Matthew Ball is "one of Michigan's premier blues & boogie-woogie pianists." With a performance history that includes everything from symphony appearances to blues festivals, this young man is already at the helm of an enviable performance career.
Formally degreed in classical study, Ball gave up that devotion after attending a hometown boogie-woogie festival. In just four years, he was sharing the stage with iconic piano blues & boogie-woogie veterans.
Called "the Gen-X arrival to this uniquely american art-form," Matthew is defining a new generation's contribution to this treasured American tradition.
Awards
"Matilda Award" - Oakland University
Gear
Piano
"Michigan's premier blues & boogie pianists" - The Holland Sentinel
"a Gen-X arrival to these uniquely American art-forms" - The Ann Arbor News
"a young person representing the grandest tradition of boogie-woogie" - Chicago Arts Network
Primary Instrument
Piano
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
Matthew Ball is a degreed music professional holding a B.A. in both Music & History from Oakland University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit. In 2007 he became a published author with his compendium, "The Art of Boogie Woogie," and in compliment to his performance engagements he has maintained a successful teaching studio for 15 years. Matthew offers instruction in varied disciplines including early jazz, classical, pop, theory, and arrangement.
His students have been the recipients of many recognitions, but most prominent are those of two pupils receiving university music scholarships--the first with an award of $10,000 in 2002, and another with an award of over $4,000 in 2006. Most recently, Matthew had two additional students win scholarship awards exceeding $800 to attend the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Clinic/Workshop Information
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Primary Instrument
Piano
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
Matthew Ball is a degreed music professional holding a B.A. in both Music & History from Oakland University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit. In 2007 he became a published author with his compendium, "The Art of Boogie Woogie," and in compliment to his performance engagements he has maintained a successful teaching studio for 15 years. Matthew offers instruction in varied disciplines including early jazz, classical, pop, theory, and arrangement.
His students have been the recipients of many recognitions, but most prominent are those of two pupils receiving university music scholarships--the first with an award of $10,000 in 2002, and another with an award of over $4,000 in 2006. Most recently, Matthew had two additional students win scholarship awards exceeding $800 to attend the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Clinic/Workshop Information
In addition to his performance engagements Mattehw offers a lecture of the piano blues & boogie traditions. The lecture is a 60 minute presentation on boogie-woogie & blues music, involving 30 minutes of performance followed by 30 minutes of instruction on how to make the music for oneself. It is designed as an educational experience for group audience.
In the absence of a written tradition for these genres, Matthew's presentation offers a rare opportunity to learn about the elusive techniques needed to create this music from a real practitioner. It offers more insight into the playing of these art-forms than any published material on the market today.
Minimum requirements: Piano
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