Music Notation Basics provides a richly detailed and comprehensive overview and introduction to jazz music notation. Topics include melodic and harmonic nomenclature, staff notation, chord names, rhythmic structure, compositional forms, and building blocks for jazz improvisation. Students will develop a more complete understanding of the fundamentals of music, finding themselves better prepared for other New York Jazz Academy® courses. Tuition-free for NYJA® members.

Did you know that NYJA® Online offers an ongoing tuition-free lessons blog? There is no need to sign up or register all for this. Just browse the current lesson collection by clicking below!

Jazz History 101 is an extensive overview of the origins and development of jazz genres throughout history. Figures studied include Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, and others. Students will develop a broader understanding of the historical icons and jazz genres, finding themselves better prepared for other New York Jazz Academy courses. And it’s entirely tuition-free.

Study privately with a leading NYC jazz artist and teacher, no matter where you are in the world! Private lessons are scheduled by appointment at your convenience. All you need is a broadband internet connection and web-cam for video-conferencing.

The NYJA® College Prep Program offers a fully immersive opportunity for aspiring musicians to delve deeply into jazz styles, improvisation, and theory. This is the program’s general registration portal for early fall and late fall semesters. Tuition includes 4 months (2 full semesters, 14-16 sessions) of programming. Classes meet for 2.5-3 hours at various times throughout the week, with options varying from weekdays and weekday evenings to Saturday or Sunday afternoons, all scheduled by appointment. Course components include, theory/harmony, ear-training, jazz improv, weekly ensemble rehearsals, and weekly private lessons. If you are looking to take your jazz up a significant notch, this program is for you.

Note that both in-person and online versions of this program are available, including hybrids. Do not register until you have discussed your scheduling options with the NYJA® Office and have been offered a placement.

Want to improve your improv? Introduction to Improvisation and Jazz Theory moves far beyond jazz nomenclature and helps the user understand and apply core concepts in bebop and classic jazz. Become a much better improviser by taking this class. Online videos (over 8 hours of video instruction), interactive quizzes, PDF worksheets and lecture notes will be distributed to the class and readily available for download. Tuition is only $120 for non-members and $96 for members).

New York Jazz Academy® Small Ensembles and Combo programs bring together players of similar levels and goals, matching them into small ensemble placements in an effort to maximize player satisfaction. Small ensembles cover specific styles (Great American Songbook Standards, Early Jazz, Blues, Brazilian, Afro/Latin, Odd/Mixed Meter, and others). NYJA® Online Small Ensemble Cohorts delve into performance practice, harmonic analysis, improvisation and communication, and other relevant topics to small ensembles. In rare instances, select vocalists may also be eligible to join NYJA® Small Ensemble Cohorts. Participants work intently with a NYJA® mentor and coach in an effort to take their music to the next level. NYJA® small ensembles often find themselves preparing for public performances, too. Groups have performed recently at Smoke Jazz Club, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and more.

Drummers Unite! The NYJA® Online Jazz Drumming Cohort is open to intermediate, advanced, and professional level drummers and percussionists who are looking to delve deeply into drum rudiments, jazz techniques and grooves, rhythmic-specific methods, and other drum-centric topics.

Our NYJA® Online vocal workshop series is titled “NYJA® sings Ella, Billie, Sarah & Carmen.” This is a fun hands-on vocal workshop where vocalists get to grow their repertoire, scat, and perform weekly. With the tools to recognize specific vocal jazz devices, vocalists will be encouraged to come up with their own interpretation of American Standards. Whether you are a beginning soloist who wants to learn how to successfully sit in at a jam session or a seasoned singer preparing for a performance, NYJA® Vocal Jazz Workshops will help you with performance skills such as stage presence, song interpretation, lyric memorization, musicianship skills, and improvisation.

NYJA® Summer Jazz Intensives are scheduled July-August 2024. Join a dynamic and engaging program based in the heart of NYC, either online or in person. Submit your online application today.

