• Mint 7'6" Yamaha grand piano plus multiple keyboards
• Vintage Deagan vibraphone
• Crystal clear 16-channel PA system with great mics
• Choice five-ply maple drum-set with excellent cymbals
• Mallet & hand percussion instruments from around the world
• Acoustically controlled environment -- no straining to be heard

• "Killer Joe" (B. Golson/arr. M.Smolens) -- swing
• "Lost In The Shuffle" (J. Eskridge) -- shuffle
• "Red Clay" (F. Hubbard/arr. M.Smolens) -- funky rock
• "Jump da Funk" (M. Smolens) -- funk
• "St. Thomas" (S. Rollins/arr. M. Rickey) -- samba
• "Witchi-Tai-To" (Navaho chant/arr. J. Pepper) -- even 1/8 ballad

• Learn how to practice more creatively and effectively, both alone and with a partner
• Broaden your harmonic palette while you generate new scale possibilities
• Play solos that embody the unique qualities of any tune
• Train your ear as you learn new tunes more quickly
• Create complimentary "rhythm section" parts

• Dates -- Sept.19th - Dec. 12th
• Class Length -- 12 three-hour sessions
• When -- Saturdays (Inter.) 2:00-5:00 / (Adv.) TBA
• Where -- convenient Berkeley location, minutes from the Bay Bridge
• Cost -- Intermediate $400 (or $145 in three installments) / Advanced $450
• Pre-Registration Required

"Thanks Michael, a very positive experienceó having new ways to solo on the drum set and different approaches for different songs and styles. I loved the interaction with the other musicians (especially getting to play with you) and witnessing everyone's growth as the class progressed. I also enjoyed reading charts again and, very importantly, demystifying the 'harmonic universe' in jazz. (Being on the vibes for the first time and getting to solo on it was great). I look forward to the repeating The Jazz Class as well as trying your VOCAL FLIGHT class."

-- Teerth Gonzales (pro drummer/percussionist)

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"Michael Smolens' JAZZ CLASS was so valuable to me as a musician and as a guitarist. The method for learning tunes really gets them in your body and I was constantly challenged to step out of my comfort zone as a player. The studio environment is also supportive and constructive. I'd recommend this class to anybody looking to get into improvisation, or to take their musicianship to another level."

-- Dee Ouellette (guitarist)

"I found the jazz class to be informative, challenging and NOT comfortable. GREAT! Not being in my comfort zone is exactly
what I needed to grow. Singing jazz within certain parameters
(which at first seemed entirely contrary to the idea of jazz) actually allowed me a new and more informed freedom with a "safety net" for singing. Along with the pretzel logic I just described, your class prompted me to take up music theory from where I left off many many years ago. It will help me to converse much more intelligently with other musicians and make my own compositions more easily understood."

-- Charity Goodin (pro vocalist/songwriter)

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"Michael has been able to detect my strengths and weaknesses quite specifically and pinpoint ways for me to improve. His approach is systematic and a good mix between technical and artistic. I'm planning to continue taking THE JAZZ CLASS from him."

-- Alan Wick (clarinetist)

Michael Smolens has been teaching jazz and other styles of improvisation since 1974. He has published and lectured extensively on the art of practicing and is on the staff of Sonoma State University and JFK University. He has created a unique approach to learning jazz in a small class setting, and draws from some of the innovations of jazz masters Art Lande and Kenny Werner.

Michael currently leads two different ensembles that feature his composing and arranging, and has performed frequently at Yoshi's Jazz House. His recordings feature jazz legends Stefon Harris (vibes) and Paul McCandless (reeds), and Zakir Hussain (tablas).