New Courses:

David Bloom Music Mentoring Program

In this 7-week course, you have full access to David Bloom as your musical mentor. Your one-hour class per week is just part of your ongoing dialogue with Bloom. (In person or on Zoom)

Professional Jazz Combo (Includes Paid Gigs)

In this 7-week group course, you learn to take dramatic storytelling solos and present a professional set on the bandstand. Apply Bloom’s master storytelling exercises in real time.

The Perfect Set Recording Course

Record a tight, professional album and perform it multiple times with this 8-month immersive course. Best value anywhere.

More group courses:

Private courses:

Bridge Course for High School Seniors

Courses for Band Directors and Music Teachers

Need to Meet Your Musical Goals? Get In Touch!

To make an appointment, or for more information, please fill out the form below:

Bloom School of Jazz

226 South Wabash, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604

Call 773-860-8300 or send a message below:

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Testimonials

Hear what alumni are saying...

Mike Stern, Guitar Legend: "David Bloom is a wonderful player, composer, and teacher. The books he has written are invaluable, clearly written and very thorough. I highly recommend David Bloom's books to players of all levels."

Steven Rodby, 13-time Grammy Award-winning Bassist and Producer for the Pat Metheny Group: "David Bloom's teaching has always been special, and studying with him has always been a great help to me, at different points in my career. Both his specific gifts as a teacher and his knowledge of the music in general allow him to make a serious contribution to anyone's playing - beginner or seasoned professional. David can teach the notes, but is tireless with his attention to phrasing, dynamics, and the very meaning of music itself. The work runs wide, and it runs deep."

Paul Von Mertens, Musical Director Brian Wilson Band: "My time at your school was one of great exploration and discovery; the teachers, students and the whole scene was buzzing with excitement. I especially recall the deep appreciation of the masters and the guidance I got about who to listen to, and what to listen for. Learning what distinguishes the most important players in jazz, and bebop in particular. Beyond technical knowledge, there was always a primary emphasis on the aesthetics, emotion and artistry of jazz. I still think about these things today when I listen to improvisers; time, articulation, phrasing and emotion. In short; I learned who to listen to, what to listen for and how to apply it to my own music."

Satya Gummuluri: "I came to the Bloom School trained in the very different tradition of Indian classical music. I wanted to understand various elements of jazz, from the basics of harmony and rhythm, to nuances of improvisation within the context, subtleties in composition and expression, to building a deeper appreciation of what I listen to. All of this with no training in Western music and armed only with a keen ear. David works with me within my framework of musical understanding. He never imposes a canned method or rigid way of thinking, giving me only the mantra of aiming to produce the highest level of aesthetic as I express who I am. Within a short period of time on this journey at the Bloom School, I have picked up skills and knowledge in the jazz language and have surprised myself. There is a genuine interest in the student's growth...that's a rare gift in a teacher."

Start Your Journey at Bloom School of Jazz

Here's what to expect in the David Bloom Music Mentoring Course:

Honor your musical values. Discover and use a full range of sentiments, sensibilities, and aesthetics. Learn to be a master musical storyteller, hearing and playing music in a profoundly different way.

Use what you already know in different, more musical ways. Learn to utilize rhythmic variety, rests, dynamics, articulation, and motivic development, to link ideas through chords and create a dramatic arc in your solo. Now it isn't notes, it is a compelling musical story.

Push your limits of expression. Bloom teaches advanced concepts, such as polychords, polymetric phrasing, and a variety of tune structures, so you can color your music in ways that are specific to your emotional message. The course includes a recording session where you can test your musical skills in the studio.

Go to the Mountain Top: Work with Bloom toward any musical dream you can imagine. Explore comping, soloing, building your repertoire with songs that love you, composing, arranging, developing a perfect set for live shows or recording, producing your next album, and more.

Fix Problems: This course is the perfect place to refine your solos so you sound like yourself, and work out any issues that are holding you back. The psychological and individual approach to playing music will be successfully addressed.

Prerequisites: Not only must you be at an intermediate level on comping and soloing, expressing yourself through music must be deeply important to you. Bloom’s alumni include Grammy winners–so there is no ceiling on how talented or accomplished you are before you can begin. In addition to class time, you must be ready to commit at least 7 hours per week to perfecting (not just practicing) assigned material, sending in completed assignments and recordings, and maintaining a dialogue with Bloom on your progress and challenges. You also must be ready to make the financial commitment to invest in your music. Some scholarships are available.

Learn more about Private Lessons.

About David Bloom, Founder and Director

One of Chicago's most innovative educators, David Bloom stimulates creativity in people across all disciplines. Founder of Bloom School of Jazz, and recognized as Jazz Educator of the Year by The Jazz Institute of Chicago in 2017, his spirit of imagination and pride has reached thousands of students over the past four decades. The School’s 38th Anniversary Cool Heat Concert aired on Chicago’s WTTW television and featured some of Bloom’s Grammy-winning students. Bloom, a guitarist and flautist, has been featured in Chicago Tribune, Chicago Jazz Magazine and Guitar Player Magazine, as well as WGN Channel 9 and CBS Channel 2. He judges his validity by his ability to successfully impact others and is fascinated by how people act, think and what motivates them.

An accomplished guitarist and flutist performing in Chicago for many years, he opened The Bloom School of Jazz in 1975. Bloom’s jazz-as-language approach incorporates linguistics, philosophy, aesthetics and music. By listening to jazz masters, Bloom has taken their musical values and developed exercises that demand those sensibilities. Through the years, thousands of students have discovered that their abilities far exceeded their original expectations.

Mission of the Bloom School of Jazz

The primary objective is to stimulate and nurture expression, imagination, and individuality through music. Programs are designed to help individuals discover and appreciate their inner potential. The Bloom School adheres to the belief that encouraging new ideas from creative individuals and helping others to recognize and appreciate them, provides the foundation for a better future.

About the Bloom School of Jazz

Founded by David Bloom in 1975, the Bloom School of Jazz has taught over ten thousand students the values of the masters of improvisation. We celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2025.