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David Bloom Music Mentorship Course

This is the only offering for private instruction with David Bloom.

Being a world class musician starts with professional mentoring by David Bloom. For five decades, David Bloom, award-winning educator and Founder and Director of the Bloom School of Jazz, has trained intermediate through professional musicians, including Grammy winners. He teaches students in downtown Chicago, or online anywhere in the world.

“Your music will never sound better unless you change the way you think about it, and how you hear it. If you don’t change your approach, you are doomed to sound the way you’ve always sounded.” - David Bloom

Bloom understands the language of music, how it works, and introduces this deep knowledge to any instrumentalist from any genre who is willing to dive deep. He draws on decades of experience, and offers musicians advice on technical and aesthetic questions, transforming mediocrity into mastery. You will not find Bloom’s highly innovative teaching methods anywhere else.

“You will begin telling dramatic musical stories when you apply my Master Improvisation Tools to your music. In my Mentorship Courses, I see students use these tools to make progress in a few months that would normally take them years…or never.”

The 7-week Music Mentorship Course includes full access to David Bloom as your musical mentor. Your one-hour class per week is just part of your ongoing dialogue with Bloom. Call and email Bloom with questions and completed assignments throughout the week, and receive invaluable critical feedback and life-changing musical wisdom. 

Included in the Course:

• (7) 1-hour private classes, held once per week at a scheduled time, in person at the Bloom School of Jazz, 226 S. Wabash, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL or on Zoom.
• A recording session at a professional studio is held the end of the term (2 hours). If you cannot make the recording session, you can take an additional class within the 7 weeks. You receive the recording as a documentation of your progress.
• Access to Bloom by phone and email throughout the course to ask questions and received personalized guidance. Send assignments and recordings as completed, and questions, to Bloom during the week, and receive ongoing feedback. 

This course is the ONLY course now available at Bloom School of Jazz for private study with David Bloom (in addition to group classes). Don't miss your chance to be mentored by David Bloom and hear your music soar to new heights.

To register, or for a 15-minute entrance interview, call (773) 860-8300 or email dbloomjazz@gmail.com.

Are you ready?

Test your basic musical knowledge: take the quiz here.

 Finding Your Artistic Voice & Creating Your Album

At Bloom School of Jazz, David Bloom will strengthen your skills and help you find your artistic voice, whether your goal is to increase your repertoire or even produce your own album. David Bloom has helped scores of students by producing or co-producing their albums, bringing decades of experience to the table. Listen to work from alumni Jerry Johnson (Composition and Arranging) and Jewel T (Vocals and Collaborative Songwriting) for some examples:

This album was co-produced by David Bloom and Jerry Johnson. Click the title to listen to the track:

1. Dream With Me

2. Fields of Athenry

3. Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair

4. Though I May Speak

5. Too Crazy (written and arranged by Jerry Johnson, featuring Take Six)

6. Nobody Knows

7. Wayfaring Stranger

8. I Want Jesus to Talk With Me

9. Motherless Child

Listen to each track snippet by clicking the title below.

1. Getting There

2. Make it First

3. Sorry's Too Late

4. Guess What

5. Only We

6. Rising and Shining

7. Where My Mind Takes Me

8. Never Will

9. Done Chasing You

10. Need a Friend

11. Island Blues

12. Care...Less

13. Thank You

For more information on co-producing and co-writing your album, email dbloomjazz@gmail.com.

Testimonials

"David Bloom's teaching has always been special, and studying with him has always been a great help to me, at different points in my career.  Both his specific gifts as a teacher and his knowledge of the music in general allow him to make a serious contribution to anyone's playing - beginner or seasoned professional. David can teach the notes, but is tireless with his attention to phrasing, dynamics, and the very meaning of music itself. The work runs wide, and it runs deep."

- Steven Rodby, Grammy Award-winning Bassist and Producer for the Pat Metheney Group

"My time at your school was one of great exploration and discovery; the teachers, students and the whole scene was buzzing with excitement. I especially recall the deep appreciation of the masters and the guidance I got about who to listen to, and what to listen for. Learning what distinguishes the most important players in jazz, and bebop in particular. Beyond technical knowledge, there was always a primary emphasis on the aesthetics, emotion and artistry of jazz. I still think about these things today when I listen to improvisers; time, articulation, phrasing and emotion. In short; I learned who to listen to, what to listen for and how to apply it to my own music."

- Paul Von Mertens, Musical Director Brian Wilson Band

[Bloom] is a master at cutting though to what matters, and of communicating difficult concepts to his students in easy-to-grasp ways..."

