Educational Program
FOR MUSIC SCHOOLS AND CONSERVATORIES
Target Audience
Students from music schools or conservatories with at least one year of practice. Students may also come from orchestra learning programs, DEMOS, or any other practice programs related to the national education system (CHAM, AOC, AMPICS…). The project can also be developed in collaboration with existing orchestras at the conservatory (big band, wind ensemble, workshops, orchestras…), from ages 10 to adults.
Objectives
The objectives are to provide students with an immersive experience within a professional big band and to explore various jazz and African-American music repertoires, ranging from American orchestras of the 1920s (Fletcher Henderson) to contemporary jazz, including binary music styles (funk, soul) and original compositions by Orchid.
Orchid will work with students on arrangements of repertoire pieces and original compositions specially adapted for the occasion, allowing students of all skill levels to participate to the best of their instrumental abilities. Emphasis will also be placed on discovering and practicing improvisation.
This will enable students to enrich their musical culture, explore different musical vocabulary, and discover a repertoire of original creations, all while experiencing a unique and unifying ensemble experience.
Implementation
Concert(s) of performance by the Orchid group in the second part, date and location to be determined.
Repertoire
The pieces offered to the students can be from Orchid’s repertoire or composed and arranged specifically for the occasion, in coordination with the relevant teachers (instrument and orchestra teachers).
Orchid can also work around a specific theme according to the educational projects of the school’s teachers. The choice of repertoire can be quite extensive, encompassing various styles from jazz and contemporary music. During the concert, the students will perform with Orchid and will be fully integrated into the group.
Method and Program
Our work within Orchid is primarily focused on the unique experience of discovering original repertoires within a large jazz ensemble. Not only that this embraces all potential languages within the orchestra but allows student their own influences (jazz, improvisation, contemporary classical music, blending with other styles, etc.).
What we find interesting and essential in this collaboration is to share this openness to written and improvised music, which can be a true source of inspiration for students, expanding their musical horizons while enriching their instrumental practice.
The work will be divided into 5 sessions of 1.5 hours each at the music school during orchestra rehearsals. The goal of these sessions is to have the students work within their sections on the interpretation of works and improvisation. The sessions will be structured as follows:
1
Work in tutti on written pieces. Concepts of rhythmic and melodic interpretation.
2
Working on written pieces in sections (division of the orchestra into 2 or 3 groups). Exploring the cultural references of each piece.
3
Work in tutti. Practice of improvisation on simple harmonies.
4
Rehearsal with the Orchid group. Practice of the pieces in their final version, with interventions from improvising soloists.
5
General rehearsal with the Orchid group.
During the rehearsals, students will also be offered the opportunity to listen to reference recordings so that they can immerse themselves in the different cultures that coexist and define the repertoires being explored.
In addition to these sessions, we can offer work on pieces in smaller ensembles, depending on the students’ requests and availability.
Guest Musicians
Julien Dubois
Saxophonist, composer, professor at the CRR of Paris, and head of the Amplified Contemporary Music program at the Pôle Supérieur Paris Boulogne. Founding member of the Deluge collective and the Orchid Big Band.
THOMAS JULIENNE
“After studying at the CRR (Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional) in Bordeaux, he obtained a DNSPM (Diplôme National Supérieur Professionnel de Musicien) at the Pôle Supérieur de Paris in 2014 and the diploma from CMDL (Centre des Musiques Didier Lockwood). It is in ‘Theorem of Joy’ that he currently exercises his talents most naturally as a leader and composer. He leads ORCHID, the new big band of Deluge.
Clément Simon
Originally from Bordeaux, pianist Clement Simon immersed himself in various musical styles in his hometown before joining the Didier Lockwood Music Center in the Paris region, from which he graduated in 2011. In 2018, his first quintet album ‘Man On The Moon’ was released on the Jazz Family label.
Olivier Gay
Trumpeter, holder of the DNSPM (Diplôme National Supérieur Professionnel de Musicien) at the Pôle Supérieur de Paris (PSPBB) and at CMDL (Centre des Musiques Didier Lockwood), as well as the D.E (Diplôme d’État) for teaching at the Pôle Supérieur de Musique de Bourgogne. Trumpet and Jazz professor at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental de Romainville and at the Conservatoire de Chelles. Leader and composer of the OGSE group.
