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Curtis is a nationally-recognized expert at teaching improvisation in a jazz ensemble or large class. Utilizing dozens of techniques and strategies, he will enlighten and inspire your students to blow confident, skilled, truly improvised solos. He is a positive and motivating festival adjudicator and all-purpose jazz ensemble clinician, who can help your bands take giant steps toward the next level of playing.
In addition to building an outstanding middle school jazz program at a Title 1 School, Curtis has produced and toured with young all-star jazz ensembles for nearly 20 years. He has presented clinics in several states around the country, most recently a jazz improvisation clinic at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Curtis can be booked for as little as $300 per day, plus room and board, and is glad to help you save money by staying with host families. Simply fill out the form below to inspire your jazz students or educators at the next big event. |
Students of ALL ages will have a BLAST!
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Jazz Improv Clinic: Ohio Music Educators Conference
OMEA Clinic - Part 1 |
OMEA Clinic - Part 2 |
Meet Curtis Winters
As an undergraduate at Brigham Young University, Curtis played trombone in a variety of ensembles including the Jazz Legacy Dixieland Band and Synthesis. He studied conducting with Dave Blackinton and Clynn Barrus, and jazz improvisation with Steve Call. He was drum major of the Cougar Marching Band, and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival with Synthesis, appearing as a soloist on their Live at Montreux album.
While finishing his BM in Music Education at BYU, Curtis accepted an internship offer from Orem Junior High School and is now in his 19th year at this small Title 1 school, currently teaching 5 band classes and 3 orchestra classes. Parents recognized him as Teacher of the Year with the school’s Golden Apple Award in 2007, and the Utah Music Educators Association presented him with the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2017. His ensembles have all been accepted to the Utah State Junior High Festivals, and have received multiple Superior ratings.
Curtis has been blessed to work alongside Jazz Educators Network President Caleb Chapman for nearly 20 years, and is currently the director and producer of the youngest jazz ensemble at his award-winning Soundhouse, the New Bop Big Band (ages 9-14). At summer jazz camps Curtis has team taught improvisation classes with Grammy Award winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin. Curtis also serves as a staff composed and arranged for the Soundhouse’s flagship ensemble, the Crescent Super Band.
While earning a Masters in Music Education at BYU, Curtis received a BYU Graduate Research Fellowship allowing him to create the Improv Pathways Jazz Improvisation Method and launch websites devoted to (1) improvisation and (2) beginning band & orchestra materials. His StepWise Fingering Charts were published in the Scale and Rhythm Chunks series by Richard Canter, while his “old-school” StepWise Flashcards were recently “upgraded” into the NinGenius Music iOS app, allowing students to learn and demonstrate mastery of notes and fingerings with gamified appeal. He has presented clinics on jazz improvisation to music educator conferences in Utah, Colorado, and Ohio. In 2017 he was invited to present at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
His wife Christie continually inspires him to improve as an educator and as a person, and their six children fill his life with love, purpose, and adventure.
While finishing his BM in Music Education at BYU, Curtis accepted an internship offer from Orem Junior High School and is now in his 19th year at this small Title 1 school, currently teaching 5 band classes and 3 orchestra classes. Parents recognized him as Teacher of the Year with the school’s Golden Apple Award in 2007, and the Utah Music Educators Association presented him with the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2017. His ensembles have all been accepted to the Utah State Junior High Festivals, and have received multiple Superior ratings.
Curtis has been blessed to work alongside Jazz Educators Network President Caleb Chapman for nearly 20 years, and is currently the director and producer of the youngest jazz ensemble at his award-winning Soundhouse, the New Bop Big Band (ages 9-14). At summer jazz camps Curtis has team taught improvisation classes with Grammy Award winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin. Curtis also serves as a staff composed and arranged for the Soundhouse’s flagship ensemble, the Crescent Super Band.
While earning a Masters in Music Education at BYU, Curtis received a BYU Graduate Research Fellowship allowing him to create the Improv Pathways Jazz Improvisation Method and launch websites devoted to (1) improvisation and (2) beginning band & orchestra materials. His StepWise Fingering Charts were published in the Scale and Rhythm Chunks series by Richard Canter, while his “old-school” StepWise Flashcards were recently “upgraded” into the NinGenius Music iOS app, allowing students to learn and demonstrate mastery of notes and fingerings with gamified appeal. He has presented clinics on jazz improvisation to music educator conferences in Utah, Colorado, and Ohio. In 2017 he was invited to present at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
His wife Christie continually inspires him to improve as an educator and as a person, and their six children fill his life with love, purpose, and adventure.