Improvisation for Classically-Trained Musicians

Are you a classical musician eager to explore the art of improvisation? This specialized class is designed just for you. If you can sight-read treble clef and have a foundational understanding of music theory, but have yet to dive into the realm of improvisation, this course is your gateway to deeper musical expression.

Tailored for classically-trained musicians, this course understands and addresses the hesitations and uncertainties that often accompany the idea of improvisation.

Throughout the semester, you’ll gain invaluable musicianship tools to liberate your musicality. Step-by-step, we’ll guide you through hands-on exercises crafted to build your confidence in improvisation. Elevate your theory, harmony, and ear training skills, all while nurturing your innate creativity. By the end of the class you will have a solid toolkit of skills to improvise joyfully and confidently.

As an engaging jazz pianist, composer and music educator, Carmen Sandim combines harmonically-sophisticated post-bop with traditions from her native Brazil. Originally from Sao Paulo, Sandim studied music at Boston’s Berklee College of Music and University of Colorado. Sandim first gained attention in the 2000s after moving to Boulder, Colorado. Her debut album, 2011’s “Brand New”, features cornetist Ron Miles. In 2016, she won a grant from Pathways to Jazz to record her sophomore album, “Play-Doh”, released in 2019 via Ropeadope Records. Carmen’s latest project “Mini Brazilian Beasts”, released in 2022 on Octave Records, features jazz luminaries Ron Miles and Gilad Hekselman. Carmen currently lives in Denver and teaches at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, and University of Colorado Denver.

This course will have 8 sessions from Jan 20th – March 16th, excluding Feb 17th. Graduation performance TBD.
Class Location: 800 Kalamath St, Denver 80204. Class time 10:30-11:45am.