Greg Lyons
Groove Works
Groove Works is the name of the jazz writing and performance workshop course set up by Greg in Singapore.
It's main mission is to provide a workshop environment for the advanced student of jazz performance and composition, but it also caters for the intermediate and elementary musician in separate groups. The main class is structured to also be a performing unit that will be showcased on a weekly basis in public performance. Each performance therefore is a building-block in the student's - and the group's - development and provides an opportunity for an audience to witness the actual process of development of the new crop of jazz performers currently in Singapore.
Each course runs in 3x12-week sessions per year with fresh intakes in January, May and September. The main class involves 6 class hrs + one evening performance weekly. Group A is also offered as a full-time option (10 class hrs weekly + performance). Elements covered by the main groups include Jazz Theory, Composition, Arranging, Improvisation and Ensemble. Each element is presented in a way that is immediately applicable to performance by the members of the class whose participation is based around creating a performing unit. The junior group meets once a week for 2 hours with a final performance after 12 weeks.
Groups A & B
Are you a jazz musician in Singapore looking to raise your game? Or a classical/rock musician looking to expand your horizons? Come join one of the main groups. Designed for the budding professional as well as the serious amateur who wants to raise their game, the repertoire is based on current cutting-edge New York and European original works, which through analysis become the model for your own composition. Perform once a week under the direction of a seasoned professional in a jazz club.
An sample of repertoire from the main group:
East Coast Love Affair - Kurt Rosenwinkel
Prime Directive - Dave Holland
Aphelion - Janek Gwizdala
Algo Mas - Catia Werneck
De Sabado Pra Dominguinhos - Hermeto Pascoal
Smoke Signals - Greg Lyons
Declaration - Donny McCaslin
Joiner's Glue - Ilja Reijngoud
Consolation - Kenny Wheeler
Lor De Dan Mon Min - Meddy Gerville
Mr Dodo - Rosario GiulianiJunior Groove Works
For those not quite confident enough to put themselves regularly into the public arena we have the "junior" course. Aimed at introducing fledgling jazz musicians to the joys of group interplay and to developing expressive skills, the course uses the same process of mentorship as well as intensive coaching toward an an understanding of the rhythmic, melodic and harmonic foundations for improvisation. The group develops towards one performance at the end of the 12-week session.
If you would like to know more about the courses, please email us at grooveworks@greglyons.net
Copyright Greg Lyons. All rights reserved.
