Who is Dave?
David DeJesus is a Grammy Award Winning Multi-Instrumentalist specializing in Jazz and Latin Jazz. He has performed with numerous legends including Ron Carter, Mulgrew Miller and Jimmy Heath as well as famous large ensembles including the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Mingus Big Band, Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars. David is currently the Director of the Birdland Big Band, a featured member of Bobby Sanabria’s Big Band, and the Music Director for Ron Carter’s Great Big Band. On top of his busy performing career David has long been involved in education, having taught at Manhattan School of Music, the New School, and NYU and served as a full-time faculty member at Purchase College in Westchester, NY for 15 years. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, David’s musical journey started in Norwalk, CT he has been passionate about bringing high quality Jazz education back to Fairfield County.
Where are we located?
Dave’s Music Room is located in Norwalk, CT near exit 38 of the Merritt Parkway and exit 15 off of I95.
What do we offer?
SAXOPHONE MASTERCLASS GROUP
These group classes meet once per week where we will tackle tone exercises, technical studies, sight-reading, and learn Jazz Repertoire. This is an affordable way to learn saxophone at a high level in the comfort of a group atmosphere.
The Saxophone Masterclass group meets on Mondays from 6pm to 7pm. There are 5 classes per session.
Session 1
1/6, 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10
Session 2
3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31
Session 3
4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19
SMALL ENSEMBLES
Jazz Lab
The Jazz Lab is our introductory ensemble aimed at students just getting started with Jazz Improvisation. Each week we will learn famous Jazz Standards and learn how to improvise on them in an authentic manner. Each 10 week semester is followed with a recital where students can demonstrate what they have learned.
Jazz Lab meets on Sundays from 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Jazz Ensemble
The Jazz Ensemble is our more advanced group aimed at students with experience playing in Jazz Big Bands or Combos. Each week we will play custom arrangements of famous Jazz Compositions and get deep into learning how to improvise over them. Each 10 week semester is followed with a recital.
Jazz Ensemble meets on Sundays from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
SMALL ENSEMBLE SEMESTER DATES
Fall Semester Dates
9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10.
Recital on Sunday November 17th
Winter Semester Dates
1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, and 4/6
Recital Performances on 2/9 and 4/6
DMR Big Band
The DMR Big Band brings together the best students from all across Fairfield County. The ensemble will work on both classic and modern Big Band repertoire from legends such as Count Basie, Benny Carter, Bill Holman, Oliver Nelson, Thad Jones, and more. Meeting on Sundays for 2 hours the DMR Big Band session will end in a public performance. Auditions are required for this ensemble.
DMR BIG BAND SESSION DATES
2/2, 2/9, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6, 4/27
Performance on 5/4
PRIVATE LESSONS
Weekly private lessons are the fastest way to grow as a musician and progress to the next level. Each student is assessed and provided with weekly lesson plans designed to help develop tone quality and gain technical facility. Students will study Jazz Standards and learn how to improvise over chord changes as well as work on sight-reading and preparation of audition music. Beginners to Adults are welcome. Subject to Availability.