Jazz-oriented STEP will be launched on February 19th under the direction of Prof.Eriko AKIYA. Prof.Akiya graduated Berklee College of Music in Boston where she studied composition and arrangement, and received Quincy Jones Award. After continued her study in the Juilliard School, she came back to Japan and found that there existed a big boundary between classical music and jazz that students hardly go across.

This time she becomes advisor of Bunkyo Jazz STEP and offers participants opportunities to play jazz music or classical music with drum and base accompaniments.
Prior to this event, she held a seminar on October 8th and taught how to make simple jazz arrangement on classical music. One of the audiences testified that she was encouraged to acquire some jazz rhythms and to apply them on her classical repertoires. This crossover experience seemed to bring her sense of freedom and joy.  

Another three consecutive sessions will be available for beginners;
 -Nov.5th : Learn the characteristics of jazz and play some themes
 -Dec.3rd : Learn specific rhythm and chords of jazz
 -Jan 28th. : Play ensemble by adlib