Thanks for this. A couple of comments. First the blog is not viewable by anyone other than the committee at the moment and will not go live without agreement on the content so stuff like the subs is just an example. We did say that we would discuss subs. My view is that we should pay more for the jam sessions to build up the funds for when subs don't cover the cost of the tutor. Yet to be decided when we have a proper look at the finances and do some rough budgeting.
Second, I think that giving people space to improvise is promoting jazz education. I think the workshops often do more than that though. What scale should you play over that chord etc. We talk about tutors not facilitators. What are they teaching? Is that not jazz education? I would therefore argue for my suggested objectives statement rather than the one you quote. I also think the Co-op could provide a more structured approach to jazz education by building a repertoire of important jazz standards which covers the various types of tunes we play. This is more contentious as some people are happy to do whatever the tutor wants to do. We have covered a lot of educational ground in the past year if in a somewhat haphazard way. Julian almost always works on pentatonics, Mark B did whole tone scales and applying it to the blues, Angel did a blues by ear, Simon Savage often does guide tones, etc. Very few, if any tutors, have done much work on patterns although Terry sometimes touches on improvisation ideas such as rhythm and approach notes and has supplied handouts to that effect.
Regarding the name... you are right although I don't think anyone uses the full name anymore. I don't think it matters that two organisations share the same initials and certainly don't think that the Jazz Club has a right or would even want to complain about that. I think the full name is a bit too long and could also put off beginners who don't yet think of themselves as musicians. All for debate I suppose although I would have to set up a new blog to change the address.
Steve
2008/7/3 Corrado Bargione
Steve
the address is www.brightonjazzcoop.org.uk I started this as a favour to John and it lists only basic info and details about the co-op. There is no cost attached as I am hosting the website, only the renewal fees for the domain name (£10 for 2 years). However John has recently renewed the name until August 2010. I'll add the link to the blog this w/e plus the tutor list for the next three weeks.
I don't know much about blogs. I have registered my name and what I saw seems to be informative enough. However I have a couple of points:-
- As you can see from the website the correct name for the coop should be Brighton Jazz Musicians' Co-op or BJMC in order to make a distinction with the Brighton Jazz Club (unless we seek permission from them to use the same abbreviation BJC)
- As somebosy else pointed out the coop does not provide jazz education. I have done a bit of jazz education and it requires a framework that the coop is not able to provide and also people may be put off all together. In the website AboutUs section (see below) I and John decided to go for something less specific in order to encourage anyone to join in. The Brighton Jazz Musicians' Co-op (BJMC) aims to promote jazz music through open workshops in Brighton, UK. The workshops are open to everyone who is willing to play jazz and improvised music.
- Jazz sessions are listed for August with a fee of £2.50. I do not recall this been discusses and/or agreed. In the past we used to pay a pound. Whilst I agree that a pound may not be enough perhaps we should sell the idea that the money collected will be used for creating a fund for next tutor season
Corrado