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Some Nice Words About David Bloom and the BSOJ

"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                                                                                    

13 time Grammy Award winning bassit/producer for the Pat Metheney Group

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"David Bloom is a wonderful player, composer, and teacher. The books he has written are invaluable - clearly written and very thorough. I highly recommend David Bloom's books to players of all levels."

-Mike Stern

Guitar legend

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"I started studying with David Bloom in 1978 and in one form or another have been studying with him ever since. He gave me the distinct feeling that he had thought a great deal about the teaching of jazz and had a visionary and highly effective point of view about it. Also, that his musical values were pure and not tainted by politics, media, economics or social agendas. It was clear to me that he was compassionate, dedicated to his students, soulful and open to new ideas and concepts.

His largest influence has been on my variety of melodic direction, dynamics, silence, and succinctness. The values I have learned from David translate directly to my work with large and small classical ensembles and to pop music."

-Cliff Colnot

Conductor of Chicago Civic Orchestra and the DePaul Symphony Orchestra

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"I have been playing flamenco guitar professinally for years and have always wanted to implement jazz concepts in flamenco (increasing my chord vocabulary, voice leading, improvising, using chord subs, etc). Unfortunately, I am not a jazz player and as a result have always felt somewhat overwhelmed and without direction in these areas. In less than a month, studying at the Bloom School of Jazz, I have increased my understanding of these jazz concepts tremendously and have been able to apply everything immediately to my own style of music. I'm learning a lot! Thanks David!"

-Diego Alonso

Spanish Guitar Chicago

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"The Bloom School of Jazz has afforded me the opportunity to envision new possibilities in my playing. My practice habits have become more focused and goal oriented as a direct result of my experience here. Being a relative newcomer to jazz (performance?), I have found the course material to be quite challenging at times. However, the expertise and encouragement of the faculty, as well as the support of fellow students, helps to make the material approachable and engaging."

-John Andrich

Student

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"I came to the Bloom School trained in the very different tradition of Indian classical music. I wanted to understand various elements of jazz, from the basics of harmony and rhythm, to nuances of improvisation within the context, subtleties in composition and expression, to building a deeper appreciation of what I listen to. All of this with no training in Western music and armed only with a keen ear. David works with me within my framework of musical understanding. He never imposes a canned method or rigid way of thinking, giving me only the mantra of aiming to produce the highest level of aesthetic as I express who I am. Within a short period of time on this journey at the Bloom School, I have picked up skills and knowledge in the jazz language and have surprised myself. There is a genuine interest in the students growth... that's a rare gift in a teacher."

-Satya Gummuluri

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