A skilled and in-demand educator, Tatum Greenblatt currently serves on faculty at The Juilliard School, Rutgers University, and is Director of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra. Additionally, Tatum has been an active member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington team since 2015, serving as a regional festival adjudicator, audition tape screening judge, finalist band mentor, and clinician for visiting bands. He also serves as a screening tape judge for Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Beyond the J@LC institution, Tatum has taught at many of the most prestigious jazz conservatories; private lessons for students at Temple University and The New School, small ensemble coaching at NYU, New School, and Temple, and Guest Clinician Workshops at William Patterson University and Rutgers.
At the High School level, Tatum spent five years with the Midori and Friends music outreach program, working with inner-city students in ensembles and private lessons. More recently, Tatum has performed as Guest Artist and Visiting Clinician at many different schools in the greater New York and New England area, and has done workshops at Newark Academy, New York Youth Symphony’s Jazz Program, and the Mingus High School Competition. He is also a frequent contributor in NJPAC’s music education and outreach programs.
As a Private Instructor, Tatum has over 15 years of experience teaching students at all levels and ages. Select students from his studio have gone on to be accepted to New England Conservatory, Berklee School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts.
Tatum Greenblatt is currently accepting private students for in-person and Skype lessons, and bookings for clinics, workshops, and guest artist residencies. Please visit the Contact Page to get in touch!
WORKSHOPS AND CLINICS INCLUDE
JAZZ IMPROVISATION
For musicians at all levels wanting to learn the art of improvisation:
- Beginning theory to advanced harmonic techniques
- Learning to play in time, feeling odd meters and developing a sense of swing
- Developing improvisation vocabulary
- Learning jazz repertoire
TRUMPET TECHNIQUE
Covering all facets of modern trumpet performance:
- Development of range and facility in upper register
- Sound production though all areas of the horn
- Flexibility
- Endurance
- Practice habits and routines
SMALL ENSEMBLES
Master Classes and coaching in the various aspects of small ensemble performance:
- Communication between musicians
- Group dynamics
- Developing an effective set list
- Stage presence and communicating with the audience
JAZZ BIG BAND
Master Classes and coaching in the various aspects of large ensemble performance:
- Swing feel
- Phrasing
- Balance, blend, and dynamics
- Where to listen
- Section leading
- Soloing in a big band setting
JAZZ HISTORY
General overview, specific pioneering musicians, musical eras:
- What is bebop?
- Influential trumpet players through the ages
- Jazz after John Coltrane
- Modern innovators
- Jazz today; Is hip hop jazz?
GETTING HIRED AND STAYING HIRED
Tips on networking, the hang, and more:
- Developing a freelance career
- Jam session etiquette
- Touring on the road
- Cultivating good subs
- Basic professional expectations
Photo by Peter Guidi
