A parent/guardian should email director Brendan Finucane to communicate their child’s interest in joining the ensemble. 5th and 6th grade string players with a minimum of one year of experience will join as “Squires,” the training ensemble designed to lay the foundations of performing in the jazz idiom. Squires will learn the melodies, basslines and harmony parts to the simpler KJSB standards.
Squires can audition to commence to Knights, the main ensemble.
Knights Audition
A successful Knights audition includes the demonstration of melody and harmony parts to six standards: The Saints, Jericho, Hava Nagila, Joe Avery Blues, Take The ‘A’ Train, and Take Me Out To The Ballgame. The audition should feature accurate rhythms, correct bowings, and good intonation. Practice guides, exercises and video tutorials are provided to all Knights and Squires to support technical and musical growth, and to scaffold successful Knights auditions.
Home Practice
All musicians in KJSB are expected to come to rehearsals confident with all music, and are expected to practice to ensure this. Squires should practice for mastery of basslines, melody and harmony parts. Knights are expected to play melody, harmony and basslines to all our standards with confidence. Knights should additionally practice scales, arpeggios and advanced melodies for select standards, and experiment with new embellishments for the their solos.
Weekly Rehearsals
Squires rehearse weekly on Wednesdays from 3:05 – 3:35. Knights rehearse Sunday afternoons at Chicago Waldorf School. Consistent attendance at the weekly rehearsal is expected. Upcoming absences should be communicated with as much advance notice as possible. Bandmembers should arrive to rehearsals on time — unpack and set up immediately to warm up and be “ready for the count off” at the start of rehearsal. KJSB members should come to rehearsals with instrument and a complete, up-to-date, and neatly organized gig folder.
Dress Rehearsals and Gigs
A bandmember must must participate in the in-person dress rehearsal prior to participating in any gig.
Squires will participate in select KJSB gigs. Knights are expected to wear KJSB ensemble t-shirts.
Student Agreement / Code of Conduct
Knights of Jazz String Band embodies the musicianship and professionalism of a hot jazz dance band from the Roaring Twenties. All members agree to conduct themselves at rehearsals and gigs in line with this standard. In short: Practiced, Prepared, On Time, and Supportive.
Prior to joining for the year, all members of Knights of Jazz String Band must submit a copy of the Student Agreement / Code of Conduct signed by both student and a parent.
Director Responsibility
The director is responsible for bandmembers solely in his professional capacity as bandleader. A parent must accompany their child to any KJSB performance. Following rehearsals, students must proceed immediately to the lobby to wait for parent pickup, and may not remain unsupervised in the Chicago Waldorf School building.
Tuition
The per-semester tuition for Knights of Jazz String Band is $350, due at or prior to the first rehearsal of the semester.
