Intermediate Swing and Jazz Violin

During each 60 minute class with Ted, students will study jazz violin and improvisation by studying the techniques of great jazz violinists Stephane Grappelli, Johnny Frigo, and Jean Luc Ponty. Learning to play by ear, as well as by reading, students will learn about improvisation and jazz interpretation.Ted will teach students about articulation, vibrato, swing, repertoire, performance and sound production on the violin. The repertoire will be based on the standards of Django Reinhardt, Cole Porter, George Gershwin and the Hot Club of France. Students will also be listening to great swing musicians like Django Reinhardt, Benny Goodman, Oscar Peterson, Chick Corea and more.

Ted will help students how to best approach the style of jazz through the medium of violin, working through key components of the jazz style; improvisation and interpretation. Improvisation relies heavily on the student's ability to create fresh melodies and get a feel for the music to know when to employ this. This skill is largely acquired through the student's interpretation of jazz music and techniques that they learn. Both concepts will be discussed and practiced at length with Ted. Students will also learn to play by reading music but will also learn how to play by ear.

About Ted Falcon: While the violin is not normally an instrument seen in Brazilian popular music, ever the innovator, Ted Falcon has not only brought it onto the scene but has, quite literally, written a book about it. As a multi-instrumentalist (violin and mandolin), as well as a composer, Ted has lived and worked in Los Angeles, New York City, São Paulo, and Brasilia. As an enthusiastic researcher, he has written and published books about regional styles of Brazillian music such as Forró, Choro and Frevo. Ted also taught the violin for a few years at the most respected choro school in Brazil, Escola de Choro Raphael Rabello. He is currently teaching at the Silverlake Conservatory of Music as a Professor of Music.