Blog

You know when you've been discussing something basic like underwear and then you find out who you've been talking to and wish you could rewind? That was the kind of feeling I've been left with after the last, incredible; inspirational, weekend spent at the Spring in Havant. Months ago I signed up for a jazz weekend workshop which runs there every year (I didn't know this until later). I intended to improve my jazz piano primarily, so had signed up for piano and vocal,hoping I would also pick up some good tips for the singing of said genre too. Minutes after I arrived I was approached by a lovely lady who introduced herself as Anita and inquired as to my presence at said course. I whittled on about various inanities, as I do, and she helped me figure out the workings of the weekend as she'd clearly been before. So, after introducing myself to various other friendly looking bods I went off to the first workshop 'Vocal warm-up' Oh, look Anita is the tutor, that's cool I already feel comfortable with her so that's helpful, reduces my nerves a bit. Great first session, totally picked up some excellent tips for improving my warm-up routine (previously nil!) and the rest of the ladies in the session (no men) were also lovely. So, second session is piano essentials, off I trot to discover that my boring, if solid, rhythm piano skills are way below that required for this workshop and decide to stick with vocal for the rest of the weekend because the first session was so helpful. 

So it went on, we were gently but firmly put through our paces in turn by the extraordinary facilitative skills of our tutor. Being in the business of teaching in my other life, I am very aware of the qualities required of a good teacher, and Anita has them by the bucket full. She not only gave the singers a lesson but the accompanying musicians also got one, whether they'd asked for it or not! I learnt so much on the first day it will take me weeks, months to put it all into practice and we still had another day to go! The second day was a glorious repeat of the first with me beginning to realise that Anita is not just a talented teacher she is also an internationally acclaimed professional musician. Not being from a jazz background, and having a dreadful memory for names, meant I had no idea who she was. This is probably just as well because I would have been totally intimidated by her reputation had I known about it! As it is, her sheer humanity and totally skillful management of large groups of, often wayward, students was awe inspiring. Then, as if that wasn't enough she sang too. My socks would have melted had I been wearing any. I'll have to stop now as I am sounding totally sycophantic but I want to get across the impact this weekend has had on my development as a junior jazzist (may not be a word but it fits my purpose here).

So, as you will have guessed from the title, the lovely lady concerned is the inimitable Anita Wardell  http://www.anitawardell.com/ and she is nominated for her vocal skills in the national jazz awards. Please do vote for her here http://www.instant.ly/s/_smmS/nav#p/186a0 it only takes a moment.