In 2019, Bloomington Boogies is offering a free MASTER CLASS ON STRIDE PIANO. Saturday, Aug. 10, 2 p.m., Monroe County History Center, 202 E. 6th St., Bloomington, IN 47408.  Judy Carmichael, one of the foremost interpreters of stride and swing piano, will present a Master Class, co-sponsored by the Monroe County History Center and with support from the Bloomington Arts Commission, for up to 20 intermediate and advanced pianists—and up to 60 observers interested in the history of jazz piano--on America’s first popular music, ragtime, and discuss how ragtime evolved into the early jazz piano style known as “stride” and how both influenced the jazz that followed. 

Click here to register to attend this Master Class.  You must register to be a participant.

​​​​​View exercises and an arrangement from Judy Carmichael's book, You Can Play Stride Piano. The book comes with a CD with practice and performance tempos. The book is available at https://www.judycarmichael.com/new-products/you-can-play-stride-piano-book. It will be available for purchase at Ms. Carmichael's concert performance and at the Master Class, and she will sell it at half-price to students!

In 2019, Bloomington Boogies is offering free PIANO WORKSHOPS, Monday, Aug. 12, at the following times and locations:

• A free WORKSHOP ON ELEMENTS OF BLUES AND BOOGIE WOOGIE.  Monday, Aug. 12, 4 p.m., Templeton Elementary School, 1400 S. Brenda Ave., Bloomington, IN, Room L17.  Stephanie Trick, an expert on stride and classic jazz styles with a firm command of boogie woogie, ragtime, and blues, will cover boogie woogie as played by some masters of the 1920s and '30s: Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson, and Meade Lux Lewis. The workshop will cover some boogie woogie left-hand patterns and give participants a chance to try their hand at improvising in the dynamically rhythmic and swinging style of boogie woogie. It will also cover the basic form of the blues and give participants ideas on how to use this versatile and timeless form as a vehicle for improvisation and telling one's story.
• Click here to register to attend this Piano Workshop.  You must register to be a participant.
• Participants should look at the following to prepare for the workshop and, if willing, try to learn some left-hand patterns or right-hand riffs by ear:  Albert Ammons' "Boogie Woogie Stomp,": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNbc0YO5hKg. Pete Johnson's "Death Ray Boogie," and if willing, try to learn some left-hand patterns or right-hand riffs by ear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEKsF2NWQUI.  Meade Lux Lewis' "Honky Tonk Train Blues," and if willing, try to learn some left-hand patterns or right-hand riffs by ear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne_U25ryLjc.

• A free WORKSHOP ON IMPROVISATION - How Does Improvisation Work?  Monday, Aug. 12, 3:15 p.m., Tri-North Middle School, 1000 W. 17th St., Bloomington, IN, Auditorium.  Paolo Alderighi, one of Italy’s foremost jazz pianists and husband of Stephanie Trick, will teach the fundamentals of improvising on the piano. This workshop will provide basic tools for approaching improvisation within the jazz and blues idioms. For participants who have some experience with improvisation, the workshop will offer ideas to improve their ability to work out and construct interesting solos; for musicians coming from a classical background and those who have not yet had the opportunity to explore improvisation, the workshop will provide the initial groundwork necessary to practice this fascinating skill.  Open to all ages and skill levels; no preparation required to attend.
• Click here to register to attend this Piano Workshop.  You must register to be a participant.

• A free WORKSHOP ON BLUES BASICS - LEARNING FROM THE MASTERS - Songs in Parallel Thirds and Sixths.  Monday, Aug. 12, 4 p.m., Fairview Elementary School, 500 W. 7th St., Bloomington. Dr. Keith McCutchen, an associate professor of music in the School of Humanities and the Performing Arts at Kentucky State University, will use two songs - Jimmy Yancey’s “Jimmy’s Stuff” and Thelonious Monk’s “Blue Monk” - to explore the basics of blues structure, the sound and fundamentals of the triad bass, and the use of parallel thirds and sixths and melody/harmony in the right hand. The use of riffs and bass variations will also be explored.
• Click here to register to attend this Piano Workshop.  You must register to be a participant.
• Participants should look at the following in preparation for this workshop: Jimmy Yancey's "Jimmy's Stuff": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPU1Spmms0 and Thelonious Monk’s “Blue Monk”: https://youtu.be/rrKpffh8TY8.