Steve Gibons is a genre-defying Chicago-based violinist
I offer instruction in violin technique, jazz violin and improvisation skills. My teaching style is focused and flexible, and I engage students by encouraging them to own their own learning.
I accept students at any level of expertise from age of 12 through adult and professional, I accept younger students if a parent can be present at lessons. Contact me via phone or text at 773-321-8221 to find out more.
You can find my lesson payment policy here
What people say:
for info on pricing and other options please call or text me at 773-321-8221
Steve Gibons Jazz and World Music Improv Workshop
A workshop that can be scaled to the expertise of the participants.
Duration: 2 to 3 hours, depending on the venue and scheduling availability
All ages and instruments welcome
- Students should be fluent enough on their instrument to play basic scales with two accidentals
- The workshop accommodates a wide variety of skill levels by providing easier phrases and parts for less advanced players, and more complex melodic and rhythmic harmony parts for more advanced players.
- All parts are learned by ear. Students are welcome to record the workshop, and it’s recommended that they bring music manuscript or note paper for note taking.
- We use music genres from Eastern European Gypsy music, Gypsy Jazz, Middle Eastern music, and American Jazz standards as base for the workshop, since many aspects of improvisation are shared across these genres
Synopsis
- A warm-up with call and response playing:Have some fun and get acquainted, get a feel for participants’ skill levels.
- Listen and Observe: Learn a phrase and play it over a Dominant chord, listen to the character of each note in context. Develop a simple rhythmic accompaniment over which individuals play the phrase in turn, as the others accompany.
- Dominant chord and how it is used
- explore its use in modal playing, as in Klezmer music, and folk and dance music from Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the Middle East
- Juxtapose its use in cadences, then juxtapose
- (See tune sheet for pieces)
- Phrasing and finding ideas
- A simple phrase is modified over many iterations to reveal ways to generate or discover new ideas.
- Chord Progression and Jam session
Using these elements we jam over a chord progression that moves through the circle of 5ths.
Such as:
E7 / / / | A7 / / / | D7 / / / | G7 / / / | etc…
A workshop for violinists, violists and cellists who love Manouche jazz and gypsy music.
Bring out your native ability to improvise and learn about the Jazz Manouche style, originated by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.
Additionally get an introduction to East European Gypsy style ornaments.
- A Gypsy Jazz rhythm guitarist will provide accompaniment\
- Level Required: You should be able to play scales in at least two octaves and in 5 keys comfortably, You should be comfortable with syncopaction. Virtuosity is great, but soulfull playing does not require the technique of Paganinni. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you wonder if your level is too high or too low.
About Steve Gibons
Chicago Violinist Steve Gibons is a jazz and world musician known for his fiery approach to improvisation and his passionate virtuosity. Steve’s breadth of experience covers music from five continents and includes North African, Middle Eastern and Turkish music; Afro-Cuban jazz, Eastern European Klezmer repertoire and Manouche jazz, the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. He also writes music for film and leads educational workshops in ethnic music and jazz violin.
Hear Steve with Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan in Chicago’s Green Mill Lounge and watch stevegibons.com for other performances