Trumpet Lessons at JWA
Here at Jazz Workshop Australia you can take individual lessons on a wide range of jazz instruments. All our teachers are leading professionals: world - class educators and performers. Lessons are available in thirty minute and one hour slots.
Students of all ages and standards are welcome. Jazz Workshop caters to students who want to learn to play jazz or who are looking for an alternative to traditional exam-based teaching methods. Trumpet lessons are available on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Trumpet
From humble beginnings in NSW country brass bands, Andy Fiddes has quietly gained a fine reputation in Australia for being a creative jazz composer and performer.
Andy studied baroque trumpet and classical repertoire with Peter Walmsley at the University of Sydney. There he also studied orchestration and harmony with Ian Shanahan and Anne Carr-Boyd.
From there he changed his focus to jazz, enrolling in the Sydney Conservatorium Bachelor of Jazz. Amongst others, Andy studied under Dick Montz, Gordon Brisker, Mike Nock and Phil Slater. During this time, Andy formed Survival of the Fiddes and his large ensemble Fiddaesthetic, featuring Gordon Brisker. He also received commissions to write for the Mike Nock Small/Big band.
As a composer, Andy has recently focused on small group writing, with two records to date: Survival of the Fiddes - fear smile, and livewire. Both were released on Jazzgroove records and received critical acclaim. The two groups continue to perform around the east coast of Australia.
A two-year stay in the United Kingdom afforded Andy the opportunity to perform with members of the F-ire collective, most notably the formation of a quartet including Pete Wareham and stellar drummer Seb Rochford of Acoustic Ladyland fame, and accomplished bassist Larry Bartley. This UK based group was part of a 4-band feature of Australian Jazz at the Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival in Rome.
Andy has also performed with the Ten Part Invention, Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra, Lisa Mitchell, Guy Sebastian, Killing Heidi, Paul Dempsey, Camouflage -The Australian Army Big Band, Adrian Klumpes (TRIOSK), Laurence Pike (PIVOT), Phil Slater's Very Interactive Band, Gordon Brisker, Charles Tolliver and Bert Joris.
On top of his busy schedule of teaching and performing, Andy Fiddes is also studying for a Masters in Jazz Performance.
Andy is happy to teach AMEB syllabus to students who want to do that. He can also teach composition and arranging.
Ellen Kirkwood is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music majoring in Jazz Performance. She is now highly in demand as a private trumpet tutor for students across a broad spectrum of abilities, as well as directing several secondary level Stage Bands in Sydney. Ellen also tutors trumpet students at various Music Camps around Sydney, including the NSW Department of Education and Training Junior State Music Camp. She is tutor and co-conductor for the NSW Arts Unit Stage Band.
Ellen leads the successful EQ Jazz Quartet, featuring many of her original modern Jazz compositions. She is also a member of Latin American group Son de Tagua, popular regulars at several of Sydney's major Latin Music Festivals.
Ellen has been playing with big bands since she was in high school. As a student she was a member of the NSW Schools Jazz Orchestra, Australia's premier student jazz ensemble. She has worked with well-known Sydney bands including the Sydney Metro Big Band and the Rhino Factory big band.
While Ellen's main musical passion is for jazz, she also has a strong background in concert and orchestral music, and is happy to teach the AMEB exam syllabus if needed.
Paul Murchison is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the NSW Education Department Arts Unit where he played lead trumpet in the acclaimed Arts Unit Jazz Orchestra. He studied jazz trumpet under Don Rader and lead playing under the late Dick Montz.
Paul has worked with big bands including Spare Parts Big Band featuring Jim McNeely, John Morrison’s Swing City and the Jazz Connection big band. He is a regular member of the successful jazz/funk/hip hop group Alamode.
An experienced freelance teacher, Paul is also the director of jazz ensembles at Normanhurst Boys’ High School.
Mr Murchison is happy to teach AMEB syllabus to students who feel they really need it.
Jazz Improvisation
All of the teachers at the Jazz Workshop can give lessons in jazz improvisation to any student, regardless of their instrument. Saul Richardson specialises in teaching improvisation to beginners and young players. Other JWA teachers, such as Jeremy Borthwick, Gai Bryant and James Ryan love to teach very advanced concepts.
So, whatever instrument you or your child play, one of our teachers can give lessons in jazz improvisation. Lessons can be either ongoing, occasional, or a short series. Call or email for details