 - Chicago Jazz Magazine

Read more testimonials here.

Professional Jazz Combo Course 

In the Professional Jazz Combo Course, you play in a jazz combo on paid gigs. Learn ensemble skills, how to take dramatic storytelling solos and how to arrange repertoire and present a set at a professional level. The classroom is at the School as well as on the bandstand. Learn how to apply Bloom’s master storytelling exercises in real time.

Gain professional performance skills:

• Perform with the combo at paid gigs
• Develop world-class solos by using Bloom’s Musical Storytelling Exercises, Bloom’s Laws for Effective Musical Performance, and Bloom’s Ten Commandments of Soloing and Life
• Learn to lead the band for one set
• Learn how to create listener-friendly arrangements with dramatic impact
• Learn how to organize perfect sets of music with a strong musical arc
• Learn to listen and respond at a high level to other musicians
• Increase your musical confidence in the best way–by playing for the public

Course includes:

• (7) two-hour group classes (1/week for 7 weeks), dates TBA
  
• (2) paid two-hour gigs at a venue (Bloom oversees), dates TBA
• Debriefings of recorded performances
• Each student gets a copy of the audio recordings from the gigs
• Personalized feedback from David Bloom on your soloing, comping, arranging, and bandleader skills

• Students must have a background in playing jazz repertoire
• Students must be able to improvise solos at an intermediate level, with a minimum of wrong notes
• Chord instruments must be able to comp (play correct chords behind soloists)

If you don’t meet these prerequisites, but are interested in this course, register for the Jazz Combo Course.

Tuition for The Professional Jazz Combo Course: $1500

Some scholarships are available due to financial need as well as exceptional musical skills.

To register, or for more information: Call (773) 860-8300.

If you love jazz and have always wanted to explore your jazz vocals, this class will enhance your technique, expression and musical possibilities. This 7-week course includes these benefits:

• Receive personalized instruction from legendary Jazz Vocalist Spider Saloff, winner of New York City's Bistro Award for Jazz Artistry, and David Bloom
• Work alongside other singers in a supportive environment
• Beyond the classroom, you will record a 2-song demo at a professional studio 
• You will sing with a professional rhythm section and perform a recital at Chicago venue. This is a priceless once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many.

Spider Saloff also teaches private lessons. For information, email dbloomjazz@gmail.com or call (773) 860-8300. 

To learn more about the Jazz Vocal Course, click here.

The Perfect Set Recording Course

with Spider Saloff and David Bloom

Make your musical dream happen: your own professionally-produced CD. It’s time to elevate your vocal artistry to a world-class level. In eight months, hone your craft with guided rehearsals and recitals with a pro rhythm section; plus a multi-camera DVD of your performance at the capstone concert. Come through for yourself.  

In this 8-month course students learn how to: choose appropriate 8-tune repertoire (either standards or originals), collaborate on the arrangements, scat, rehearse and record with the band, and be involved in the mixing session.

At completion of the course each musician will have a set of music that is fully arranged, notated (books for each instrument), rehearsed, and professionally recorded, ready to be performed anywhere. This experience will take students to a professional level of insight, preparation, musical judgment and performance. This procedure will become the model for the way that all subsequent sets and recordings will be produced.

Designed for intermediate to professional vocalists (not for beginners), this immersive 8-month course meets on Saturday afternoons.

The esteemed instructors Spider Saloff and David Bloom have over eight decades of combined experience and will guide you to fulfill your potential–from concepts and choosing tunes, developing your personal style with rehearsing, performing and recording. 

Receive personalized feedback from Spider Saloff, award-winning vocalist and performer, and David Bloom, an award-winning music educator and founder of the 50-year-old Bloom School of Jazz, who has produced over twenty albums. Plus, you are in a supportive group of like-minded vocalists.

We walk you through every step of the process to create your perfect set and CD, from picking the songs that love you, to receiving 100 CDs. It’s life-changing. You will smile when you see–and hear–what you’re capable of. 

To join the waiting list, email dbloomjazz@gmail.com or call (773) 860-8300. 

To learn more about the Perfect Set Recording Course, click here.

Bloom's Tunes

Listen to albums composed by David Bloom, Bloom School of Jazz founder, and Arranger Cliff Colnot. Listen here.

See Alumni in Concert

Bloom School of Jazz 38th Anniversary Cool Heat Concert was broadcast on television on WTTW Chicago, and featured dozens of alumni performing original tunes. Watch the video below: