Jazz for the Teach
Toronto Downtown Jazz presents “Jazz for the Teach”
Has your scat gone flat? Is your cadence feeling less than perfect? If you’re singing the end of school blues, Toronto Downtown Jazz invites you to refresh your jazz chops in a fun, relaxed setting with “Jazz for the Teach” on Sunday, June 26, 2-5 pm at The Imperial Pub.
“Jazz for the Teach” is an interactive session geared towards middle and high school music teachers looking to hone their jazz teaching skills. Led by acclaimed educators Shirantha Beddage and Christine Duncan, “Jazz for the Teach” will shed new light on jazz in the classroom, and will help to remove some of the mystique surrounding improvisation, leading a jazz ensemble, and more. The day will conclude with an informal jam session, so bring your instrument and let your creative juices flow!
“Jazz for the Teach” schedule
| 2:00-3:00pm |
Jazz and Improvisation
|
|---|---|
| 3:00-3:15pm |
Break
|
| 3:15-4:15pm |
Jazz listening and the oral tradition
Instrumental and vocal jazz ensembles
|
| 4:15-5:00pm |
Jam session: open to all participants
|
| 5:30 pm |
Catch the Mike Murley Septet’s free show at Metro Squar |
Participation in “Jazz for the Teach” is free but registration is required. Please complete the online registration form by June 17th to secure your spot.
Click here to register online for “Jazz for the Teach”
If you have any questions about “Jazz for the Teach”, please contact Artistic Director Josh Grossman at (416) 928-2033, ext. 27, or email josh@tojazz.com. We look forward to seeing you on June 26th!
Shirantha Beddage

Shirantha Beddage is a nationally recognized baritone saxophonist, composer and educator. He is currently the Director of Theory and Harmony in the Music department of Humber College (Toronto, Canada), where he teaches courses in Contemporary Music Theory and Improvisation. In 2007, he earned one of the first Doctoral degrees in Jazz Studies from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. He has performed with The Temptations, Johnny Mathis, Gladys Knight, and numerous jazz groups in the United States and Canada. Shirantha’s solo album, Roots and Branches, featuring his original works, is distributed internationally through Jazz Excursion Records. For more information, please visit www.shiranthabeddage.com.
Christine Duncan

A musical chameleon with a near five octave range, Christine Duncan uses her voice as an instrument, exploring its full tonal, timbral and textural range. She is involved with everything from jazz, R&B, gospel, improvised music, sound poetry, to new music, opera and musique actuelle. She performs with many musical groups and projects, most notably Hugh Fraser’s VEJI (Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation) and Barnyard Drama with drummer/electronic artist Jean Martin. She developed and leads an improvising choir in Toronto called the Element Choir and regularly teaches voice and improvising workshops. Christine also teaches voice in the jazz programs at Humber College and the University of Toronto.
JazzY(YZ)
The TD Toronto Jazz Festival is keenly aware that the next generation of great jazz musicians and jazz supporters is already pursuing their love of jazz in high schools, universities and colleges across the country. JazzY(YZ) presents programming geared for students and teachers of jazz with special concerts, performance opportunities, master classes, clinics and more. During the 2011 TD Toronto Jazz Festival, JazzY(YZ) activities include Jazz for the Teach; the Youth Jazz Showcase, featuring the Youth Jazz in the City Honour Combo, the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Quartet and, from Japan, Yamaki Shohei and Fulare-pad on June 27th at The Rex Hotel; and the Big Band Slam, featuring four Toronto-area high school big bands in performance at The Rex Hotel on June 28th.







