The Jazz Workshop

If you're a jazz musician who is looking for a group to join, The Jazz Workshop is for you. Join one of our groups today and we will give you a regular place to play each week where you will learn and grow as a musician. 

Whether you've never played jazz before, or you're a seasoned pro, you will benefit from our expert instruction. Our relaxed, friendly sessions will help you become the musician you want to be, and give you the skills you need to succeed at any jam session or gig. And most importantly, you'll be part of a group, and playing on a regular basis.

For more information, email us at thejazzworkshop@gmail.com .

About the instructor

Paul Pieper is an award winning multi-instrumentaiist with over 20 years of experience as a full time jazz musician and teacher in the Washington DC area. From local performances at Blues Alley, The Smithsonian Imax Jazz Cafe, and other venues, to gigs abroad in Japan, Russia, Ecuador, Turkey, and even Kyrgyzstan, Paul's performance credentials are extensive.

Says Paul, "I believe that anyone can improvise, whether they know it or not - and helping people discover and develop that talent is what I love most as a teacher."

Here are some recordings of Paul playing in a "quintet" where he is playing every instrument - drums, bass, guitar, piano and tenor saxophone.

"If I Should Lose You" - Robin/Rainger

 "Boplicity" - Miles Davis



about our sessions

Our sessions take place in a well-appointed facility. Each session is two hours in length. Most of our time is spent playing music together - playing tunes from start to finish, and working on not only improvisation and music theory, but also the many things that make a jazz group sound good - time feel, how to start and end tunes, communicating in non-verbal ways, and learning to really listen to each other.

We look for public performance opportunities for our students, and some of our students have "graduated" from our program and have gone on to play gigs in the DC area.