Vocalist, pianist and music therapist based in Amsterdam.
Zuzanna Mizgalska is a graduate of School of Jazz and Popular Music in Wroclaw. She studied jazz piano under the tutorship of Marek Markowski. She is a graduate of Music Academy in Wroclaw, her major being Music Therapy. She currently studies “jazz voice” at the Jazz and Popular Music department in Academy of Music in Katowice, under the tutorship of Beata Przybytek.
She was born in Leszno, to a family with a rich music tradition. Thanks to her parents’ support, she started playing the piano at the age of six. Once she finished primary school of music, she continued her artistic education and attended private piano lessons. When she graduated from secondary school, she enrolled in School of Jazz and Popular Music in Wroclaw to further develop her music skills. Whilst studying, she was involved in many projects, such as playing in the school’s bands. She was a very active pianist. At this point she began to enrich her performances with singing. She participated in numerous workshops. At the same time, she commenced her studies in Music Academy. Her major was Music Therapy.
She wanted to combine her two passions: music and psychology. She successfully completed her bachelor’s thesis entitled “The therapeutic merits of jazz music” and master’s thesis, entitled “Application of jazz workshop with elements of music therapy among the group of young people with conduct disorder”.
In 2014, her master’s thesis won her a third prize in a competition called “Wrocław’s Magnolia”.
Since 2012 from 2015 she was playing the piano and singing with Just Friends Band (young jazz quartet from Wroclaw) on regular basis. They continuously play concert all around Poland, popularizing their project called “Jazz Osiecka” (performing songs with Osiecka’s lyrics in fresh, jazzy arrangements), which she created with Krzysztof Żesławski – guitarist from Wrocław.
She provides a lovely background to various events, parties and business meetings. On a day to day basis, Zuzanna is a piano, singing and eurhythmics teacher working in kindergardens, nurseries and primary schools.
In 2014 she was improving her vocal skill in Natural Voice Perfection Institute. Since 2015 she lives in The Netherlands, in Amsterdam where she was developing her vocal skill under the tutorship of Sanna van Vilet.
Since 2017 she studies “jazz voice” at the Jazz and Popular Music Department in Academy of Music in Katowice.
Playlist
Playlist
If you’re looking for a professional jazz band to add splendor to your special event – JAZZ EVENT can perfectly accommodate your needs. The most popular ensemble available is the jazz duo consisting of vocals/piano and guitar, but there is also the option to extend the line-up to a trio or quartet with additional musicians including double bass and drums. The band is made of the very best musicians with long list of artistic achievements. The band’s extensive repertoire includes the finest section of jazz standards performed with a touch of rhythm and blues, swing, bossa nova, as well as French and Polish hits. We are available to hire for business meetings, social events, conferences and other occasions. We offer jazzy vocal improvisations, energetic guitar, classical double bass sounds and charming rhythms. Our performances guarantee warm timbres and vibrant atmosphere.
The length of our performance and other details differ according to the type of the event.
We are open to your suggestions.
Check out our offer!
JUST FRIENDS BANDis a jazz band from Wrocław, formed in 2012 by Zuzanna Mizgalska, Wojtek Maziakowski and Krzysztof Żesławski. For quite a long period of time the group operated mainly as a function band, providing musical background during business meetings and various events. As a result, the band’s repertoire is very extensive and includes the finest selection of jazz standards as well as French and Polish hits. Due to the fact that Krzysztof Żesławski is involved in numerous projects and activities – working as a music teacher in High School no. 17 named after Agnieszka Osiecka as well as co-organizing a Nationwide Competition for Vocalists singing Agnieszka Osiecka’s works, called “Bardzo Wielka Woda” – the band members decided to introduce new, jazzy arrangements of songs to Osiecka’s lyrics. That’s how the project OSIECKA JAZZOWO came into being.
The band plays well-known classics as well as forgotten hits, such as: „Nocne gadanie”, „Kiedy mnie już nie będzie”, „Dobranoc Panowie”, „Weselne dzieci” and many more. In 2014 the band welcomed a new bass player, Wojtek Bergander (taking Wojtek Maziakowski’s place) and a drummer, Michał Lasota.
In November 2014 JUST FRIENDS BAND began recording their album entitled OSIECKA JAZZOWO, which is going to be released very soon. The band plays concerts all around the country. Every Wednsday they perform as a jazz ensemble in a restaurant Ragtime Café situated in the heart Wrocław.
JUST FRIENDS BAND members:
Zuzanna Mizgalska – leading vocals, piano
Krzysztof Żesławski – guitar
Wojtek Bergander – double bass
Michał Lasota – drums
MY EXPERIENCE WITH MUSIC THERAPY
My experience in working with children, teenagers and adults erives from the teaching practice I had while studying music therapy. I taught children with mental and physical disorders. Since 2013 I have conducted eurhythmics lessons in kinder gardens all around Wrocław, using my numerous musical skills – singing, playing the piano and the guitar.
I took an active part in the International Conference for Music therapy Students held in Wrocław and attended balint trainings.
JAZZ WORKSHOP
My offer includes a variety of therapeutic classes abounding in diverse range of activities:
- introduction of various kinds of jazz music, enriched with basic information about the history of popular music
- numerous improvisation styles based on different music genres (swing, blues, bossa nova, etc.)
- vocal, instrumental and physical improvisation to jazz music
- creating a big band out of a group, using percussion instruments
- conducting lessons
- introduction of healthy singing techniques – learning and performing popular songs with the elements of jazz
- dance lessons to blues tunes
- relaxation – listening to jazz ballads (CDs and live music)
