Christopher Norton

Christopher Norton’s music needs no introduction: his world-famous Microjazz series has been played by students of all ages for decades!

Combining the pop and jazz sounds students enjoy with the technique they need to learn, Microjazz has become a long-standing favourite with both teachers and players. Chris is now well established as a composer, producer, arranger and educationalist.

He has written stage musicals, ballet scores, piano music, popular songs and orchestral music as well as jingles and signature tunes for TV and radio, and has spoken at conventions across the globe.

Chris enjoys working with both children and their teachers and is particularly interested in helping would-be improvisers get started.

Suitable for	Peripatetic teachers of any instrument AND/OR students with some playing experience
Facilities required	Two or more pianos (or keyboards), a CD player, participants’ own instruments and an overhead projector with screen (if possible)
Duration	Half or full day
No. of participants	Up to 100 (depending on size of venue)
Publications used	Many award-winning publications, including: Microjazz and Microstyles series’ Essential Guides to Pop, Latin and Jazz Styles; the Rock, Country, Latin and Jazz Piano Preludes Colletions’; the Big Beats play-along series; Concert Collections and The Easiest Way to Improvise

For an up-to-date list of Chris' forthcoming events, please click here.

Microjazz series: ‘How can anyone doubt its huge influence and spot-on originality! Many have tried to ape it but no-one has improved on it’.
Piano Magazine

‘A real boon – the best addition to the beginner teaching repertoire I’ve seen in years’.
Graeme Humphrey (Professor of Piano, Royal Academy of Music)

‘The teacher pedagogy presentation was excellent. Chris gave an indepth presentation on how to perform his music. It was very enlightening as up to this moment we were only guessing as to performance and style techniques. This was a highlight for the teachers’.
Piano teacher, Alberta Music Conference, Canada

‘The students were captivated by his colourful style of presentation as well as the practical, useful and insightful comments that he gave. It is certain that Mr Norton had a significant impact on all those who attended... His art will continue to impact on others for generations’.
Fort McMurray Music Teachers Association report, Canada

Author

Christopher Norton
was born in New Zealand in 1953. After graduating he began his career as a teacher, pianist and composer, and began to develop an interest in popular music. Coming to the UK in 1977 on a scholarship at York University, he studied composition with Wilfred Mellers and David Blake. Chris is best known for his world famous series Microjazz and his award winning Essential Guides to Pop Styles, Latin Styles and Jazz Styles.

Repertoire

Christopher Norton:
Microjazz

Christopher Norton:
Concert Collections

News Music in Education

09/04/2008
Christopher Norton Goes to Newcastle
Christopher Norton at the Centre for Life ... more

08/20/2008
Romantic Guitar Anthology 1
33 Original Works Including pieces by Diabelli, Paganini, Mertz and Bosch This ... more

07/01/2008
Schott at the London International Music Show 08
The first run of the London International Music Show 2008 was a huge success for Schott - particularly ... more