andrew Robb is, like Kay, a former Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year and is now a senior lecturer at Leeds College of Music.
“Wiston Lodge itself is an inspiring environment,” says Quigley. “The accommodation is ideal and the food is all about balance and nutrition. Everything is set up so that students get the most out of the experience.”
