Erasmus+ Staff Mobility: Piano Masterclass by Jörg Leichtfried at Saint Louis College of Music (Rome)

Erasmus+ Staff Mobility: Piano Masterclass by Jörg Leichtfried at Saint Louis College of Music (Rome)

On 24 and 25 March 2026, pianist and lecturer Jörg Leichtfried gave a masterclass entitled “Solo Piano in Modern Jazz” at the Saint Louis College of Music in Rome as part of an Erasmus+ Staff Mobility.

The mobility provided an opportunity for artistic and pedagogical exchange between higher music education institutions and contributed to the internationalisation of teaching and learning practices in jazz education.

The first day focused on intensive group work. Jörg Leichtfried’s yet unpublished book “Left Hand Patterns – Solo Piano Concepts for the Left Hand in Modern Jazz” served as the basis for practical exercises and discussion. Key topics included voice leading, the conscious shaping of inner voices, phrasing, articulation, and “playing over the bar line” in modern jazz piano performance.

The second day focused on individual lessons, giving students the opportunity to address personal artistic questions and receive tailored feedback in a one-to-one setting.

The Erasmus+ mobility strengthened international cooperation between the participating institutions and enabled valuable artistic and educational exchange between teachers and students in an international context.

Foto (c) Georg Bucxhofer