Jazz pianist, Paul Cornish, brought his teaching to the Craft Theater on Monday, Sept. 8, leading a master class that gave CHS students a glimpse into the world of professional jazz.
These master classes occur periodically throughout the year. Organized by CHS jazz teacher, Jack Wagner, these classes invite jazz professionals from across the country to teach about different skills and backgrounds, which gives students the opportunity to learn directly from professional jazz musicians.
Paul Cornish, the featured artist in this session, is a pianist who is recognized by his jazz style. Originally from outside Michigan and raised in Houston, Texas, he honed his craft at the University of California: Berkeley. Cornish has collaborated with musicians from various genres such as HAIM and Joshua Redman.
Caitlin Dick-Ruiz, a junior at CHS a part of the jazz program, describes her experience with Cornish standing out compared to others with his calm and thoughtful approach to teaching. “I feel every jazz musician has their own energy, but most of the time people are more enthusiastic,” Dick-Ruiz said, “He approached it differently, having a certain effect, while taking his time explaining everything in great detail.”
Unlike a traditional class, the session was structured like a workshop and open discussion, including Cornish performing pieces like Giant Steps by John Coltrane and substituting the major chords to minor chords. Dick-Ruiz talks about how this change in the song, even though so small, can change the piece’s tone.
“He asked us questions, let us ask him things and even had students reflect on their own playing,” Dick-Ruiz said “It felt more like a conversation than a class.”
Since these sessions only occur a few times a year, they are open to all Jazz students, from beginning to advanced levels. Occasionally, even CHS jazz alumni return to attend. Though not held weekly, they occur often enough to be a recognizable highlight of the program by students like Dick-Ruiz.
“The opportunity to have these sorts of meetings is such a big thing for our program. He explains to us the importance of not just learning from one person but from so many others to help us become the best musicians we can be,” Dick-Ruiz said.
Wagner organizes the events by tapping into his professional network and connections of his students. Guests have included musicians from across the U.S. and around the world, from jazz pianists to bluegrass violinists, with the number of students in the room ranging from 30 to 100.
These master classes continue to offer insights to CHS’s past musicians and opportunities to look into the life of working professionals in the jazz community, giving the possibility for CHS’s jazz students to continue to learn something a textbook can’t teach.
