WELCOME TO THE MILWAUKEE JAZZ INSTITUTE

The Milwaukee Jazz Institute, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, promotes jazz through education and performance, building awareness of this art form's ability to transform lives and strengthen our community. MJI seeks to expand and diversify the local audience for jazz and to create opportunities for professional and aspiring musicians.

NEW! Online Jazz Theory: Level One

8-Week Online Course
Tuesdays, 7:45 - 8:45 PM (CST)
February 2 - March 23

Open to high school and adult musicians of all instruments who want to learn the essential melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic practices of jazz music. The course uses the Hal Leonard Jazz Piano Method, authored by MJI artistic director Mark Davis, and adapts the material for all instruments.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • BUILDING LINES WITH THE BEBOP SCALE
    Thu, Feb 25
    Online Event for All Ages
    Feb 25, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST
    Online Event for All Ages
    Presented by Scott Burns. Learn how the bebop scale can be broken into parts and combined with arpeggios and chromaticism to create great lines that fit the chord changes. Open to all instruments.
    Details & Tickets
  • LISTENING TO JAZZ: EXPRESSIONS OF PROTEST AND FREEDOM
    Thu, Feb 25
    Online Event for All Ages
    Feb 25, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST
    Online Event for All Ages
    In this online jazz appreciation workshop with Paul Silbergleit, explore some of the famous pieces that most overtly relate to Black American social issues.
    Details & Tickets
  • JAZZ GUITAR LICKS LAB: ALTERED DOMINANT IMPROV
    Thu, Feb 18
    Online Event for All Ages
    Feb 18, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST
    Online Event for All Ages
    This month, instructor Paul Silbergleit will focus on playing over altered dominant chords, especially in the context of V–I movement.
    Details & Tickets
  • MELODIC DRUMMING: THE MUSIC OF CHARLIE PARKER
    Tue, Feb 16
    Online Event for All Ages
    Feb 16, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST
    Online Event for All Ages
    Drummer Devin Drobka will show you how to learn repertoire by playing melodies on the drum set. In this session, he will focus on classic bebop compositions by Charlie Parker and explore how they can be used as a source for comping and soloing.
    Details & Tickets

A CONVERSATION WITH
CHARLES McPHERSON

A recent MJI Jazz Circle event was a conversation with saxophone legend Charles McPherson. The discussion, hosted by MJI artistic director Mark Davis, delved into McPherson’s amazing career. You’ll hear incredible stories about meeting and hearing Charlie Parker, learning from Barry Harris in Detroit, and working with Charles Mingus. You’ll also learn about the inspiration for his new album, Jazz Dance Suites.

CONTACT THE MILWAUKEE JAZZ INSTITUTE

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414.234.5565

PO Box 170472, Milwaukee, WI 53217-0472

©2019 by Milwaukee Jazz Institute.