The gap between practicing alone in your room and playing with a group in public can be a tough one to bridge. Even when a musician is ready musically, she or he often lacks the confidence, contacts, or organizational wherewithal to find musicians and assemble a group.

That's why we have developed an ensemble program with approximately 20 different groups at all levels from very beginning to very advanced. They include a saxophone choir,  plus small groups of 4 to 8 students playing many styles - jazz, rock, blues, swing, funk, R&B, and Latin. The students are almost all adults, but teens and even preteens are admitted if they are at the proper musical level (and don't mind playing with adults!).

Choice of material is tailored to the group's interests and goals. The ensembles are taught by professional musicians with many years experience with the goal of nurturing the confidence of their students in a relaxed atmosphere while they gain the valuable experience of playing in a group setting.  Some of our ensembles have had opportunities to play benefit performances and even paying gigs. They all have the opportunity to play in public three times per year at our "Battle of the Student Bands" at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge.  (See our teacher bios.)