Metro-Detroit Jazz Workshop

The MDJW is an organization dedicated to teaching jazz to musicians of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels.

Welcome to the Facebook home of the Metro-Detroit Jazz Workshop. The centerpiece of the MDJW is the Summer Jazz Week. The SJW is an opportunity for students of jazz music, young or old, on any instrument, to receive expert tutelage from some of the best jazz educators in the Midwest. Since 2009, the SJW has offered a unique approach to jazz workshops, giving students a chance to select their own c

lasses in the subjects of jazz theory, jazz composition & arranging, and jazz improvisation. Students may select subjects that fit their level of expertise as well as participate in combos. The SJW is currently held at Oakland University at Varner Hall and is run from 10am to 5pm. Combos perform daily during the week, under the coaching of college jazz professors, with the goal of a performance at Cliff Bells Jazz Club. Jazz vocalists also participate, partially taking the same classes that instrumentalists take, and in the mid-afternoon, going to the MDJW Vocal Jazz workshop. Their workshop concentrates on solo jazz singing, technique, improv, repertoire and other matters about jazz from a singer's point of view. Vocalists will perform in their own concert at Cliff Bells, backed up by a professional rhythm section. Jazz composers may choose to take part in the Composer's Workshop. This is an ensemble of composers who play each other's compositions under the direction of an established jazz composer. Concepts of orchestration, counterpoint, harmony, arranging, will be discussed and applied as an effort to help composers become better at their craft. If your son or daughter is in middle school, we also have a workshop for 10-13 year olds in middle school to help them understand jazz and either contribute better to their middle school jazz band or prepare themselves for high school jazz band. This workshop runs for the week from 10am to 1pm daily. There will be a performance at Cliff Bells for the workshop participants. The fee for enrolling for this workshop is $399. This modest charge enables you to study with over 10 instructors for over 50 hours, making your studies cost $8 an hour. There is an additional $50 reservation cost to reserve your spot. The full tuition isn't due until the first day of the workshop, but you must pay the reservation cost immediately to make sure you can enroll in this year's workshop. You can do so with an e-application on the website for the Metro-Detroit Jazz Workshop at www.helpwithjazz.com

The website, besides containing enrollment applications, has faculty bios, photos from last year's workshop, details about the SJW, a video promotion, and recent news about this year's workshop. Whether you play the bassoon or the tenor sax, whether you are 10 or 100 years old, whether you just started playing or are a veteran pro, there is room for you to grow at this year's Summer Jazz Week. Come join us, network with other musicians, and have a week of great fun! Scott Gwinnell
Director, Metro-Detroit Jazz Workshop

Detroit Jazz Workshop's Summer Jazz Week 14

05/02/2024

The Detroit Jazz Workshop is filling up fast! Still have room for all instruments but piano. July 8-12 at the MSU-Center in Midtown Detroit. Affordable, $50 to save spot on website. All ages, vocal jazz workshop, middle school workshop, and high school/college/adult. 4 Levels of study: Beginner, Beginner/Intermediate, Intermediate, and Advanced. 25 instructors, college-age mentors, incredible facilities. Parking is free in SOMA garage behind MSU-Center. Students perform at Aretha's Jazz Cafe for family and friends. FUN! www.helpwithjazz.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGG_ZjicONE

Detroit Jazz Workshop's Summer Jazz Week 14 Musicians of any age or instrument (including voice), if you're a beginner interested in tapping your creative energy and having fun, or a more advanced play...

03/14/2024

If you're looking for an activity this summer that is supportive and empowering, bring your talent to the Detroit Jazz Workshop's Summer Jazz Week 15. It's on July 8-12 during afternoon's at either MSU-Detroit (instrumentalists) or Music Hall (vocalists). We have some of the best jazz instructors around; check out these photos in action. Russ Miller, Scott Cowan, Vincent Chandler, John Douglas, James Hughes, Chuck Newsome, Jordan Schug, John Hill, and myself will be instructing the instrumentalists. April Tini, Ellie Martin, and Jiana Hunter will be instructing the vocalists. Pay $50 on the website to save your spot right now; we're already full on pianists. Join us and please share this! www.helpwithjazz.com

02/17/2019

Aretha's Jazz Jam is tomorrow (2/17)! 6-9pm, no cover
Play, sing, eat, drink, or all of the above!

