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Jazz Camp for Girls in Sheffield at Spring Tank Studios
Nigel Slee Nigel Slee

Jazz Camp for Girls in Sheffield at Spring Tank Studios

Our latest Jazz Camp for Girls took place at Spring Tank Studios in Sheffield. The communal atmosphere and bright aesthetic at the studio helped the girls to feel safe and relaxed which is vital for a workshop focussed on improvisation and developing new skills.

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International Women's Day and the Jazz Camp for Girls weekend
Nigel Slee Nigel Slee

International Women's Day and the Jazz Camp for Girls weekend

On Saturday 8th March Jazz North will be joining supporters around the globe to celebrate International Women’s Day and, closer to home, our ‘Jazz Camp for Girls’ weekend. Earlier in the week jazz camp project manager Helena Summerfield visited Manchester University to deliver a seminar and improvisation workshop for music students as part of their Musica Festival programme.

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Education Forum: Focus on Youth Jazz Orchestras
Nigel Slee Nigel Slee

Education Forum: Focus on Youth Jazz Orchestras

The Education Forum focused on the conclusion of a significant project funded by Arts Council, which involved commissioning 10 British jazz composers to create new pieces for 10 youth jazz orchestras across northern England.

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Is there too much improvisation in the Model Music Curriculum?
Nigel Slee Nigel Slee

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.

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