Dance Band - Ballroom and Latin

Foxtrots, quicksteps, waltzes, rumbas, cha cha chas and sambas. This is a rare opportunity to enjoy, and experience from the player’s point of view, the sound and style of strict tempo Ballroom and Latin music from the 1930s to 1950s using published (“stock”) arrangements. Trumpets, trombones, saxes (perhaps doubling clarinet), violins, guitar, double bass, drums and even the odd singer, will enjoy rehearsing favourite standards and neglected gems, exploring the dancers’ needs and authentic style, as well as the universal skills of the ensemble musician. 

Please note that applications from drummers and singers will be referred to Roger before acceptance to ensure balance and that these participants can be fully catered for.

By the end of this course, you will be able to: 

• tune, blend, balance and keep time with up to 16 other players, playing (except for violins) one to a part
• navigate through a typical Dance Band arrangement
• understand the significance of the term Strict Tempo
• appreciate that music which is easy listening is not always easy to play but now play it with confidence!

You’ll learn this repertoire by playing a selection of arrangements in a relaxed and friendly group setting.

This course is aimed at musicians playing at Confident and Skilful levels. Please see our Ability Levels Explained for further details. 

You should be a confident sight reader and have the ability to play syncopated rhythms with ease. For violinists, you should feel confident in your ability to play in a small section alongside louder instruments.

Music will be shared by the tutor during the course. You will need to bring your instrument(s), mutes for brass, a pencil and a sense of humour.