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More than a Clinician, she is an effective and versatile Music Coach. Each
presentation is customized to inform and inspire its unique audience, whether
it be a class of kindergartners exposed to instrumental music for the first
time, a high school jazz band gaining confidence with soloing, or a garage band
looking to make the move toward professional engagements. Just 60 to 90
minutes with Sonya will make a difference in reaching a new level of musical insight
and ability.
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"Great Sound. Great Playing. Knowledgeable. Witty. Motivational. A great
clinic and a wonderful treat for students to hear first hand from a successful
working pro. Sonya brings the total package."
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| -- Dr. Jeff Eaton, Jazz Band Brass Coach, Mills High School, Burlingame CA |
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Sonya Jason is an experienced clinician. Sponsored by the Arizona Commission
on the Arts and the American Federation of Musicians, she traveled throughout
Arizona in the 1980's presenting clinics and concerts at schools and small
town centers. Her performances inspired school children in seven cities
throughout Mexico as part of the Cervantino International Music and Arts Festival of
1990. This tour included a program entitled, "Encuentro con los Artistas,"
which provided a dialogue with teachers, students, cultural promoters and
journalists.
In the 1990's, Sonya was chosen as a Roster Artist for the Yamaha Corporation
of America and was sponsored to speak at the International Association for
Jazz Education (IAJE) Conference as well as numerous schools in the Los Angeles
area. During her tours of Japan, she evaluated school band performances and
conducted woodwind master classes with young Japanese musicians.
In the new millennium, Sonya has been sharing her expertise with students in
the San Francisco Bay Area. Performance clinics and music workshops have been
presented at The Jazzschool in Berkeley, Will C. Wood High School in Vallejo,
Mills High School in Burlingame, Tierra Linda Middle School in San Carlos,
Cunha Intermediate School in Half Moon Bay, El Granada Elementary School and others.
She is also called upon to travel throughout the US to perform and
conduct clinics at music festivals, such as the Lamberton Jazz Festival
in Minnesota, featuring 32 school bands annually from the Midwestern region.
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Possible Topics
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For K-4 elementary school children:
- Demonstration of woodwind instruments -- saxophone, flute, clarinet.
Includes short performance with CD accompaniment.
- Backstage with a full band -- demonstration of horns, keyboards, guitar,
bass, drums, percussion (size of group flexible). Live concert presentation
includes explanation of various styles of music.
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For 5th and 6th grade beginning band students:
- Master classes of like instruments -- basic technique including breath
support, embouchure, posture, and articulation.
- Backstage with a full band including live concert demonstration of various
styles of music.
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For 7th and 8th grade intermediate band students:
- Master classes of like instruments -- instrumental techniques such as good
tone production, intonation, projection, dynamics, and smooth fingering.
- Full band rehearsal coaching -- emphasizing listening, balance, dynamics,
precise articulation, musical expressiveness, and reading rhythms.
- Jazz Band rehearsal coaching -- techniques to swing harder, articulate with a
jazz style, balance with lead players, and begin to improvise solos.
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For high school advanced band students:
- Master classes for saxophone students -- coaching with contest or audition
pieces and advanced performance techniques.
- Jazz Band rehearsal coaching -- locking in the "feel," projection and style
of lead playing, musical intensity and dynamics, improvisational ideas.
- Rehearsal and concert performance with Sonya Jason as guest artist.
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For amateur bands or musicians seeking to become working professionals:
- Clarifying musical and business goals.
- Polishing the act.
- Promoting yourself and getting gigs.
- Handling business in a professional manner.
- What's the music business really like?
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All presentations include an opportunity to ask questions and get honest answers.
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"Sonya Jason presented a clinic to my middle school jazz band students and
truly inspired them! They marveled at her playing and were impressed to hear
her talents as demonstrated through her CDs. She willingly shared her ideas
(in the language a middle schooler can understand!) and freely played
improvised examples. Her comments were encouraging and helpful as she listened to
blues solos rendered by the students. They opened up and were not intimidated!
This was a very positive experience for my students!"
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| -- Sara Lomax, Director of Music, Tierra Linda Middle School, San Carlos CA |
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"A really great blend of theory and performance -- such a nice presentation!
The kids got a lot out of it. We want to have her back again and again."
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| -- Ken Crowell, Band Director, Mills High School, Burlingame CA |
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"Sonya has such a great way of communicating with the students; just the
right balance of technical jargon and playing examples. It was a treat to see
them so enthralled with her presentation. They haven't stopped talking about it."
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| -- Dr. Jeff Eaton, Jazz Band Brass Coach, Mills High School, Burlingame CA |
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"Sonya Jason did a masterful job of engaging nearly a hundred of my middle
school music students with her superb musical knowledge and instrument
demonstrations. Discipline was not an issue because the kids in both jazz band and
concert band were genuinely interested in what she had to say. I hope to have Ms.
Jason as a regular guest at our arts magnet school."
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| -- Doug Miner, Music Teacher/Visual and Performing Arts Chairperson, Bayside Middle School for the Arts and Creative Technology, San Mateo CA |
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"We appreciated having Sonya Jason with us this year at the Lamberton
Jazz Festival! We continue to hear great comments from schools with
appreciation for her work with their students. Sonya is not only a fabulous musician,
but a wonderful educator as well! She's very upbeat and knows how to tap into
the needs of students and groups alike. We look forward to having her visit
us again very soon!"
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| -- Donna Larson, Lamberton Jazz Festival Coordinator and Director of Bands, Red Rock Central Schools, Lamberton, MN |
Make the most of this opportunity now!
Contact Sonya Jason with your specific requests, budget considerations and
questions by emailing sonya@SonyaJason.com or calling (650) 728-8002.
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