Aretha's Jazz Jam at Music Hall
This Sunday! 6-9pm
No cover, free parking for Model T's (and every car)

04/16/2018

We've added award-winning, incredible jazz trombonist, Wayne State lecturer Vincent Chandler to our faculty this summer. Join the Summer Jazz Week and receive the opportunity to study with Vincent. The workshop is for all ages, all experience levels, and is really affordable. $50 to reserve your spot. $399 tuition due at workshop. 35 hours of instruction plus a performance at Cliff Bells! www.helpwithjazz.com

07/21/2017

High / Middle School Combos and Vocalists

07/20/2017

Metro Detroit Jazz Workshop - 7-14-2017

Photos by Jeff Dunn

07/19/2017

Metro Detroit Jazz Workshop - 7-13-2017

Thursday afternoon at the MSU-Center
Photos by Jeff Dunn

07/14/2017

06/05/2017

The Improvisation Clinics for the 2017 Workshop have been announced!

IMPROVISATION CLASSES

Monday 7/10 - 3pm

Call and Response, Let's Play What We Hear (Beg.)- Russ Miller
Modal Jazz (Beg./Int.)- Scott Cowan
How to Learn a Song (Int.)- James Hughes
Breaking Down Dominant Chord Families (Adv.)- Chuck Newsome

Tuesday 7/11 - 1pm

Where Do I Start with Single Note Improvisation (Beg.)- Chuck Newsome
Getting the Most Out of Blues Scales (Beg.)- Chris Buzzelli
Common Tones that Work Across Chord Changes (Int.)- Russ Miller
How to Listen While Playing (Adv.)- Jordan Schug

Tuesday 7/11 - 2pm

How to Read Chord Symbols (Beg.)- Jordan Schug
Twisted Major Scales (Beg.)- James Hughes
Jazz Ear Training Strategies (Int.)- Scott Cowan
The Melodic Minor Scale and Its Application in Jazz (Adv)- Chuck Newsome

Wednesday 7/12 - 1pm

Pentatonics in Jazz (Beg.)- Chuck Newsome
Connecting Solos to the Melody (Int.)- Chris Buzzelli
The 7th Mode of the Melodic Minor (Int./Adv)- Jordan Schug
Identifying and Improvising on the "Backdoor" ii-V-I Progression (Adv.)- Scott Gwinnell

Wednesday 7/12 - 2pm

You and Jazz After High School- Seminar and Q&A
Building (or Building Upon) a Profession in Jazz- Seminar and Q&A

Thursday 7/13 - 1pm

Triads in Jazz Improvisation (Beg.)- Scott Gwinnell
Triads in Jazz Improvisation (Int.)- Scott Cowan
Triads in Jazz Improvisation (Adv.)- Russ Miller
Developing a Practice Routine (Int/Adv.)- Chuck Newsome

Thursday 7/13 - 1pm

Putting the Fun in Fundamentals (Beg.)- Russ Miller
How Bass Lines Work (Int.)- Jordan Schug
Approaching the IV Chord (Int./Adv.)- James Hughes
Identifying and Improvising on the "Tritone Sub" (Adv.)- Scott Cowan

Click here to support Jazz Orchestra Recording Session organized by Scott Gwinnell

05/03/2017

Friends, the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra is trying to make its first record in almost a decade. It's crazy expensive for 17 people to record. If you like the SGJO or appreciate local artists trying to do creative, new things, please consider giving something to make this happen. It's a labor of love for everyone involved. Thanks!

Click here to support Jazz Orchestra Recording Session organized by Scott Gwinnell The 17 piece Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra has been together for 18 years, playing music by its leader and other contemporary composers. It has been almost a decade since we last released a recording. The musicians in the band are among the best jazz artists on the music scene. For 6 months we h...