Galway musician Matthew Berrill, Irish jazz band Pinto, and Dutch jazzman John Ruocco will give special Jazz With Juniors workshops in schools across the city and county.
The workshops are part of the Galway Jazz Festival, which opens on Tuesday and runs until Sunday October 14.
Matthew Berrill, a saxophonist and one of the organisers of the jazz festival, feels these workshops will be “really important for children”.
“These workshops are an exciting development within the Galway Jazz Festival,” he said. “They exemplify the festival’s developing ethos which includes passing on the fun and enjoyment of jazz and improvisation to children of all ages in an accessible and safe environment.”
The first of these workshops took place in The Claddagh National School this week. Upcoming workshops are: workshop with Matthew Berrill and Aengus Hackett, Thursday October 11 at 11am, and a workshop with the band Pinto at the Presentation College, Headford, Friday 12 at 12 noon.
On Sunday 14 in the St Patrick’s Brass Band’s bandroom, off Forster Street, there will be a Big Band Masterclass with John Ruocco, from 10.30am to 12 noon; composition workshop and performance with Greg Felton from 12.30pm to 2pm. There will also be an ‘Open Masterclass and Workshop’ on Sunday 14 with the Headford Youth Big Band and Galway Youth Jazz Orchestra.
For more information see www.Galway JazzFest.com