Jon Arkin Online Class: Modern Jazz Drumming

Wednesdays 6 – 7:30pm
7/6 – 8/10 (6 weeks)

The study of bop drumming has long been the most common point of entry for jazz drumming students, and it persists to this day as the de facto standard method of attaining fluency in the language of jazz drumming. However, the extent to which the music has evolved since the early/mid 20th century makes it difficult (if not impossible) to fully comprehend jazz drumming in its present form without wider context. The post-bop drummers who collectively reshaped the role of the drummer in jazz music (including Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, and Jack DeJohnette) are our most important teachers when exploring the possibilities of how to modernize the bop approach; in learning more about their approaches to rhythmic phrasing, drum set vocabulary, interaction within an ensemble, and pushing the boundaries of expectation, we obtain crucial insights into the connection between the past & the present. This class will offer an overview of these post-bop innovators, through the study of audio/video examples and various written examples & exercises. Open to drummers of all levels, as well as to any musicians who wish to deepen their understanding of the evolution of modern jazz drumming.

To register, follow this link to the CJC’s website.

Please note: All Listed Classes and Workshops are Pacific Time. This course will be conducted live via video conferencing. A computer or other device with a webcam and microphone and a reliable internet connection is required. Log-in information will be sent to students before the first class meeting!