I thought I'd post a link to this site

www.jazzschool.co.uk

There's information on jazz courses / workshops / tuition etc (not London based this time), and useful advice for anyone aspiring to enter a conservatoire level jazz course.

For anyone around the York area who is a beginner at jazz, I have noticed there is an workshop on 22 Nov at the National Centre for Early Music which is specifically for adult learners - see the NCEM website for more details.

Have booked my place already, given that I can't make it to the RNCM saxophone day the previous weekend.

Just got back from this, and it was really good, especially for anyone new to improvisation. Very relaxed, but everyone HAD to have a go at soloing(!), as well as playing the background accompaniment. Apparently the NCEM runs this workshop every 6 months or so, and also some of the participants who have been to one or more sessions previously have now started a monthly practice session in York (7.30 to 10 pm on the second Thursday of each month, at the Winning Post on Bishopthorpe Road). I'm still trying to figure out whether I can realistically make it there after work...

If you can make it I'd definitely recommend it. There's nothing like playing regularly with other people to improve your jazz skills.

I'm going to a jazz course run by the National Youth Jazz Collective, next March, based at my school in Cambridgeshire. All the musicians are professionals with lots of experience, and I'm hoping to learn lots of new jazz skills. A weekend of music for just £15 - great value!

Here