Have you ever had your jazz band guitarist ask how to play a G13 chord? Or wondered how to help them achieve that sound in your jazz ensemble? This session is designed to help band directors support beginning and intermediate jazz guitarists as they navigate their first years in a jazz ensemble.
We’ll break down essential topics such as practical chord voicings, comping concepts, gear recommendations, and guitar/amp setup tips. Whether you’re a non-guitarist or a director looking for new strategies to communicate more effectively with your rhythm section, this clinic will give you the tools to help your guitarists play confidently and musically.
Brendan Frank
- Biographical Information
Brendan Frank is a Chicago-based musician, educator, songwriter, and performer. He has appeared on major stages across the U.S. and internationally, including sold-out shows at House of Blues and The Metro, the CMA Festival in Nashville, and broadcast performances on FOX, WGN, ABC, and NPR’s WBEZ. Since 2010, Brendan has served as Band Director at Antioch Upper Grade School in Antioch, IL, where he is part of a dynamic, performance-centered music program. During his tenure, band enrollment has grown from 98 to 186 students, and his ensembles have earned recognition for excellence at both county and state levels. He also revitalized the school’s extracurricular Jazz Band, launched a two-tiered group guitar program, and developed a Music Technology course utilizing iPads as the primary instrument. Brendan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s degree from Eastern Illinois University. He remains an active performer and clinician, dedicated to inspiring young musicians and fostering lifelong engagement with the arts.