Big news: after October's Django On The Island sold out in a few weeks, we've decided to run a second edition next spring too. Django On The Island, Spring Edition 23rd to 26th April 2027 The Garlic Farm, Isle of Wight Same format that sold out in October: small groups, real 1-1 feedback, workshops on technique, improvisation and harmony, guided jam sessions, a concert on the Saturday night and a student concert on the Sunday. This time I'm joined by Harry Diplock and Sol Grimshaw on guitar and Jon Thorne on bass. If you've been wanting to come to one of these but October didn't work for your diary, (or was sold out) this is your second shot. Given how fast the last one filled up, I wouldn't leave it too long to decide. https://www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk/pages/django-weekend-2026

My monthly free class looking at Lady Be Good is happening on 8 August at 4pm UK time. If you’re interested in making your first steps into jazz violin, and want a simple path that helps you understand how a jazz musician thinks when they play and practise, this one’s for you. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/P1b8zmiXSNS9WZ-AGr_DUA And if you’ve been to one of these before, or you’ve been enjoying the free 5 Days to Improv challenge (which is built on the same material), you might be ready for the next step. My Jazz Violin Foundations challenges pick up right where this leaves off. Have a look here: https://www.skool.com/jazzviolin/plans Hope to see you there 🎵

Hi all, I've had a few new jazz violinists ask recently about a way in before Practice Club, enough that I'm considering adding a new regular session for new starters. My Monday Practice Club sessions are pretty advanced and I know that pace suits where a lot of you are at, I don't want to change that. I'd like to try soft launching a new monthly session inside Premium membership, practising together, drilling scales and arpeggios and improv techniques in a way that makes sense for people just starting out. If this sounds like you, maybe you've attended my "Getting Started" session, maybe you've started looking at my courses, maybe you've done the 5 day challenge, let me know in the comments or send me a DM.

A couple of things worth knowing about this week. 🏆The Jazz Violin Foundations challenge series is now in the classroom If you’ve completed the 5 Days to Improv challenge, this is your next step. Eighteen steps that take you from your first 12 bar blues all the way through to improvising over a jazz standard and a minor blues, entirely by ear. Every step gives you something to play and somewhere to post it, so you’re never just watching videos and wondering whether you’ve got it. You do the thing, you share it, and we all cheer you on. It’s the same format as the 5 day challenge, which people got a huge amount out of, and I wanted the rest of my beginner material to work that way too. Three challenges in the series: The Blues Improv Challenge, The Jazz Standard Improv Challenge and The Minor Blues Improv Challenge. Start with the blues. It’s all in the classroom now with Premier or VIP membership. https://www.skool.com/jazzviolin/plans 🎻Getting Started workshop, Saturday 8 August, 4pm UK Another free Getting Started with Jazz Violin workshop. It’s aimed at anyone new to jazz, and we’ll get you improvising in the session itself. Register below or via the calendar to come along. Register now https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/P1b8zmiXSNS9WZ-AGr_DUA Any questions on either, drop them below 🎵

I've just rebuilt my Jazz Violin Foundations course into a series of challenges, and they're the natural next step after 5 Days to Improv. The material is the same teaching, but it's been restructured completely. Instead of a big course to work through on your own, it's now eighteen steps with something to do and post at the end of each one, so you get the same momentum and encouragement that makes the 5 day challenge so fun. It takes you from having never really played jazz at all to improvising over a blues, a jazz standard and a minor blues. All by ear, at your own pace, split across three challenges: 1. The Blues Improv Challenge: the sound and form of the blues, ending with a full three-chorus solo 2. The Jazz Standard Improv Challenge: learn I Can't Give You Anything But Love, the changes, and build your own solo 3. The Minor Blues Improv Challenge: Understand the minor key, ending with a solo full of real ideas Here's how to start: 1. Head to the classroom and open The Blues Improv Challenge 2. Comment "IN" on the pinned post inside so we know you've taken it on 3. Get your violin out and start step one Available with Premier or VIP membership. Looking forward to hearing you all 🎵