Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop, Grayslake IL

Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop Chapin Jazz Studio 146 Center St, Suite #4, Grayslake, IL 60030
Contact Bill Chapin Bill@BillChapinJazz.com (847) 254-8750

Since 2001 students in Northeastern Illinois have been learning to play jazz at the Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop (GJCW). Grayslake jazz musicians and educators Bill Chapin and Paul Nielsen began the program to provide instruction and playing opportunities for Grayslake youth and expanded the program in 2010 to include adults and students from all areas of Northeastern IL.
The workshop, open to musicians entering grade 7 through adult, organizes participants into jazz combos, complete with rhythm sections and horn players, where students advance their skills in performing and improvising over jazz tunes. Musicians who can read music and who want to advance their playing and improvisational skills are welcome to register. Past participants have played saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, flute, vibes, guitar, bass, piano, voice, and drums; but one can improvise jazz on any instrument. Each jazz combo works on three jazz standards, including swing, Latin, jazz rock, and other jazz genres, learning how to begin and end, to improvise over chord changes, and to collaborate with other musicians. The workshop culminates with a public performance.
Workshop instructors are experienced jazz improvisers and jazz educators with a passion for sharing their love of this exciting form of American music. Workshop participants come from area middle and high schools, colleges, and “schools of life” (adults). In recent years, as many as 45 students, divided into six combos have comprised the workshop rosters.

Instructors: Learn More about the Faculty Bill Chapin - Piano
Tim Barclay - Saxophone
Paul Nielsen - Multi-instrumentalist Andre Rivera - Trumpet
Session 1: June 4th-16th
Session 2: June 18th-30th Learn More
Session 1
Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday- Combo 7pm-8:30pm Sun June 4th, Tues June 6th, Thur June 8th, Sun June 11th, & Tues June 13th Concert: Friday, June 16th, 7pm (at Ivanhoe Congregational Church)
Monday-Wednesday-Friday Combo, 7pm-8:30pm
Mon June 5th, Wed June 7th, Fri June 9th, Mon June 12th, Wed June 14th
Concert: Friday, June 16th, 7pm (at Ivanhoe Congregational Church)
Session 2
Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday Combo, 7pm-8:30pm Sun - June 18th, Tues - June 20th, Thurs - June 22th,
Sun - June 25th, Tues - June 27th Concert: Friday June 30th, 7pm (at Ivanhoe Congregational Church)
Monday-Wednesday-Friday Combo, 7pm-8:30pm Mon - June 19th, Wed June-21st, Fri June-23rd, Mon June-26th, Wed-June 28th
Concert: Friday, June 30th, 7pm (at Ivanhoe Congregational Church)

About the Camp: The GJCW program consists of 5
90-minute combo sessions that meet over two weeks, ending with a concert.
Daily Schedule Combo sessions organized by ability level will be offered on Sunday-Tuesday-Thursdays or Monday-Wednesday-Fridays during two separate 2-week sessions. When registering, students select their combo level, session, and day/time preference.
Typical Combo Session: Setup and warm-up–10 minutes; improv on the
blues–15 minutes; ear training games and exercises–10 minutes; break–5 minutes; jazz theory–10 minutes; rehearsal of tunes and improv instruction–45 minutes; assignments and review–5 minutes.