DONATE Subscribe
Pick a date
Loading Events

Week 1: Introduction to Improvisation

Bruno & Kristian

Test

Led by critically acclaimed pianist Bruno Heinen, and guitarist Kristian Borring, this course is aimed at musicians who would like to learn more about how to improvise  in a variety of styles including jazz, blues, soul and swing. We will be writing some compositions as a group, and performing them at the end of the week on the Vortex Jazz Club stage. No prior knowledge of jazz or improvisation is necessary, and all instruments are welcome!

10.30am – 3.30pm daily. Social until 6pm – an opportunity to jam, socialise & practise what you’ve learned. Performance on Friday 6.30pm

Who is it for?

  • All ages (age 10 and over)
  • Any student who would like to try their hand at improvisation, and learn more about jazz and blues
  • You must be able to hold a tune on your instrument.
  • All instruments are welcome.

What will we do?

  • Learning tunes by ear & writing our own tunes as a group.
  • Learning the basics of how to improvise through fun games.
  • Trying out different styles – jazz, blues, soul and reggae.
  • Working towards a performance at the end of the week: 6.30pm on Friday

About the tutors:

Bruno Heinen

Bruno Heinen is a London based contemporary pianist, composer, bandleader and educator. Bruno has released two albums on the forward looking Babel Label (‘Twinkle Twinkle’ and ‘Tierkries’) and is in the process of recording his third (‘Postcard to Bill Evans’ feat Kristian Borring). He has performed in venues and festivals including the South Bank Centre, Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, the Shanghai World Music Festival, the London Jazz Festival and the Rest Is Noise Festival – South Bank. Now teaching at the Centre for Young Musicians, Bruno has led many bands and taught students of all ages for many years. He also teaches Jazz harmony to the classical piano students at the Guildhall every year as well as leading small bands made up of Jazz Undergraduates.

“Erudition, eclectic studies and a jazz sensibility make Heinen the kind of newcomer who repositions the goalposts.” **** John Fordham – Guardian

Kristian Borring

Since arriving to London in 2005, Kristian has been working with many exciting musicians as well as focusing on developing his voice as composer and leader of his own projects. His debut album, Nausicaa, released on Milanese based label, Ultra Sound Records, received wide spread national acclaim with numerous great reviews.  The album was described by John Fordham (The Guardian) as a “hyper-cool and low-key approach to jazz guitar, but reprises it with warmth, confidence and a rhythmic hipness that’s thoroughly contemporary”. Kristian is a dedicated teacher and educator with many years of teaching experience over a wide variety of ages and abilities.

Site by OBLONG