watch & learn

Esteemed bassist Christian McBride plays with young artists and describes a more inclusive future for the Jazz community. McBride discusses a history of rhythm and the importance of connecting with the emotions in music.

Broadway performer Klea Blackhurst mimics a professional vocal audition with  NJPAC’s Musical Theater students. Detailing how to prepare for an audition and the different parts of voice that produce different vocal effects, Blackhurst readies young artists for future creative projects.

Jazz vibraphonist and Rutgers University Professor Stefon Harris uses the concept of triads to simplify intricate chords for NJPAC’s Jazz for Teens youth artists. Describing music as a “qualitative science”, Harris discusses the process of associating chords with feelings rather than complex names.

Kurtis Blow, the first commercially successful emcee, discusses the historical roots of hip-hop. Using personal anecdotes and industry awareness, Kurtis Blow encourages students to include their personal values in their work and not to underestimate the importance of an education.

Thought leader Daymond John discusses the importance of using financial intelligence to uplift those who don’t come from generational wealth. John communicates that individuals without generational advantage are often burdened with working harder and holding themselves to a higher standard in order to succeed.

Hip Hop Legend and member of Newark’s City Council, Dupre “DoItAll”’ Kelly (Emcee, Lords of the Underground) educates young artists on the relationships between hip-hop and activism. Kelly discusses the importance of innovation, perseverance, and never losing sight of your creativity.

Two-time Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell has a career spanning Broadway, television, film, philanthropy, and concert appearances with the country’s finest conductors and orchestras. In this Masterclass, Mitchell speaks to our Musical Theater and Devised Theater students and provides tips and anecdotes on his longevity in the Performing Arts.

A native son of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, Dion Parson is an educator, composer, and Grammy-award-winning drummer.  Parson’s musical foundation ranges from classical, reggae, calypso, jazz, African, and pop music. In this workshop, Dion explores some of the rhythmic intersections between Caribbean, Traditional West African and Jazz Music,  educating young musicians to learn more about their cultural heritage and become competent artists and creators in the process.

The Mayhem Poets, Scott Raven (co-founder), Mason Granger, and Mikumari Caiyhe, are theater-trained, comedically gifted, lyrical virtuosos who seamlessly blend raw elements of hip hop, theater, improv, and stand-up comedy. Using live poetry exercises, call-and-response, and simple nursery rhymes, The Mayhem Poets entertain and teach youth from the South ward of Newark the beauty of poetry and word play.

Eric Booth, known as the father of teaching artistry, has spent decades as both an educator and a creative. Teaching artists inspire their community to build, experience, acknowledge, and value their personal artistry, In the following masterclass, Booth will explore the connection between education and the arts – self-discovery, building communities, spearheading activism, integrating arts into what is traditionally perceived as non-arts spaces, and growing people’s capacity to be moved by artistic works.

From samba to bossa nova, Brazilian rhythms define generations of artists, like Cyro Baptista; there is a connection across musical instruments and continents. Samba has roots in Africa, Angola and the Congo, while frevo comes from the culture of Brazilian Carnival, which focuses on rapid up-tempo beats traditionally for dancers. Creating jazz, or Brasileira, translates to Brazilian instrumental music, the style bossa nova was born. Bossa nova is the marriage of samba and jazz.

Prolific bassist Rufus Reid is an achieved jazz musician, recording over 500 albums in his career, yet he is equally achieved in the field of jazz education. Teaching at all levels worldwide, Reid is passionate about building an approachable jazz culture, where artists of all backgrounds and abilities are welcome. In this workshop, Reid explores the various methods of jazz and music theory education, detailing for NJPAC educators how to meet musicians at their skill level.

The first emcee to rap over Jersey Club Music, Unicorn 151, took young artists on a journey through the evolution of Hip Hop in New Jersey. The rapper, producer, and designer used his unique style of storytelling to explore the history of the genre, while spinmaster and producer, DJ Fade, provided the soundtrack. Unicorn’s dynamic dancers brought it all together in the end by demonstrating the latest dance moves in Jersey Club.

Grammy award winning composer, bassist, and bandleader Ben Williams gives his best advice, practice tips and guidance around jazz bass composition. Ben stressed the importance of finding your own sound, and most importantly, maintaining musical creativity and individuality.