Note to UofL Jazz Students

August 1, 2020

Welcome UofL Jazz Students                                                                 

The Jazz area faculty have been working throughout the summer to monitor both the latest developments and scientific data related to the ongoing Covid-19 situation both nationally and in the Louisville area. As we move into the Fall semester we look forward to welcoming our returning students back, and also getting to know the new students that will be joining our area when our semester begins. While we fully understand the challenges that we all face at this time, we are committed to providing the best educational and musical experience possible under the current circumstances, and to provide options that allow everyone to return safely and also tailor your experience to your own circumstances and comfort level with regard to in-person classes and ensembles.

To this end, all students should know that we will be offering both in-person and remote learning experiences both in our classes and in our ensembles. Where possible, class and ensemble sizes will be limited to a number of students that our health and facilities experts have determined to be safe and allow for distancing guidelines to remain in place.  In person combos and smaller ensembles will no longer meet in rooms 311 or 312, but will be moved to larger spaces where safe distancing guidelines can be followed. Students who for any reason decide that they are not comfortable meeting in person will be given the option to participate in classes remotely so that there need be no interruption of the learning process. In the ensemble area, we are planning to offer a remote and/or hybrid ensemble experience for several ensembles so that students who wish to participate remotely will be able to do so.

 

ENSEMBLE AUDITION INFORMATION

 

Ensemble auditions will take place on Sunday, August 16. In the interest of safety, all auditions will take place remotely on an applied studio basis. There will be a prepared audition piece (scores for each instrument can be found here: https://louisville.edu/music/academics/areas-of-study/jazz/jazz-audition/fall-2020-jazz-ensemble-audition-music ), a sight reading excerpt to be delivered at the time of the audition, and an additional excerpt involving improvisation chosen at the discretion of the applied instructor. Please contact your applied instructor at the addresses below for further information and to sign up for an audition slot. They will be able to provide you with more information about the specifics of your audition.

 Ansyn Banks (Brass): ansyn.banks@louisville.edu

Gabe Evens (Piano): gabriel.evens@louisville.edu

Chris Fitzgerald (Bass): chris.fitzgerald@louisville.edu

Mike Hyman (Drums): mikealan400@hotmail.com

Mike Tracy (Saxophone): michael.tracy@louisville.edu

Craig Wagner (Guitar): craigwagnerguitar@gmail.com

The circumstances we all face have been challenging for all of us, but we remain committed to the idea that the music will continue in spite of the obstacles the current situation has placed in our path. Over the summer, our faculty have remained active in the jazz world in many ways, including participating in national and international online jazz workshops, creating asynchronous videos of new jazz performances and arrangements, and creating educational video content to help keep the music moving forward. We look forward to having you join us in this mission, and we welcome your insight, energy, and enthusiasm in this cause. No matter what else happens, the music will go on, and we are committed to making it the absolute best it can be in whatever form it takes!

 

Sincerely,

Chris Fitzgerald
(On behalf of the entire jazz faculty)