Tokyo International Music School Youth Big Band brings together young jazz musicians from Tokyo's international and Japanese communities to rehearse and perform a wide variety of jazz repertoire.
Rehearsals
Tuesdays 17:30-19:30 in Sangenjaya
Performances
A performance takes place at the end of each term.
Term Dates 2025 - 2026
Term 1
Sunday 21st September 2025 - Saturday 29th November 2025
Mid-term Break: Oct 19 - 25
Term 2
Sunday 11th January 2026 - Sunday 15th March 2026
Term 3
Sunday 5th April 2026 - Sunday 7th June 2026
Entry Requirements
ABRSM Grade 5 Standard (see below) and some experience playing in a Jazz ensemble.
Fees
¥35,000 + consumption tax per term (¥20,000 if you are already a member of another ensemble).
Click Here to register for the Youth Jazz Orchestra
Why Join?
Being part of a Big Band provides an experience different from playing individually or in a small combo. The experience of performing in a large group with more arranged parts, whilst still having an opportunity to improvise, often encourages instrumentalists to work more diligently on their individual instruments and in other settings.
Aside from the musical benefits (which are the most important), there are many other reasons to join us. We are a friendly community of students from international and Japanese schools, and it is a great way to meet others who share the same interests. We have many students who have commented that their English language skills have improved by taking part in our groups too.
Am I eligible to join the Jazz Orchestra?
We welcome students who play big band instruments and have experience of playing in a jazz setting. Please see the audition materials below. If you are not sure whether you (or your son/daughter) reaches this standard, please email info@tokyoims.jp with any queries. Most of our students are of high school age, but we will consider university age students too. Some experience of playing jazz, including an understanding of improvisation is preferable, but not essential.
A big band follows this formation, and we accept applications from these instrumentalists.
4 trumpets
4 trombones
2 alto saxophones
2 tenor saxophones
1 baritone saxophone (we have an instrument available for rehearsals)
Piano
Double bass (or bass guitar)
Drum kit
Guitar
Is there an audition?
We ask potential students to send a video recording of the audition materials below. We will request this once you register for the band.
Audition Materials
Melody and Improvisation
Students should play either Billie's Bounce or Straight, No Chaser with a backing track at either 140 or 160bpm (students can choose). They need to play the melody and at least 2 choruses of improvisation.
Scales
Students will also need to play a quarter note (crotchet) 2-octave major scale, or as high as you can possibly go, ascending and descending between 112-124bpm. Please see instrument-specific requirements below. Scales should played tongued ascending and slurred descending. If students can play higher than the required 2 octaves they should go as high as they can.
Instrument-specific audition requirements
Trumpet: Bb major scale (Concert A flat major - starting on Ab3)
Trombone: Concert C major scale (starting on C3)
Bass Trombone: Concert F major scale (starting on F2)
Alto Sax: F major scale (Concert A flat major - starting on Ab3)
Tenor sax: E major scale (Concert D major - starting on D3)
Baritone sax: D major scale (Concert F major - starting on F2)
Piano: 2 choruses of comping on F blues (using backing track minus piano)
Guitar: 2 choruses of comping on F blues (using backing track minus piano)
Bass: 2 choruses of walking bass (using bass-less backing track)
Drums: F Blues (160bpm) and one of Bossa Nova, Samba or Mambo (at the tempo of the student's choice) using an audible metronome or backing track.
Am I guaranteed a place in the band?
Some instruments appear in greater numbers than others in a big band. We will offer places to students who participated in the band in the previous term. After that, we will start to offer places to new members.
Where do rehearsals take place?
Rehearsals take place at the British School in Tokyo’s building in Sangenjaya, which is part of the Showa Women’s University campus. Students entering the campus will need to enter via the main gate. The Music Room is on the 3rd floor. Detailed instructions about entering the campus will be provided to students when they are accepted to the group. The address of the campus is Showa Women’s University 5th Bldg. 1-7-57 Taishido, Setagaya-ku
When and where does the band perform?
Each term concludes with a performance. Last year, we held all our concerts at The British School in Tokyo Azabudai Campus. Some of our other previous concerts have taken place at the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, and at the Showa Women’s University in Sangenjaya. We will finalise our performance calendar for the 2024-25 year before the end of the summer.
Do I need to bring my own instrument?
Students who play an instrument which can be easily transported are expected to bring their own instruments. There will be a piano, drum kit and double bass available for students to use, as well as amplifiers for guitar and bass. We have access to a baritone saxophone, but a student who wishes to use this must bring their own mouthpiece.
What kind of repertoire will we play?
We would like students to become confident performing jazz, funk, latin and contemporary styles, so we hope to offer a varied programme to explore these different areas. We may also collaborate with the Youth Choir and Orchestra on some works.
Examples of the repertoire performed in previous terms are:
Take the A Train (Billy Strayhorn)
One By One (Wayne Shorter)
Tenor Madness (Sonny Rollins)
Con Alma (Dizzy Gillespie)
Theme from ‘New York, New York’ (Kander & Ebb)
Spain (Chick Corea)
Seven Steps to Heaven (Miles Davis)
Jordu (Duke Jordan)
Impressions (John Coltrane)
Freedom Jazz Dance (Eddie Harris)
Footprints (Wayne Shorter)
Have You Met Miss Jones? (Richard Rodgers)
Who will lead the band?
The band will be led by Jacob Knill, Jonathan Katz & Rick Overton. Jacob is an accomplished saxophonist, and has worked with young jazz musicians over many years. Jacob is particularly skilled at improvisation techniques, helping students to understand different approaches to one of the most challenging aspects of performing jazz repertoire. Jonathan is the leader of Tokyo Big Band, a 19-piece ensemble of top Tokyo-area musicians for which he has written over 80 arrangements. Jonathan has taught jazz workshops around East Asia, including Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Rick is a professor at Tokyo College of Music, where he teaches jazz improvisation and trumpet. We may also bring additional tutors to work with different sections during the rehearsal process from time to time.
What kind of commitment is required?
We expect students to be present at all rehearsals and performances throughout the term. If you already have plans in place that will make it impossible to attend some rehearsals, please contact us in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate prior arrangements.
Students are expected to spend time looking over and learning the parts for the pieces we are learning in the band. We will make all of the sheet music available from a shared online folder, so students will always have access to this. We will sometimes produce instrumental guide tracks to assist in students’ preparation for specific pieces.
Will there be any fees to join the band?
The tuition fee for each term is ¥35,000 (+ consumption tax).
Once you have been offered a place in the band, we will provide you with the bank details to make a transfer. Please let us know if you would prefer to pay in another currency (for example from a US or UK account, as this is sometimes possible). Once payment has been received, we will issue you with a membership card.
Can I sign up for one term, or only for the full year?
Students can register for a single term, two terms, or for the full year. Just make sure you select the appropriate box on the registration form.
