THE JAZZ REPUBLIC MASTERCLASS
A Backstage Pass to a Life & Career in Music
In this masterclass, Bijon Watson and Niles Thomas shed light on the best practices and the realities of a life in the music industry, sharing approaches on creating and developing a career in music and the arts, discussing and teaching:
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Music Career Development
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The Writing & Recording Process
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Music Licensing & Publishing
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Music Production
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How to Prepare for Studio Recording
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Working with Composers, Artists & Producers
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The Business of Music
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Finding Your Musical Voice
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Being a Studio and Touring Session Player
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Relationships in the Music Industry
The Jazz Republic Masterclass can be customized to include and feature special guests, including GRAMMY® Award-Winning and GRAMMY® Nominated Artists, Producers, Recording Engineers and Record Executives.
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The Jazz Republic Masterclass: A Backstage Pass to a Life & Career in Music is a unique, interactive experience demonstrating real-life applications and can be presented in any setting, including a band room, recording studio, or music venue.
ABOUT BIJON WATSON
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Bijon Watson’s career as a musician and educator spans more than 25 years and has taken him around the globe to perform for audiences worldwide and has recorded and performed with iconic artists, including Michael Bublé, the late Natalie Cole, Justin Timberlake, Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Arturo Sandoval, Barbara Morrison to Alicia Keys… and the list goes on. On television, Bijon has performed on episodes of “American Idol”, “The Tonight Show”, “The Grammy Awards”, “BET Music Awards” and has made appearances in films, including “La La Land”, and has recorded on several soundtracks with studios such as Paramount Pictures, Fox and Disney, including “Despicable Me 2” and “The Secret Life of Pets”.
A dedicated educator, Bijon is an in-demand clinician that has given master classes and clinics to colleges, conservatories, secondary schools, high schools, and middle schools throughout the United States, and Europe, as well as maintaining a private lesson studio.
ABOUT NILES THOMAS
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Niles Thomas is a critically-acclaimed artist, composer and producer previously signed under the EMI Music and Warner Bros Music umbrellas. As an artist, Thomas has toured the globe performing on stages worldwide and has had his original music licensed in film and television in Europe, Asia and America, including shows on HBO, NBC, TBS, Discovery Channel and Showtime, to name a few. As a music producer, Thomas has been credited on many records, co-producing and writing in various genres including jazz, pop, electronic, R&B to country, for major signed artists in the mainstream market.
Niles Thomas' diverse music experiences as an artist, composer and producer have led him to sharing his knowledge of the music industry at universities in the U.S. and Europe.