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 is why we have developed an ensemble program with over twenty different small groups at all levels from very beginning to very advanced, playing many styles--Jazz, rock, R and B , pop, and Latin. Our adult ensembles meet Monday through Thursday evenings and our Youth Ensemble Program (ages 10 to 18) meets on Sundays, late afternoon and evening. Ensembles cost $33 for each weekly 90-minute session.
Adult Ensembles
17 adult ensembles meet weekly to hone their craft. Pictured is “Stoli,” directed by Dan Weiner, who have been jamming together every Wednesday night for over a decade. Read our student testimonials!
Need convincing?
Read the Top Ten Reasons the John Payne Music Center’s Ensemble Program is Stellar.
Youth Jazz Ensembles
Directed by Phil Neighbors, the youth ensembles are designed to inspire our students to become comfortable improvising musicians.
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.
Watch Brookline Interactive Group’s Never 2 Late 2 Play for candid look behind the scenes at John Payne Music Center. Student Ensembles rehearse and perform. Music Educators talk about the school, its approach to students and its goals. Student musicians talk about the rewards of starting, returning to or continuing an instrument as adults with full lives.