Jazz Styles and Analysis is an 8-week course, an online exploration of the more common styles and techniques used in jazz performance practice. It is a truncated course only offering course content (no live/interactive sessions). The expanded version of this class includes live sessions: Using videoconferencing, YouTube, recording devices, email, and live chat, the expanded version aims to provide individualized instruction to participants. Transcriptions of each solo will be provided and analyzed in private sessions with a NYJA instructor via videoconferencing. Students will have the opportunity to then create, compose, and/or record their own solos using the techniques analyzed in the previous week.

ALL-NEW!: Jazz Improv Primer is a basic course on jazz improvisation. It is designed for the musician who plays an instrument at least at a fairly moderate level, but who is interested in learning basic improvisation skills. This is a good place to start, if the student is new to jazz. The course will also serve as a very helpful and thorough review of fundamental improvisational concepts, for those who need it. The course delves into common chord progressions that form the foundation of repertoire covered in Jazz Improv I. PDF worksheets and pre-recorded video lectures will be distributed to the class and readily available for download.

COMING SOON! Jazz Arranging I will focus on basic principles of composition and orchestration as they apply to the jazz combo. Projects will include arranging jazz standards for rhythm section and three horns. Reading sessions with NYC musicians will be recorded for students. Final project will consist of a complete arrangement with shout chorus for sextet. Prerequisites for this class include a basic working knowledge of jazz theory, harmony and notation. Students must have access to and some fluency with music notation software such as Finale or Sibelius. Download/View Course Summary.

COMING SOON! Jazz Arranging II focuses on basic principles of composition and orchestration as they apply to arranging for big band. Projects will include score analysis, arranging jazz standards for individual sections of the big band, and ultimately developing a complete arrangement with shout chorus for the whole big band. Reading sessions with NYC musicians will be recorded for students. Prerequisites for this class include a fluent working knowledge of jazz theory, harmony and notation, as well as experience arranging for jazz combo. Students must have access to and some fluency with music notation software such as Finale or Sibelius. Download/View Course Summary.

COMING SOON! Bebop Line Building is an intermediate-advanced level course on jazz improvisation. It is designed for the musician who plays an instrument at least at a proficient level, but who is interested in developing more advanced improvisation skills. This is a good place to start if the student has significant experience in jazz improvisation. This course is repertoire-based and covers basic introduction and application of the five different bebop scales and other bebop line building concepts on compositions common to the jazz canon, including Autumn Leaves, All The Things You Are, There Will Never Be Another You, Just Friends, and Donna Lee. Supplemental text: A Practical Method of Playing Changes by Wayne Escoffery. Through videoconferencing, live chat rooms, and email, the instructor will be able to personally assist each student with the material. PDF worksheets and lecture notes will be distributed to the class and readily available for download.

COMING SOON! Jazz Improv I is a basic course on jazz improvisation. It is designed for the musician who plays an instrument at least at a moderate level, but who is interested in learning basic improvisation skills. This is a good place to start if the student has previous experience in jazz improvisation. This course is repertoire-based and covers basic application of improvisation concepts on compositions common to the jazz canon: Autumn Leaves, Mack The Knife, Song For My Father, and Bag’s Groove. Through videoconferencing, live chat rooms, and email, the instructor will be able to personally assist each student with the material. PDF worksheets and lecture notes will be distributed to the class and readily available for download.

COMING SOON! Jazz Improv II is an intermediate level course on jazz improvisation. It is designed for the musician who plays an instrument at least at a proficient level, but who is interested in developing more advanced improvisation skills. This is a good place to start if the student has significant experience in jazz improvisation. This course is repertoire-based and covers basic application of improvisation concepts on compositions common to the jazz canon: Maiden Voyage, Blue Bossa, On A Clear Day, and Billie’s Bounce. Through videoconferencing, live chat rooms, and email, the instructor will be able to personally assist each student with the material. PDF worksheets and pre-recorded video lectures will be distributed to the class and readily available for download.