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SIMA and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music present                                           the 2012 Young Womens Jazz Workshops



The YWJW is a unique short course aimed at young women who are interested in pursuing a professional career in jazz and improvised music.

Entry is by audition and written application and classes run for 3 hours on a Saturday morning from July-September over 8 weeks, culminating in a public concert, giving the performers a chance to showcase their skills on stage.



The young women who participate in the course come from varying backgrounds and previous experience: high school girls looking at studying jazz in the future, older girls and university students who wanted to diversify and women who just want to learn how to play jazz. The amount of previous knowledge is not important, however enthusiasm is a must. Each student takes away something a little different, but all have a positive experience.

Many of the course graduates have been accepted on to the tertiary jazz courses offered at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. They have also been accepted into other jazz courses in NSW and around Australia and many go on to have successful careers in jazz.

    

Did you know most of the members of the groovy all-female jazz orchestra The Sirens (pictured below) are former students and many did the course three or four times!?



‘Sadly, women are still very under-represented in jazz – professionally and in tertiary courses. This course provides a supportive environment for aspiring female jazz musicians to explore their creativity and develop their skills in this exciting and challenging musical genre’. Sandy Evans, OAM (course founder, musician/composer)

 
   
 
SIMA began this course in 2001 with financial assistance from both Australia Council and Arts NSW. From 2010, we started a partnership with The Sydney Conservatorium of Music to co-present the workshops and both organisations are excited about the 10th anniversary of the course in 2012. We also welcome ABC Jazz as a media partner and look forward to what is anticipated to be the best year yet!


Course Objectives

1. Develop the skills and confidence of young women in jazz and improvised music.
2. Broaden knowledge of jazz & improvised music, including the contribution of outstanding Australian artists in this field
3. Increase awareness of career options in jazz and related areas
4. Encourage students to understand audition processes and apply for tertiary jazz courses

Course Requirements
Knowledge of jazz is not a prerequisite, but applicants should have a strong interest in improvisation and be working towards a career in music. Students should be proficient on their main instrument. Don’t be deterred from applying if you can’t read music. 

Audition requirements:

1. Play a blues head and improvise over the form.
2. Play a piece of your own choice that demonstrates what you are best at.
3. Sight reading of music and chord changes.
4. Major scale in several keys.
5. Drummers only: Demonstrate swing, bossa nova, rock and jazz waltz feels.

A piano accompanist will be provided for the auditions.

2012 dates
Applications close: Friday 1 June, 2012

APPLY HERE NOW!

Audition date: Saturday 16 June 2012 (@ The Con)

Workshops: From July-September 2012
Saturdays 10am – 1pm

Concert date: Thursday 20 September 2012

More info:
Gordana Raketic | Program Coordinator
info[at]sima.org.au 

 

What students have said
This course has played a pivotal role in my development as a jazz musician. A magical thing happened in this course and after only 3 workshops, I performed my first guitar solo at a gig with my band. This has not only improved my own musical experience, but theirs as well. I would love to return and do the course again next year. Thank you so much!
Cassandra – student, 2008

As a female student studying music education and classical saxophone, I found the course to be invaluable. Whilst studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, I have found that a large crevasse exists between the classical and jazz areas of studies and there are more men than women studying jazz. The SIMA workshop aims at correcting the gender imbalance in tertiary jazz courses, and in the jazz scene in general, by providing female role models for young women to aspire to. With the workshop’s enrolment growing significantly each year, the premise seems to be correct. The SIMA Young Women’s Jazz Improvisation Workshop is an invaluable experience and I highly recommend anyone to enrol as it will help you grow immensely as a musician, and as a woman.
Jaki King, student 2007, 2008