The next Week On Scene will be April 13 - 18 , 2008.
(Dates may change depending on the number of participants. 5 or 6 students is optimal.)

Click here for comments by participants.

Click here for more photos from the Week on the Scene

SIGN-UP: Contact Jim Payne about the Week on the Scene.
e-mail: jpayne@funkydrummer.com

What is the "Week on the Scene" Program?

The "Week on the Scene" has been a great success. We work hard during the day on reading, song learning and styles with both group and individual lessons. Students book practice time as well and also visit the drum shops in the off hours. At night we hit the town.

Daytime: During the "Week on the Scene" I will offer 3 individual lessons, one-on-one; and 4 group lessons covering reading, dictation and styles (Funk, Afro-Cuban, Jazz). All lessons take place at my studio in New York City.

Students will be asked to book practice time at a rehearsal studio near my studio to work on the materials studied. Rates are approximately $10 per hour.

Nightime: In the evenings we will go to various clubs and concerts in NYC (Knitting Factory, 55 Bar, The Bitter End, The Fat Cat, Sweet Rhythm, Birdland, etc.) We may also attend some seminars and rehearsals depending on what's going on during that week.

Tuition: The tuition is $750 for the week. Club entrance fees will be additional (approx. $25-35 per night). $300 must be sent as a deposit in advance.

Housing: I will send a list of housing options upon request.

What we did at night:

May 2005

We saw Steve Coleman at the Jazz Gallery, Jeff "Tain" Watts with Oz Noy at the Bitter End, Keith Carlock with Leni Stern at 55 Bar, Cliff Almond with Wayne Krantz at 55 Bar, Tim saw Clint DeGannon with John Tropez at the Cutting Room, Luke saw James Brown at B.B.Kings, Gary Seligson gave us a tour of the pit at Wicked on Broadway and we finished off the week seeing John Riley play with the Vanguard Orchestra at the Village Vanguard.

July 2004

We saw Louis Nash with his band at the Village Vanguard, Ari Hoenig at the Fat Cat, Anton Fig with Oz Noy at the Bitter End, along with Jerry Marotta, Kenny Wolleson with his band at the 55 Bar, the group Full House at Smoke with drummer Joe Strasser, and my own band, The Jim Payne Band, at Cafe 111.

Spring 2004

We saw Anton Fig, Keith Carlock and Jerry Marotta at the Bitter End, Jeff "Tain" Watts with Mike Brecker at Birdland, Kim Thompson with her band at 55 Bar, John Riley with the Bob Mintzer Big Band at Sweet Rhythm, Jeff Ballard at the Jazz Gallery, and Mike Clark with his band at the Knitting Factory. Drummer Gary Seligson gave us a tour of the Broadway pit for the show, Wicked.

Fall 2003

We saw John Riley with the Vanguard Orchestra, Mike Clark with his group at the Blue Note, Ari Hoenig with his group at 55 Bar, Bill Stewart with Peter Bernstein at the Jazz Standard, Adam Weber with Ray Vega at Kavehas, Don Alias at a percussion seminar at Juilliard, and Keith Carlock with Wayne Krantz at 55 Bar. Gary Seligson, the drummer for Aida, gave us a tour of the broadway pit where he plays the show and explained some of the techniques he uses to trigger and set up the wide variety of sounds he needs for the production. Most of the students met all these drummers personally.

**Here are comments from some of the guys who participated in the "Week on the Scene."

I'd like to thank you for that week, it was my best week ever, I really enjoyed everything, your classes , advises, and the concerts at night. I learned a lot, and I'm working hard to go back soon. I think that NY is the best place to be if I wanna be a good musician, and now I feel New York
as a part of me.

Roger Nuncio - Monterrey, Mexico

I HIGHLY recommend Jim Payne's Week on the Scene program. In one week, Jim was able to dramatically improve my playing. We really concentrated on time, feel, groove, and song form. Since his workshop, I have been complemented by fellow drummers on being able to play deep in the pocket, as well as playing so much more relaxed and with more confidence. This is all due to Jim's "sensei-like" teaching methods.

Chanel Summers - Seattle. WA

Hi Jim-

Just wanted to drop you a note about "Week on the Scene". I had a fantastic time! I'm now beginning to assimilate what I learned during the week. The instruction you provided has given me needed direction and insight. Here is a list of what I got out of the experience:

1. Process for rhythmic transcription and notation
2. Song structure analysis and how it's determined
3. How the great players in NY chart their compositions
4. How "big band" charts are structured and written
5. What it's like being a Broadway show drummer and what their charts look like
6. A behind the scenes look at the lives of great NY Jazz artists
7. "Front Row" opportunity to hear, meet and hang with several world-class drummers
8. Chance to study with other drummers from around the world

Thanks so much for having "Week on the Scene". It really is a "one-of-a-kind" experience. I'm looking forward to returning in the Fall.

Rick Jackson - Baton Rouge, Louisana

Jim:

Thank you so much for your time and hospitality, and for sharing your wealth of knowledge and personal contacts during the "Week on the Scene". It was really a phat experience and it was encouraging to witness such great drummer performances.

I got more from your "Week on the Scene" than I anticipated."

Ron Bengivenga

Hi Jim:

First of all, thank you for every minute I spent with you at the Week on the Scene. Your teaching is excellent, you are a true Sensei, you know where to begin with all of us.

I loved all the different drummers we met and saw in New York, great variety. I would love to come out again next year.

Tim Campbell - Carlsbad, California