Jazz Education

Teaching has become increasingly important to Ben-Hur, as he has developed an international reach as an educator. As founder and director of the jazz program at Kaufman Center's Lucy Moses School in Manhattan since 1994, Ben-Hur has educated a multitude of jazz enthusiasts in ensemble playing, improvisation and jazz guitar. Since 2001, Ben-Hur conducted jazz camps in NY State, Maine, The South of France and Brazil. More recently, through his company Adventures in Jazz - which he operates with his wife, singer Amy London - Ben-Hur conducts jazz camps in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, in Istanbul, Turkey, and in Schroon Lake, N.Y., teaching workshops in straight-ahead jazz, Latin jazz and Brazilian jazz with world renown faculty. 

As an educator, Ben-Hur has also established jazz programs in New York City high schools, along with presenting workshops for students of all ages in the U.S. and Europe. His instructional releases include the DVD Chordability(Motema, 2011), which offers 20 lessons on chord voicings and jazz harmony for intermediate and advanced guitarists. He also translated "the Barry Harris method" to guitar with the publication Talk Jazz: Guitar(Bohobza Music, 2003), which has appeared in English and Japanese editions. 

 

Adventures in Jazz
 

Adventures in Jazz is dedicated to furthering the celebration of jazz, Latin jazz and Samba Jazz through workshops in beautiful locations around the world. True to the philosophy that music builds bridges, these weeklong events bring students together from all continents to learn and perform this wonderful music. 

Guided by a faculty which features some of New York's most highly regarded performers and educators, students take part in daily ensemble sessions covering jazz, Latin Jazz and Samba Jazz, as well as workshops in improvisation and harmony, instrumental and vocal master classes and nightly jam sessions. Each week culminates with a featured concert by students and faculty. 

Roni Ben-Hur and Amy London, the founders of Adventures in Jazz, have years of experience as jazz educators, as well as directing and participating in jazz camps. In 2013 they have launched four exciting camps at magnificent locations. In collaboration with their long time colleague legendary bassist Santi Debriano, they debuted Adventures in Jazz in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. For the second year in Istanbul, Turkey, Roni and Amy were joined by Brazilian songstress, Maucha Adnet, and drummer extraordinaire, Duduka Da Fonseca, and 2013 brought the second year of Adventures in Jazz at Seagle Colony, Schroon Lake, NY. featuring a superior faculty at a magnificent location for a week of vocal workshops, and a week of instrumental workshops. 

Adventures in Jazz places an emphasis on exposing students to the local community and environment, organizing trips to some beautiful local attractions as well as the opportunity to interact with the residents and learn about their culture. This synergy of learning and leisure provides an ideal getaway. 

Please join our mailing list to learn about the 2014 schedule. 

"By the end of the week, I was playing (and singing!!) in ways I never knew I was capable of." -Deb Navins 

"The jazz camp was awesome. I have learned a lot and had so much fun. The teachers were wonderful and so the students who joined the camp. Amy and Roni are great artists, amazing teachers and wonderful human beings." -Valentina 

"This summer's jazz camp was a wonderful, transformative experience. A good blend of serious instruction and opportunities to relax and make music with nice people in a lovely setting. Campers can expect bandstand and jam session experience, and plenty of chances to play music with, learn from and get to personally know some leading jazz musicians and educators. I look forward to returning, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your programs for jazz enthusiasts looking for a fun way to build skills and expand their musical horizons." -Mark Lubin 

 

Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

March 24-30
Directed by Roni Ben-Hur and Santi Debriano 
With Amy London and Willie Martinez 

Learn to play and sing Jazz, Mambo, Bolero, Samba Jazz and more in small ensembles. Perform at the 1st Annual Cabo Rojo Jazz Festival. Enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and magnificent natural surroundings at very affordable prices.


Istanbul, Turkey (dates TBA)

Dates TBA
Jazz and Bossa Nova on the Shores of the Bosphorus 

Join world-renowned faculty for a week of Jazz and Brazilian Jazz workshops and concerts on the shores of Bosporus. Vocalist Amy London, who directs the program, guitarist Roni Ben-Hur and Brazilian vocalist Maucha Adnet are coming to the vibrant and exciting Istanbul, Turkey, where East meets West, Antiquity meets Modernity, and the city is exploding with the arts.


Seagle Colony, Schroon Lake, NY

August 20-25 (for vocalists)
August 26-September 2 (for instrumentalists) 

Located at the heart of the magnificent Adirondack Mountains, Seagle Colony provides a most beautiful setting in which to learn, play and perform. 

The vocal week will feature extensive exploration into vocal repertoire, technique, improvisation and style with the backing of a world-class rhythm section. Directed by Amy London with the faculty of Mark Murphy, James Weidman, Cameron Brown, Steve Williams, and Dylan Pramuk. 

The instrumental week will feature jazz, Afro-Cuban and Samba Jazz ensembles, Brazilian percussion, Afro Latin big band, jazz improvisations and much more. Directed by Roni Ben-Hur with the additional faculty of Santi Debriano, Arturo O'Farrill, Steve Wilson and Duduka Da Fonseca. 

At the end of each week students will perform at the Schroon Lake Jazz Festival. 

 

The Lucy Moses School Jazz Program 

One of the country's most respected community schools for the arts, the Lucy Moses School provides a multi-faceted arts education for children and adults at all levels of skill and experience. 

The Jazz Program, directed by Roni Ben-Hur, is a unique program is designed for singers and instrumentalists of all levels, from beginners to advanced students. It offers ensemble classes as well as private instruction with faculty members that are some of the top jazz musicians in NYC. 

Classes include: 
• Jazz Improvisation and Harmony 
• Jazz Ensemble 
• Jazz Vocal Workshop 
• Jazz Piano Workshop 
• Jazz Guitar and Harmony 
• Introduction to Jazz 
• Jazz Appreciation 

To learn more, please visit the school’s web site