Navigator Jazz Improv Workshop with So-Young Yoon
Pianist and composer So-Young Yoon is Navigator Musician in Residence at An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny for 2024. Musicians are invited to join her for a workshop at An Grianán on Wednesday 26 June.
All instruments are welcome! (e.g. any horn instruments, keyboard, guitar, bass, drums, percussions). NB: Suitable for ages 16+
“Hi, my name is So-Young Yoon and I am a jazz pianist and composer living in Dublin. I am delighted to open a jazz improvisation workshop and meet musicians in Donegal. Players with a background in classical or Irish traditional music are all welcome. Royal Irish Academy of Music or SCT (Scrúdú Ceol Tíre) Grade 3-4 and over would be desirable but if you have been playing your instrument over 4-5 years, it should be no problem having fun at the workshop. ”
An idea for preparation before attending the workshop
The best way to start improvisation is to choose simple songs you know very well and play the melody in a percussive/rhythmical way. Imagine playing your instruments like drum beats! It will immediately awaken your improvising cells. The recordings below will give you a good sense of how improvising over a melody works. We will use these two songs as “Improv-warming up” pieces.
'Summertime' by George Gershwin
Summertime is one of the most loved/improvised jazz standard pieces. The simplicity of harmony structure allows us to use a single minor scale or blues scale.
While working on Summertime we will aim to learn:
A Blues Scale
Swing Rhythm/ Swing 8th notes
Understanding forms
Interplay – rhythmic conversations with other players!
Look forward to meeting you at the workshop!
NB: Workshop is suitable for ages 16+
About So-Young
So-Young Yoon is a jazz pianist and composer currently residing in Dublin. She acquired her B.Mus Jazz Performance from Newpark Music Centre in 2008, M.Phil Music Composition from Trinity College Dublin in 2017 and Licentiate Teaching Diploma from the Royal Irish Academy of Music in 2019, with a distinction in performance. She has been actively participating in the Dublin jazz scene since 2008, having frequently performed at legendary jazz club J.J. Smyth’s, both as a band leader and guest musician, and has collaborated with most of the leading jazz musicians in Dublin. In 2011, So-Young led a six-piece ensemble at the National Concert Hall’s John Field Room, presenting creative arrangements of Thelonious Monk’s music that incorporated classical influences and various rhythmical techniques. This sold-out performance garnered positive recognition and critical acclaim. In 2012, she returned to the John Field Room with her piano trio to perform the music of Wayne Shorter.
As an educator, she has been teaching at Walton’s School of Music since 2008, running both group and individual classes.