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Skill Levels
Class and Student Playing Level Definitions
Some SJW classes and programs are designed for players with specific levels of musicianship and expertise. These levels relate to the student's ability to improvise and to the amount of small combo playing experience the student has had.

Some SJW classes and programs require participants to submit an audition recording in order to enroll. If an applicant is unsure whether or not he/she is at the playing level required for such classes or programs, they are encouraged to send a recording in order to let our faculty determine the best placement for them. The levels are generally described below:

Beginning (Beg) :
Students have little or no experience improvising or playing jazz in a small combo but should have a basic proficiency on their instrument. High Beginners may be students with some experience improvising in pop, rock, or blues styles, and some familiarity with the blues form.

Intermediate (Int):
Students should have some knowledge of chords/harmony and should be able to improvise on the blues form and simple tunes such as "Song for My Father" and "Cantaloupe Island." Intermediate students should have some experience playing in small combos and be familiar with terms such as "trading 4's," "the head,""the bridge," and "a chorus."Chordal players should know the basics of "comping." Drummers should be able to keep steady time playing in basic swing and straight-eighth note grooves. Bass players should be able to walk a bass line on the blues form.

High Intermediate:
Students should be comfortable with everything in the previous description, and be able to improvise on tunes such as "Take the A Train," "Just Friends," and "Out of Nowhere; " be able to sight-read lead sheets (melodies and chords) to standard tunes; and be able to keep their place in the form. High Intermediates should be familiar with the concept of "making the changes".

Advanced (Adv):
Students should be able to improvise with confidence on the tunes previously mentioned and be working on tunes with multiple key centers such as"Have you Met Miss Jones," and "All the Things you Are." These students should be familiar with the work of jazz leaders such as Charlie Parker, Horace Silver, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock.

High Advanced:
Students should be able to improvise on the previously mentioned tunes with confidence and in a variety of tempos, keys and rhythmic feels. They should also be able to improvise on tunes with non-diatonic harmony such as "Fe-Fi-Foe-Fum," "Giant Steps," "Moments Notice," and "Dolphin Dance." These students should have some repertoire of blues, standards and jazz tunes that are committed to memory.