Long & McQuade Learning Series - Toronto (Bloor), ON

Saturday, March 14 | 11:00am

Live Looping Workshop
With Jacob Moon

Roots musician Jacob Moon has played for RUSH, Marillion, and Gordon Lightfoot over his 25years on the road, and has competed in Roland Canada's national looping contests. He shares strategies for being an effective 'livelooper', and demonstrates how students can unlock their own creativity using the BOSS RC-600 and other popular looping pedals. His performance will include originals and covers orchestrated with a combination of musical taste and technical wizardry. If you've ever wondered how looping can take your solo or band project to the next level, this clinic is for you.

Jacob Moon is a fascinating artist and clinician who will engage any audience while showcasing thoughtful and captivating live looping performances. He shares and inspires new ways to harness creativity to create meaningful layers of music and sound that will surprise any listener to learn that it's coming from one player.

 

Saturday, March 21 | 2:00pm

Drum Clinic: Practicing for Real‑World Gigs
With Lorne Nehring

Join Lorne Nehring, a renowned jazz performer‑educator, for an in‑store clinic all about becoming a consistent, dependable drummer on every gig. He’ll break down the role of strong fundamentals, how to practice differently for learning new skills versus preparing for actual performances, and how to focus on playing what the music needs—not just what you want to play. Walk away with a clear, practical approach to practicing smarter and showing up confident, prepared, and professional.

Juno and Jazz Report Award winning drummer Lorne Nehring is originally from Montreal, where he began playing piano, saxophone and drums. Lorne studied percussion and began his jazz studies at McGill University. He has studied with noted Toronto drum teacher and author, Jim Blackley, as well as with American jazz great Keith Copeland in New York City.

He is an accredited teacher who for many years was the director of, and instructor at the much-respected Drum School at Long & McQuade in Toronto. After fifteen years, Lorne has recently retired from his teaching position as a drum set instructor and professor at Humber College, Toronto. Lorne received a master’s degree in music from York University, focusing his research on the importance of improvisation in jazz education.

Lorne has played and recorded with the finest Canadian and international musicians and groups including: Jeff Coffin, Michael Occhipinti, Tom Reynolds and many others.

 

Saturday, March 28 | 2:00pm

Simplify Your Approach to Improvisation!
With Flutist Bill McBirnie

Bill McBirnie has attained an international standing as one of the world’s foremost jazz and Latin flutist. His longstanding commitment to the instrument - as well as to the craft of improvisation - has earned him consistently unequivocal acclaim and awards, both here in Canada and abroad, including; Flutist of the Year (Jazz Report Awards); a "triple crown" winner in all three of the jazz flute (1) Soloist, (2) Masterclass and (3) Big Band Competitions (National Flute Association in the USA); Best Jazz Album award for Mercy featuring Robi Botos (Toronto Independent Music Awards); Vox Populi Winner for Best Jazz Album for his organ trio album, Find Your Place, featuring Bernie Senensky (Independent Music Awards in the USA); and a JUNO nomination for The Silent Wish, with Bernie Senensky.

As a testament to his noteworthy place in the international flute community, Bill was solicited, personally, by the esteemed classical futist, Sir James Galway (with whom he has performed at Koerner Hall in Toronto), to serve as Sir James’ resident Jazz Flute Specialist. Bill is also a designated Haynes Artist with the venerable Wm. S. Haynes Co. in the USA.

 

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RSVP and inquiries: [email protected]