Join the collective, discover your creativity.
The Young Improvisers Collective is a four-week workshop designed to bring together aspiring musicians through spontaneous music making – aka, musical improvisation. Over the course of the workshop, students will learn to communicate, work together, and express themselves through a variety of musical styles including jazz, blues, rock, and funk. The work of the collective will culminate in an engaging final concert that is free and open to the public.
Progam Highlights
Learn about music performance in a fun, relaxed environment!
Hands on learning with a seasoned professional
Connect with other like-minded musicians
gain practical musicianship skills through playing music with other people
What we do:
Ages 13-18, all instruments welcome!
Class sessions are Wednesday nights 6-8 pm at Foothills PAC on Market Street in Oneonta. 2024 summer classes are July 10th, 17th, 24th with a final concert on 1st Aug 1st at 7pm.
Every week participants will attend a two-hour session in the Foothills Black Hole Studios rehearsal/recording studio. During each session the group will learn basic repertoire from a specific musical genre, using it to discuss various aspects of musicianship including style, music theory, history, ear training, group playing, instrument roles, soloing concepts and much more.
Meet your instructor:
Founder and lead instructor Wyatt Ambrose is a full-time freelance musician, private lesson instructor, and Artist-in-Residence at Hartwick College. Wyatt’s interest in improvisation has served as a common thread through his various musical and educational endeavors since picking up the guitar at age 11. He has performed in a variety of styles including jazz, blues, rock, R&B, experimental, heavy metal, and even country. Wyatt currently teaches history classes in jazz and popular music, as well as ear training and the Rock Ensemble at Hartwick College.
Wyatt has worked in a variety music workshops geared toward young musicians, including the Oneonta Pop Music Experience, his class Creative Musicianship, and Hartwick Jazz Day which he helped curate.
Why do we improvise?
Improvisation involves all aspects of musicianship. Through learning to improvise even on a basic level, one develops essential skills that will aid in any musical goal — big or small. Though improvisation is perhaps most closely associated with jazz musicians, it is found in many musical traditions across the world such as West-African, Indian, and even classical music. Improvising also helps develop individuality and creativity. But don’t trust us alone – many studies have been conducted in recent years exploring the positive effects of improvisation on the human brain.
Charles Limb on Improv
2024 Fees and policies:
Tuition: $225 per student (approx. $55 per week)
$55 deposit due at time of registration
Waiver and Registration form required for attendance
The 2024 Young Improvisers Collective cost of attendance is $225 per student (4 two hour sessions x approx. $55) with a non-refundable $55 deposit due at time of registration. Payments may be made in full at any time after registration and must be made at or before the first session on July 10th. Refunds for deposits and cost of workshop will be made only in extreme extenuating circumstances. No refunds will be made for sessions already attended. Payment methods include cash, check, PayPal, Zelle and Venmo.
For full explanation of policies found in registration contract, please email ambrosewyatt@gmail.com or apply.
Highlights from the 2023 Collective
Thanks to all the participants who made the inaugural Young Improvisers Collective a great success! The 2023 collective featured four excellent musicians from Oneonta and Mt. Vision NY. The final concert included performances of music by Robert Johnson, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Herbie Hancock/Head Hunters, and John Coltrane.
Testimoninials:
Wyatt Ambrose’s Young Improvisers Collective is an outstanding collaborative experience for all types of musicians desiring to building their overall musicianship, theory skills, and most importantly, improvisation skills. As someone who listens to and plays exclusively jazz arrangements, it was interesting and enjoyable to work outside of my comfort zone, playing songs of various styles and genres in addition to jazz songs. Sessions were very informative and relaxed, where musicians could ask questions, try multiple new ideas, and have creative freedom. It was incredibly enjoyable to be a part of creating the arrangements for each song and build in personal ideas to the songs we played. Overall, the collective has been a wonderful experience that has helped develop me into a better improviser, a more confident player, and a better musician.
- Student, Oneonta High School
If you are looking to get serious about your music--while keeping it fun!--don't miss Wyatt Ambrose's workshops and lessons. In just a few weeks, you can super-charge your knowledge of music theory and develop confidence to play with a group. I know Wyatt's workshop and lessons have transformed my guitar-playing son!
- Parent, Oneonta High School
