Yamaha Education Projects

The Yamaha Jazz Experience Competition

The 2012 Competition

Jazz ensembles from all over the UK consisting of young people aged 11-18 can enter the Yamaha Jazz Experience jazz ensemble improvisation competition. Nine ensembles will be selected to perform at the finalists' event in Summer 2012. Of those nine, our jazz VIP judges will choose three ensembles to receive vouchers for Yamaha prizes for their schools or educational institution, along with prestigious gigs at major London jazz venues.

Things You Need

First of all, read the 2012 Jazz Experience Competition Rules and download an application form for full details.

Briefly, participants must form a jazz ensemble comprising piano (or keyboard, vibes or guitar), bass and drums, and optionally up to five additional performers. They must prepare a blues and either a jazz standard or a piece of their own choosing, with impro at its heart.

They must then video a performance of the ensemble's two pieces, and send them to reach Yamaha before 24 February 2012.

Getting to the Finals

In March 2012 our prelominaryYamaha Jazz Experience judges, Jazz FM broadcaster Helen Mayhew and head of jazz at Trinity Laban, Simon Purcell, andwill shortlist down to nine ensembles. These will then perform at the finalists' event in the summer of 2012 (details to be announced).

The Finals (Summer 2012)

On Bank Holiday Monday 7 May, at the 2012 Cheltenham Jazz Festival, the nine finalists will perform before a judging panel including: Julian Joseph (internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and Jazz Experience workshop leader), Peter Ind (Jazz Experience patron and legendary jazz double bass player) and Richard Michael (2009 Parliamentary Jazz 'Jazz Educator' award winner and Yamaha Jazz Experience workshop leader), Issie Barratt (National Youth Jazz Collective's founder and artistic director) and Gwilym Simcock (Yamaha artist and Mercury Prize-nominated international jazz pianist, composer and RNCM visiting tutor). The judging panel will choose one winner from each age category, looking carefully for creativity, musicality and communication - with both the audience and between band members.

Pictured here: 'Cheltenham 8', an ensemble from Dumfries, performing at the Bull's Head jazz club in south-west London as part of its 2010 Jazz Experience competition under-17 category winners' prize.

Video tips from Yamaha's jazz friends

We have been building a library of video advice on jazz, improvising and on preparing entries for the Jazz Experience Competitions. Click on the links to find video tips from the following musicians, educators and Yamaha artists:

Peter Ind (on improvising), Julian Joseph & Tim Garland (on jazz composing), Richard Michael (tips for preparing for the Jazz Experience Competition), Steve Rubie (on running a jam session) , Geoff Warren (on Jazz Experience preparation), Geoff Warren (on flutes in jazz)

The 2010 Competition

The 2010 winners were announced here.

A full report, with video clips, of the entire 2009-2010 Yamaha Jazz Experience project is available to read here.

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Updated: November 2011