LLBB: State Teachers' Big Band

in co-operation with the BMU RLP and the Jazz Campus Mainz

The aim of this project is to establish a state teachers' big band in Rhineland-Palatinate. The aim is to create a format in which teachers can make music together and discuss issues relating to music teaching and ensemble work in schools.

The idea for this arose in the context of the Big Band for Music Teachers event in autumn 2023. With regard to an authentic big band sound and a meaningful rehearsal and playing ability on site, the following specifications are required for the composition of the big band:

- All positions in a big band should be appropriately filled.

- When registering, participants must indicate their preferred position within the instrument register (e.g. lead alto, bass trombone, percussion, doublings, etc.).

- Registration is possible until 01 October 2024. The organiser will then decide whether to accept or reject the application in order to ensure a suitable line-up. The time of registration is also decisive.

- In the event of a cancellation, there will be a waiting list for future events.

The first public performance is planned for the state congress of the Bundesverband Musikunterricht (LV RLP) in Engers in May 2025. The focus of this first phase of work will therefore be on developing a concert programme with around 10 pieces.

The ensemble's programme is made up of pieces of traditional and contemporary big band literature. The level of difficulty is based on the following examples:

- Shiny Stockings, Frank Foster: https://youtu.be/YWqbQDjLK44?si=02LmdMQZrRIFC7mK

- Oclupaca, D.Ellington/ M.Ph. Mossman: https://youtu.be/5rNHoVfDqio?si=hfwaGWV1IIvcOTZ3

- Oblivion, Piazzolla / B.Curnow: https://youtu.be/BOAYemG3P1o?si=i7ULze-eC9MyfY1H

- Next Season, Thomas Matta: https://youtu.be/uZ2cV0iyToM?si=RRdR7jCRWq2DAVPB

Depending on the interests of the participants, future workshops can focus on different aspects (rehearsal work in a school big band, sound development, etc.).

If you have any questions, please contact Jörg Safferling.

You can get a good insight into the last national congress (2023) here.

Teaching team:	Andreas Steffens studied jazz saxophone at the Arnhem University of the Arts. He was a long-standing member of the Rhineland-Palatinate Jazz Orchestra and many other big band projects. Since 2008, he has very successfully led the big bands at the Landesmusikgymnasium in Montabaur and has won numerous national and international prizes with them. He is a lecturer in big band conducting at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, where he leads the Folkwang Big Band and teaches ensemble didactics at the University of Music in Mainz.
Number of participants:	approx. 18
Course start:	Wednesday, 13 November 2024, 10:00 a.m.
Course end:	Thursday, 14 November 2024, 16:00
Fees:	incl. meals and accommodation in a double room € 125.00, in a single room € 135.00. Members of the BMU RLP receive a €45.00 discount.
Notes on registration:	Registration takes place via the Landesmusikakademie Rheinland-Pfalz.

This course is recognised by the Pädagogisches Landesinstitut Rheinland-Pfalz under Az. MA.815 as serving official interests.