The Players' Group
2023 - 2024
This season members of The Oxford Piano Group will be playing, exploring and discussing jazz music, from its earliest roots to the present day.
Autumn Series 2023
Setting the scene
Setting the scene
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 24
All that jazz - an introduction
An overview of the year ahead and an introduction to jazz and its roots
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am - 12.30pm
SATURDAY OCTOBER 8
Ragtime - then and now
Scott Joplin is the most famous ragtime composer but there are others! As well as exploring what ragtime is made up of,
players will be encouraged to see what other ragtime composers they can discover
This will be a live session at the JdP. 9.30am-1.30pm
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4
Playing the Blues
Collectively the group will be learning to play and improvise over a 12-bar blues! And listening to some of the best
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am - 12.30pm
SATURDAY DECEMBER 9
Jazz meets Classical
The influence of jazz travelled far and fast. In this Christmas outing to London there will be the opportunity to play music by Debussy, Ravel, Gershwin, Shostakovich, and anyone else you can find. There’s also the option to bring along any own choice piece to perform.
This will be a live session at Peregrine's Piano in London 12pm-3pm
The meeting will be followed by our Christmas social at a local restaurant.
All that jazz - an introduction
An overview of the year ahead and an introduction to jazz and its roots
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am - 12.30pm
SATURDAY OCTOBER 8
Ragtime - then and now
Scott Joplin is the most famous ragtime composer but there are others! As well as exploring what ragtime is made up of,
players will be encouraged to see what other ragtime composers they can discover
This will be a live session at the JdP. 9.30am-1.30pm
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4
Playing the Blues
Collectively the group will be learning to play and improvise over a 12-bar blues! And listening to some of the best
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am - 12.30pm
SATURDAY DECEMBER 9
Jazz meets Classical
The influence of jazz travelled far and fast. In this Christmas outing to London there will be the opportunity to play music by Debussy, Ravel, Gershwin, Shostakovich, and anyone else you can find. There’s also the option to bring along any own choice piece to perform.
This will be a live session at Peregrine's Piano in London 12pm-3pm
The meeting will be followed by our Christmas social at a local restaurant.
Spring Series 2024
Putting a Spring in your step!
Putting a Spring in your step!
SATURDAY JANUARY 20
Jazz with Richard Michael
We will be joined by the irrepressible jazz maestro Richard Michael
who will help us to feel the groove (amongst other things).
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am-12.30pm
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17
Exploring stride and boogie-woogie.
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am-12.30pm
SATURDAY MARCH 23 - FULL DAY at JdP
The style and influence of pianists such as Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock and Oscar Peterson will be the focus.You can either bring a transcription of a piece by them or something
written in their style (Nikki Iles collections for example)
These will be live sessions at the JdP
Jazz with Richard Michael
We will be joined by the irrepressible jazz maestro Richard Michael
who will help us to feel the groove (amongst other things).
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am-12.30pm
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17
Exploring stride and boogie-woogie.
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am-12.30pm
SATURDAY MARCH 23 - FULL DAY at JdP
The style and influence of pianists such as Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock and Oscar Peterson will be the focus.You can either bring a transcription of a piece by them or something
written in their style (Nikki Iles collections for example)
These will be live sessions at the JdP
Summer Series 2023
All that jazz!
Saturday April 13 and Sunday April 14 - residential or day at the Purcell School, Bushey
(please note this weekend is optional and is not included in the subscription fee).
All that jazz!
Saturday April 13 and Sunday April 14 - residential or day at the Purcell School, Bushey
(please note this weekend is optional and is not included in the subscription fee).
SATURDAY APRIL 13
Strictly Latin
We will be dipping our toes into Latin American jazz styles!
I am currently exploring the idea of organising a live Samba workshop for part of the day.
SUNDAY APRIL 14
Playing workshops
A series of playing workshops (non-jazz) will be held throughout the day with members of the PTC tutor team.
SATURDAY MAY 18
Take 5 - jazz standards
Another chance to explore lead sheets and play arrangements (including your own) of these five jazz standards:
Honeysuckle Rose, Misty, My Way, My Funny Valentine and Take 5
This will be an online session. 10.00am-12.30pm
SATURDAY JUNE 8 - ALL DAY
Session 1 - 10am-1.00pm
All that jazz! A celebratory conclusion to the year
Session 2 - 2pm-4pm
Free choice performance workshop
SATURDAY JULY 13
Summer party
venue to be announced
Strictly Latin
We will be dipping our toes into Latin American jazz styles!
I am currently exploring the idea of organising a live Samba workshop for part of the day.
SUNDAY APRIL 14
Playing workshops
A series of playing workshops (non-jazz) will be held throughout the day with members of the PTC tutor team.
SATURDAY MAY 18
Take 5 - jazz standards
Another chance to explore lead sheets and play arrangements (including your own) of these five jazz standards:
Honeysuckle Rose, Misty, My Way, My Funny Valentine and Take 5
This will be an online session. 10.00am-12.30pm
SATURDAY JUNE 8 - ALL DAY
Session 1 - 10am-1.00pm
All that jazz! A celebratory conclusion to the year
Session 2 - 2pm-4pm
Free choice performance workshop
SATURDAY JULY 13
Summer party
venue to be announced
Fees for 2023 - 2024 season
Autumn Series - £112
Spring Series - £112*
Summer Series - £112
*
* The 2-day residential at the Purcell School will be an additional and separate cost.
The Oxford Piano Group, Players' Group is currently full
If you are interested in coming as an observer please email drsallycathcart@gmail.com