Prepare yourself to change the future of music.
Developed by Dr. Sandy Evans OAM.
Young Women’s Jazz Workshop
Jazz, at its heart, is a radical music, driving and representing social change in every era. As we commit to supporting the next generation of female-identifying artists, SIMA has created a workshop that can change lives.
Designed for young female-identifying instrumentalists looking to find community and grow their skills, this eight week program works as both an introduction to jazz as a vocation, and improvisation as a path to knowledge.
Winner of the APRA Art Music Award for excellence in education.
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Program Details
Course Fee: $575
Applications open: Monday 27th April
Application cut off: Monday 20th June
Audition Day: Saturday 27th June
Workshops: July 25th – September 12th
Time: Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Venue: Sydney Conservatorium of Music (NSW)
Concert: Early Evening, Wednesday 16th September
Inquiries: david@sima.org.au
Getting ready for your audition
Our audition process is simple.
- Bring a piece of music of your choice, something you love and feel confident playing. It doesn’t have to be jazz.
- We’ll talk about your knowledge of scales, note names, etc., just to get a sense of the level you’re playing at.
- We’ll then ask you to play some scales for us. Knowledge of some major and minor scales, and the blues scale is recommended. If you don’t know any of these yet, we’ll prioritise getting you up to speed on these fundamentals of improvising.
Once the audition is complete, students can head home. When the workshops start, you’ll join an ensemble of musicians at a similar level and get started.
Are you eligible?
The course accommodates all levels of jazz experience. If you can read music and play your instrument, we would love to have you participate. Students are divided into groups based on their instrumental ability and knowledge. We ensure all groups are inclusive and welcoming, so you could even make some new friends!
We welcome all students, even if you have no knowledge of blues scales or improvisation, as the course serves as an entryway into the wonderful world of jazz. For more advanced students, the course serves as excellent training and preparation in auditioning for a tertiary jazz program. Active musicians can use the course to become more confident in soloing and improvising.
These workshops provide a fun and supportive environment for young women wanting to develop confidence improvising. They are especially helpful for those preparing to enter jazz at a tertiary level. Our graduates have gone on to win the prestigious Freedman Jazz Fellowship and perform at the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival.
What will you learn?
DEVELOP your skills and confidence to play jazz and improvised music.
BROADEN your knowledge of jazz and improvised music.
CREATE meaningful connections to form future groups and ensembles.
INCREASE your awareness of career options in jazz and related areas.
ENCOURAGE you to understand audition processes and apply for tertiary jazz courses.
NURTURE friendships and support networks among female-identifying jazz musicians.
