Play Jazz with others
Jazz Ensembles at Seattle Jazz Academy
Join a jazz ensemble, rehearse every week, perform with other musicians, and become part of Seattle's jazz community. Whether you're preparing for your first combo or looking for a more advanced ensemble, Seattle Jazz Academy will help you find the right place to play.
There Is More to Music Than
Practicing Alone
Private lessons build your foundation. Playing with other musicians brings that foundation to life.
In a jazz ensemble, you'll learn to listen, communicate, support a soloist, shape an arrangement, and create music together in real time. These are the experiences that transform practice into musicianship.
Every Seattle Jazz Academy ensemble is guided by an experienced jazz educator and organized around musicians of similar experience and goals. Whether you're joining your first combo or looking for a more advanced challenge, we'll help you find the right place to grow.
The Next Step After Private Lessons
Once you've developed a solid foundation on your instrument, playing with other musicians becomes one of the most rewarding stages of musical growth.
Seattle Jazz Academy ensembles are designed for musicians who are ready to apply what they've learned in lessons by rehearsing, listening, improvising, and performing alongside other dedicated players. Through our placement process, we'll help you find an ensemble that matches your current ability, experience, and musical goals.
Whether you're preparing for your first jazz combo or looking for a more advanced musical challenge, there's an ensemble designed to help you continue growing.
Find the Right Ensemble
Introductory Jazz Combos
Designed for musicians with a solid foundation on their instrument who are beginning their jazz ensemble experience. These groups focus on ensemble communication, improvisation, following lead sheets, and developing confidence playing with others.
Intermediate Ensembles
For musicians who are comfortable with common jazz forms, improvisation, and ensemble playing. These groups explore more challenging repertoire while continuing to strengthen musicianship and performance skills.
Advanced Ensembles
For experienced jazz musicians seeking a higher level of musical challenge. Advanced ensembles explore sophisticated repertoire, arrangements, and improvisation as well as specialty themes such as our Brazilian Band and Horace Silver Ensemble.
Music Is Meant to Be Shared
Every Seattle Jazz Academy ensemble works toward a live performance at the end of each quarter.
Throughout the term, your ensemble rehearses together, develops repertoire, refines arrangements, and prepares a complete set of music. At the end of the quarter, each ensemble shares that music with family, friends, fellow students, and the community through one of Seattle Jazz Academy's public performances.
Whether performing at one of our academy concerts, pop-up events, or community venues throughout Seattle, these performances give every rehearsal a purpose and provide one of the most rewarding experiences of playing in a jazz ensemble.
Meet our Ensembles
Every quarter, Seattle Jazz Academy ensembles rehearse, perform, and create lasting musical experiences together. Here are just a few photos of bands that make up our community.
Interested in Joining an Ensemble?
If you're interested in playing with us, the first step is to tell us a little about your musical background. We'll schedule a brief conversation to answer your questions, discuss your goals, and determine whether one of our ensembles is the right fit for your experience and interests.
If an ensemble seems like a good match, we'll invite you to complete a short placement audition so our faculty can recommend the most appropriate ensemble for the upcoming quarter.
Our Placement Process
-
Tell Us You're Interested
-
Meet With Our Team
-
Complete a Placement Audition
-
Receive Your Ensemble Recommendation
-
Join Your Ensemble