No Jitter Jazz!
April 6th - June 20th
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This course is rooted in teaching string players improvisation, jazz and 21st century creative practicing. Students will learn to internalize harmony, rhythm and form and gain broader exposure to styles beyond classical music. Pedagogy developed for this course are derived from the Creative Strings Improvisers Orchestra program founded by Gwen Laster. All students will participate in an online culminating performance activity of works they've composed, arranged and/or studied. 

Gwen Laster, violin

Gwen Laster- is a nationally acclaimed musician who has been the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts,  Jubilation foundation, Puffin foundation, Arts Mid Hudson,  Lila Wallace and  the Cognac Hennessey 1st place Jazz Search. She's  a native Detroiter whose creative influences come from the Motor City's exciting urban and classical music culture. Gwen started improvising and composing because of her parents love of jazz, blues, soul and classical music and her inspiring music teachers from Detroit's public schools.

 Laster relocated to NYC after earning two music degrees from the University of Michigan. She began collaborating, performing and recording with internationally-known creative and commercial artists.

She’s the visionary founder of the Creative Strings Improvisers Orchestra (CSIO), a music education ensemble rooted in teaching young strings players improvisation, composition and global ensemble music.  The CSIO concept has been presented through residencies  and workshops at various institutions