This page is devoted to the Level 3 classes being offered at 10 and 1:30. To find links to other time periods or classes at other levels, please see the Schedule Overview page.
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Brad Brose — Gillett Parlor
Jam Etiquette
How to fit in at any jam without stepping on any toes.
Christine Tassan — Gillett 101
Improve Your Sense of Tempo
Use the metronome in your routine on rhythm and solo practice. Push the limits of fast or slow
tempos. In-depth study and application on various styles: swing, bossa, ballads, bolero, rumba.
Examples on: All of me, Swing gitan, Seul ce soir, Smile, A night in Tunisia, Caravan, Besame
mucho
Henry Acker — Gillett LR
Get Your Rhythm Right on Swing 42
You will learn a solid rhythm and time feel technique to help you be accompanist in demand..
Max O’Rourke — Gillett Basement Lounge
Rhythm Styles Showcase!
A detailed look and walkthrough of the many different kinds and styles of rhythm guitar within the genre (swing, ballads, waltzes, latin rhythms etc)
Sam Farthing — Gillett DR
Sweet Chorus
The proper chords and fills the Django way using Sweet Chorus
Brad Brose — Gillett Parlor
Learning New Songs the Gypsy Way
We’ll work on a surprise Django composition to practice how to approach learning new songs in the moment so they stick.
Christine Tassan — Gillett 101
Play the Melody in Your Own Way
Learn it correctly; add your own embellishments and interpretation; add rhythmic variations;
add fills. Examples on: Sweet Georgia Brown, Avalon, Nuages
Henry Acker — Gillett LR
Digging Into Minor Swing Improv
How to play those changes creatively and with confidence
Max O’Rourke — Gillett Basement Lounge
Tone!
A discussion of technique and how to use it to get the most and best sound (for you) with the least amount of effort.
Sam Farthing — Gillett DR
Sweet Chorus
Incorporating melody into improvisation using Sweet Chorus
Brad Brose — Gillett Parlor
What makes the best rhythm player?
We’ll discuss what all the best players look for the most in a rhythm player.
Christine Tassan — Gillett 101
Embellish the Harmony & Add Rhythmic Variations
Use breaks, rhythmic motifs to punctuate the form. Reharmonize a chord structure using simple
rules. Examples on: I can’t give you anything but love, Autumn leaves
Renaud Dardenne — Gillett LR
The Use (or not?) of Voice Leading in La Pompe
How to hear and think of your accompaniment as a choir.
Max O’Rourke — Gillett Basement Lounge
Time Keeping!
Music’s most important and underrated skill! We’ll go over some practical tips and strategies to help strengthen your inner time and keep the jams from nose diving.
Sam Farthing — Gillett DR
I’ll See You In My Dreams
The best chord shapes for I’ll See You in my Dreams
Brad Brose — Gillett Parlor
Learning New Songs the Gypsy Way pt.2
We’ll work on a surprise Django composition to practice how to approach learning new songs so they stick.
Christine Tassan — Gillett 101
Improve Your Solos Through Better Knowledge of Harmony
Analyze chord progressions to get out of the “chord box”; use simple rules to reharmonize;
which extension on which chord; spice up your solos with extensions. Examples on: All of me,
Blues en mineur, What is this thing called love
Renaud Dardenne — Gillett LR
Right-Hand Secrets
A detailed and practical analysis of the numerous pick strokes used in gypsy jazz
Max O’Rourke — Gillett Basement Lounge
Phrasing!
How to turn stock phrases and licks into music through articulation, vibrato, bends, slides, and more.
Sam Farthing — Gillett DR
I’ll See You In My Dreams
Navigate soloing over I’ll See You in my Dreams using the Django solo
Brad Brose— Gillett Parlor
Django Lead Comping
Tremolos, chord hits, rolls etc.
Christine Tassan — Gillett 101
Explore the Waltz
In this class we will work on different kinds of waltzes (musette, jazz waltz, 6/8), and learn nice bass-line progressions. Examples on: Swing valse, Double jeu, Bluesette
Henry Acker — Gillett Basement Lounge
Bossa Dorado
How to get that gypsy bossa to groove
Renaud Dardenne — Gillett LR
Passing Chords, Substitutions and Gypsy Jazz Tricks.
How to enrich harmony and create movements with passing chords, substitutions, and specific gypsy jazz tricks.
Sam Farthing — Gillett DR
Sa préférée
Learn how to waltz rhythm with basslines using Sa préférée
Brad Brose — Gillett Parlor
Turn the Django Accent On
How to make your playing sound more like it was coming out of Django’s mouth through simple techniques and phrasing.
Christine Tassan — Gillett 101
Improve Your Solo Through Better Use of Rhythm
Tell a story in your solo, using motifs, repeated notes, various subdivisions, octaves, chords on
the upper strings. Examples on: Blues en mineur
Henry Acker — Gillett Basement Lounge
I’ll See You In My Dreams
How to solo over this classic tune
Renaud Dardenne — Gillett LR
Gypsy Jazz Colors on Secondary Dominants (It Had to Be You/Sweet Georgia Brown)
An overview of the different approaches on how to choose and develop a specific color on a secondary dominant.
Sam Farthing — Gillett DR
Sa préférée
Learn how to learn waltzes using Sa préférée
Brad Brose — Gillett Parlor
How to Play with a Drummer
Brad brings in his band mate Uri Zelig to demonstrate ways to work with a drummer in the Django context
Christine Tassan — Gillett 101
Explore Chord Melody
In this class we will study Chord melody to improve our knowledge of chords, relation between melody and harmony and simply because it is nice! Example on : It had to be you
Henry Acker — Gillett LR
Dark Eyes
We will go over some available substitution chords
Renaud Dardenne — Gillett DR
Let’s Travel a Bit:
How to interpret and include other styles and rhythms in a gypsy jazz repertoire: choro, joropo, merengue, boleros, tangos, rebetiko…
Max O’Rourke — Gillett Basement Lounge
Rhythm Guitar and Comping for Lead Guitar!
How to embellish and add color, push a soloist, amp up a song, and do all the fun stuff we know and love! (Comping, tremolo, stabs, counter lines, etc)
Brad Brose — Gillett Parlor
Volume and Tone
We’ll discuss 2 of the biggest topics on every guitarist’s mind and how to work on them.
Christine Tassan — Gillett 101
Technical Exercises to Use in Your Practice Routine
Practical exercises to improve tone, speed, relaxation/endurance, knowledge of the whole neck.
Study of a collection of scales and arpeggios exercises.
Henry Acker — Gillett LR
What Is This Thing Called Love
How to get your improve to shine
Renaud Dardenne — Gillett DR
Harmonize them all!
How to play a melody using one chord for each note.
Max O’Rourke — Gillett Basement Lounge
Chords! Chords as Solos! Chords in Solos!
How to start using chords in your solos in a variety of ways.