CENTRE DES MUSIQUES DIDIER LOCKWOOD

Since 2001, CENTRE DES MUSIQUES DIDIER LOCKWOOD has used the following types of Good Practice:

Summary

Didier Lockwood is a famous jazz violonist who performs with the most referent musicians of the jazz area. He always had a very special interest in teaching, considering that the tradionnal methods of  teaching music only leave some room for technical knowledge and virtuosity, to the detriment of musicality and creativity. Author of “Cordes et Ames” which has been prized by SACEM in 2002, he had been appointed in 2005 as vice-chairman of “Haut Conseil de l’éducation artistique et culturelle” by French Ministery of Education and Ministery of Culture.

Objectives

The teaching methods in CMDL attach importance in equal proportion to technical virtuosity, rhythm, harmony  and improvisation, and personal behaviour, mostly important in present musics, in sight to offer students all that can be usefull for a stage or a studio musician.

Methods

CMDL has a unique and specific place in music teaching in the French tradition of jazz strings music.        

* Three main curriculum axes are available in CMDL:        

   - professional curriculum: dedicated to professional musicians and advanced amateur musicians. It takes nearly 20 to 30 hours a week, with following topics:  instrument improvisation, harmony, song writing and orchestration, ear training, rhythm training, musical background knowledge, music on and with computers, ensemble practicing, initiation to piano for non-pianists…        

   - improvisation techniques: for professional or amateur musicians. One day per month (5 to 6 hours).        Instrument improvisation, ear training, rhythm training, ensemble workshops.        

   - sessions of 5 days (30 hours), for professional or amateur musicians. The target of the session is to improve and increase ability in improvising techniques,harmony and rhythm  in present musics.

Resources

Located in Paris South suburbs (nearly 40km), CMDL is accommodated in a huge building hosting 25 music rooms, rehearsal rooms, a library and video library, a computers room and a recording studio.

Activities

CMDL also welcomes master-classes (Bob Mintzer, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Jerry Bergonzi, André Ceccarelli, Martial Solal….). Master-classes are always concluded by a concert. Students also give concerts all year long in close surrounding of the school or in national festivals.

Added value

Didier Lockwood’s musician experience helped him to take a very special attention to the violin teaching and to musical pedagogy either. When he created CMDL, he tried to apply his personnal conception of pedagogy to different instruments, considering light music, improvised and jazz music might have a similar teaching approach.

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