South West based pianist/composer/teacher Yvonne Lewis has teamed up with jazz talent Dave Stapleton to hold a jazz workshop on Saturday 20th April 2013.
Yvonne’s workshop will explore modes and their uses, jazz rhythms, while providing an introduction to Yvonne’s new compositions that explore jazz modes, written for students of all grade levels. Come along and learn about modes in a hands-on session, show-casing Yvonne’s new pieces with demonstrations by some of her students.
Dave’s workshop will provide a master-class for students of all ages and abilities, focusing on jazz-inspired pieces, accessing the heart of the jazz idiom. As a participant you will have the chance to workshop your own piece with a renowned jazz performer and composer, learning more about the unique qualities that combine to make a truly jazzy performance in front of a sympathetic and enthusiastic bunch of like-minded musicians.
Jazz Day, Saturday 20th April 13:30 – 17:00
In conjunction with the European Piano Teachers Association
Where?
Chepstow Drill Hall, Lower Church Street, Chepstow NP16 5HJ
Cost?
£10 for both sessions as an observer.
£25 to play to Dave Stapleton (including entrance for one guardian if performer under 18)
Yvonne Lewis
ARCM (perf), BA (Hons)
Yvonne enjoys a diverse career as a pianist, composer and teacher. She studied at the Royal College of Music where, as a scholar and prize-winner, she completed the performer’s course with John Barstow.
Yvonne performs as an accompanist and her experiences have included accompanying Royal Ballet soloists, a thousand-voice children’s choir in a live BBC broadcast, and musicians from the Irish Guards! Yvonne’s duo ‘Isis’, with Denise Todd (violin), specialise in entertaining and informative programmes which can include anything from Haydn through to light jazz and movie themes.
Yvonne’s interest in the jazz idiom and years of teaching experience have now been fused into some very stylish, mode-based compositions, full of strong, jazzy rhythms. These fun, colourful pieces are perfect for inspiring pupils at all grades, simultaneously encouraging solid hand-shapes, pattern recognition and strong fingers. Apart from six books of carefully-graded piano pieces, Yvonne has also written a DIY Nativity for years 3-6 and Petite Suites for flute, violin and cello/viola. The latter includes the very successful ‘Bit of a Blues’.
Find out more at: www.yvonnelewispiano.co.uk
Dave Stapleton
BMus (Hons) RWCMD
‘A real UK jazz revelation … one of the success stories of UK jazz.’ The Guardian
Dave Stapleton is a singular talent. In less than ten years since graduating in classical piano from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Stapleton has established himself as a musician, composer and label boss and become an important figure on the UK jazz scene.
Dave has released eight discs under his own name and is fast gaining a reputation as one of the most ambitious young composers in jazz. His commission for the Lunar Saxophone Quartet garnered five star reviews, while the Mavron String Quarter premiered Stapleton’s first work for strings in 2009. He has also written scores for animations, short films and S4C, including for a film that won Best Welsh Film Award at the Cardiff Film Festival. He has also written a number of commissions for the ABSRM.
He also performs and records widely with the Dave Stapleton Quintet. He is a gifted pianist, an exceptional composer, an innovative label boss, and a record producer who brings to the music of others the same care and attention that he lavished on his own releases.
More at: www.davestapleton.com