Sunday, April 16, 11 am - 1 pm PT (Online Workshop)

Age | Adult |
Event Type | Workshop |
Department | Composition and Arranging |
Day | Sun |
Instructor | Richard Niles |
Status | online event |
Join us for a special workshop on jazz composition with the accomplished composer, arranger, producer, author, and educator, Dr. Richard Niles.
Dr. Niles will share his approaches to writing music for improvisers, finding the sweet spot between music that is interesting in its own right and also fun to improvise on. Dr. Niles will share examples of his work and the work of other master musicians and composers, providing valuable insights into how they approached writing music for improvisation.
As a highly experienced and engaging educator in jazz, commercial music, and beyond, Dr. Niles has worked with a wide range of top artists, including Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, Pat Metheny, and James Brown, among many others. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from a true master of the craft and take your compositions to the next level!
This workshop is a must-attend for anyone interested in jazz composition, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced composer.
About Richard Niles
Dr. RICHARD NILES is a highly accomplished and versatile composer, producer, songwriter, arranger, conductor, and musical director whose career has spanned several genres, including pop, R&B, rock, and jazz. He has an impressive record of having worked on records that have sold over 250 million copies worldwide.
Niles has made significant contributions to the recording industry, film, theatre, and television and has performed extensively across the globe. He is also a celebrated music documentarian, published author, journalist, and music educator. His PhD thesis, “The Invisible Artist – Arrangers in Popular Music (1950 – 2000),” earned him his doctorate from Brunel University, and it has since been published as an acclaimed book available on Amazon, published by Niles Smiles Music.
Richard Niles has worked with a host of renowned artists, producing, arranging, and composing music for them. Some of these artists include Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, Cher, James Brown, Kylie Minogue, Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Joe Cocker, Lulu, The Troggs, Deniece Williams, Michael McDonald, Dusty Springfield, Pet Shop Boys, Cat Stevens, Grace Jones, Tears For Fears, Swing Out Sister, Boyzone, Westlife, Michael Ball, and Take That.
In addition to his pop and R&B work, Niles has established a distinguished career in jazz, having worked with luminaries like Pat Metheny, Martin Taylor, Bob James, Michel Legrand, Ray Charles, Jane Monheit, Guy Barker, Bob Mintzer, The Yellowjackets, Silje Nergaard, John Patitucci, Jim Mullen, Janek Gwizdala, Nelson Rangell, Gwylim Simcock, and Gary Husband.
Dr. Niles is also known for his arrangements and conducting work with classical artists such as Kiri Te Kanawa, Placido Domingo, and Montserrat Caballe. He has lectured at prestigious institutions across the world, and he currently resides in California, where he continues to be active as a composer, producer, arranger, educator, and performer.