Latest News
Educator’s Forum with guest Bess Shooter
For this forum we are pleased to have guest Bess Shooter - a music creator and educator and baritone saxophonist with Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band. She is passionate about improvisation, DIY, UK jazz and experimental music scenes. She has worked with More Music and Jazz North’s Jazz Camp for Girls creating equal opportunities in jazz education and making music fun.
Artist Forum: The challenges and joys of being a band leader
A band is a unique and sometimes complicated relationship, full of different personalities and expectations. Good leadership is key to bringing everyone together, keeping things clear and making sure the whole band is working towards the same bigger goals. Without someone to inspire and guide them, a band can lose its motivation and sense of direction.
Merseyside Jazz Scene - Challenges and Solutions
Members of the Merseyside jazz community came together to discuss the challenges facing their local scene and explore potential solutions. The forum revealed a proactive desire to overcome these issues through collaborative efforts, improved communication, innovative financial models, and strategic advocacy. Read our report.
Is there too much improvisation in the Model Music Curriculum?
I recently counted up the references to ‘improvisation’ in the Model Music Curriculum. I spotted a total of 29. Is this too much? To a jazz enthusiast this is music to my ears (excuse the pun) but it raises questions of how a non music specialist primary school teacher or a less confident improvising music tutor would find these activities.