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About Jazclass
Jazclass has been online since October 1995 and continues to go from strength to strength.
In recognition of its "cultural and artistic value" Jazclass was one of the first websites monitored and archived in its entirety by the National Library of Australia.
Jazclass attracts an ever increasing number of visitors, currently at the rate of approximately 100,000 individual student sessions each month. The vast majority of visitors (currently 96%) return to Jazclass for further study again and again.
You can enjoy the Jazclass lessons in four different ways.
Australia . . . .
Home of Jazclass
Michael's Resume
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Student, Soldier, Scientist, Explorer and Business man
I was born in Holland a long long time ago (in 1937 in fact) and studied Geology at Leiden
University. I completed my MSc and 2 years compulsory army training as a commissioned
officer in the Dutch Field Artillery, and then came to Australia in 1966.
During
the following 15 years I worked as a Geologist on mining-, civil construction- and
research- projects throughout Australia and Papua New Guinea.
I returned to Holland, after the sudden death of my father in 1981, to run the family business in jewellery wholesale for 3 years.
Music student in Adelaide
Upon my return to Australia in 1983 I completely switched direction in life, turning
all my energy into full time music study. I enrolled at the Jazz Dept. of Adelaide
University (formerly South Australian College of Advanced Education, 'SACAE') on saxophone and started private lessons on classical
piano.
Soon I started playing in small ensembles, Jazz bands and Concert bands. I practised
and studied at Adelaide Uni. flat out for 6 years.
My analytical skills, developed during my previous profession as a scientist, quickly
started to focus on my new field of interest. This for better or for worse, has made
me into a musician with a difference.
Almost as much as music itself I enjoy understanding the principles that underlie music and instrumental technique. I am passionate about
passing on my knowledge to those who want to learn.
My first Music books
I published my first textbook 'Overtone Practice on the Saxophone' in 1986, followed
by 'Scales and Arpeggios for the Jazz Pianist' in 1988.
I wrote a 'Jazz Piano Syllabus' for the Australian Guild of Music and Speech (AGMS) in 1989, and a 'Jazz Keyboard Technique Syllabus' for the SACAE. in 1990. I also lectured on Jazz keyboard at the SACAE, Saxophone technique at the Rotterdam Conservatory in Holland, and did Jazz workshops for music teachers in South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales.
Having a great time on the Sunshine Coast
I moved to Queensland's Sunshine Coast in 1991, teaching private students on piano,
sax, flute, clarinet, piano-accordion, Jazz and Improvisation. I wrote four more
books in 1993 and 1994.
These are the 'All About' music book series. New Editions were published in 1998.
Early in 1997 I completed a new Jazz & Blues Keyboard Syllabus for the AGMS in Australia.
This is a 4 unit course (Grades 4, 5, 6 and 7). It teaches the basic skills of Jazz, Blues and Improvisation.
Since 1998 maintaining and improving Jazclass has become my full time
occupation. I continue to write new lessons and songs for release online or publication on CD-ROM. Besides the current 4 books there are 3 email courses and 6 courses on CD-ROM available, and there is more to follow.
Travelling around Australia
After 10 happy years at the Sunshine Coast I suddenly felt like a change and moved to tropical Darwin in 2001.
From November 2002 onwards I have been camping and travelling by car around Australia, while maintaining Jazclass from my iBook and mobile office (a Mercedes Vito).
I find travelling through the vast Australian outback always a unique experience. It gives me peace, a deeper connection with the Universe in which we live, inspiration and loads of renewed energy.
Since 2004 I have established a regular pattern of spending the cool Southern hemisphere winter months (April to October) in tropical Darwin. Then in November I drive across to the Pacific Ocean and stay most of the summer at Mooloolaba on SE Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
From 2001 until 2007 I was heavily involved with the Darwin Sailing Club, helping to run the weekly races (including the Tasar World Championships in July 2005). .
The last few years I have concentrated on playing lots of contract bridge, reading and writing my daily Blog, as well as old time friends in Holland.
Rest assured that throughout my travels I am online every day to maintain Jazclass, to answer your questions, and to serve the ever increasing number of happy and very satisfied customers. I feel strongly that wherever I am during my travels you are always in spirit with me.
Michael.
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Copyright © 1996 - 2009 Michael Furstner.
