YAMAHA EDUCATION NEWS

Jazz Educator, Will Michael, Dies

Jazz pianist and teacher, Will Michael, who won the jazz category of last year's Yamaha/The Pianist magazine Amateur Pianist competition in November 2007, died peacefully of Leukemia, in May. He had been looking forward to his competition prize: appearing as a guest at jazz pianist Julian Joseph's November 2008 concert at Ronnie Scott's in London.

Will had spent his life involved in music - jazz in particular - playing it, writing it and teaching it. We at Yamaha were so taken with him that we asked him to run an improvisation workshop for music students at The Misbourne School, Great Missenden, just a few weeks before his death. Following a request from the school's Music Director, Phillip Tedd, we devised a workshop for intermediate level performers on sax, flute, clarinet, drums, percussion, piano, bass and guitar, to give them coaching in jazz and blues improvising during the day, with a concert to parents at the end. As this was one of Will's last professional engagements, we'd like to tell you about it here.

Will Michael's day job was as Director of Music at Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, Sidcup, Kent. He ran the department for four days a week but on Friday was let loose to run jazz workshops, like this one.

The Misbourne workshop consisted of some very practical advice to first-time improvisers: build the tension and energy as you go through the solo. Everyone got opportunities to try this skill out, with the rest of the band learning how to support the energy of the soloist, making a superb concert for the parents at the end of the day.

Comments from the children included: “Brilliant, I really enjoyed it!” and “Will was really enthusiastic and the workshop was good fun!” Parents were very impressed with their children's efforts and the school's Director of Music, Phillip Tedd, told us: "I would like to say thank you to Yamaha and to Will for providing this workshop. It was great to see the students learn not only skills in improvisation but confidence over just a two-hour session. Will’s enthusiasm and encouragement was great and he brought the best out of the group of students each time. It was great to have a couple of pieces from him in the mini-concert and also to show the students his skills as well as showcasing their own."

Our deepest sympathies go to Will's family. If you are a teacher and would like to comment on developing your own skills in jazz or improvisation, please join Yamaha Education Friends - a free online community for music educators.

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(Posted June 2008)