News

Jazz at Lincoln Center announces Summer Jazz Academy, Free Virtual Camp Designed and led by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and Guest Artists

Jazz at Lincoln Center offers the largest jazz education program network in the world, and today Jazz at Lincoln Center announced its latest educational initiative designed to foster the next generation of jazz musicians, fans, and supporters.

Summer Jazz Academy, a donation-based, two-week virtual camp is designed and led by members of the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and distinguished guest artists including guitarist James Chirillo, drummer Jeff Hamilton, pianist Eric Reed, and bassist Rodney Whitaker. Open to jazz enthusiasts of all skill levels, ages 12 and above, Summer Jazz Academy courses will take place on Mondays through Saturdays from July 20 to August 1, 2020 via digital platforms accessible to all registered participants.

Summer Jazz Academy participants will engage in classes to deepen jazz knowledge, develop practice skills, and strengthen performance while building a global community of peers. The daily schedule of interactive virtual classes will focus on all aspects of jazz, pedagogy, and jazz performance at all levels of experience. The curriculum is based on Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 33-year history of education in jazz performance and appreciation. Students will gain insight to American vernacular music and jazz specific techniques, learn the communal history of jazz in a socio-political context, receive guidance on how to better communicate personal objectives, and gain awareness of the mission of jazz musicians today building on the aspirations laid by earlier generations.

Summer Jazz Academy registration is now open.

Summer Jazz Academy faculty includes Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Walter Blanding (saxophone), Obed Calvaire (drums) James Chirillo (guitar), Chris Crenshaw (trombone), Vincent Gardner (trombone), Victor Goines (saxophone), Jeff Hamilton (drums), Carlos Henriquez (bass), Sherman Irby (saxophone), Ryan Kisor (trumpet), Elliot Mason (trombone), Ted Nash (saxophone), Paul Nedzela (saxophone), Dan Nimmer (piano), Marcus Printup (trumpet), Kenny Rampton (trumpet), Eric Reed (piano), Camille Thurman (saxophone and voice), and Rodney Whitaker (bass).

Like all of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s online offerings, from concert webcasts to education classes, registration is free of charge. In support of the program, Jazz at Lincoln Center asks registrants and other viewers to consider a donation and appreciates any financial contribution. Summer Jazz Academy follows the success of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s landmark 25th Anniversary of the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival. The virtual festival took place in May of this year and brought together 23 youth bands from around the world for the first time.

To ensure jazz will be performed and appreciated, both now and in future generations, Jazz at Lincoln Center has developed a continuum of education programs and diverse array of live performances that help audiences, from childhood onward, learn about jazz’s distinct American heritage, its great works and musicians, and relationship to other artistic disciplines. All of these programs including Swing University, Webop, Essentially Ellington, and Middle School Jazz Academy are now available online via jazz.org

2020 Summer Jazz Academy Class Schedule

Monday – Saturday, June 20 – August 1, 2020.
All times are Eastern Time.

LISTENING CLASS
MON-WED-FRI, 10am – LIVE
You don’t have to be a musician to join Wynton Marsalis as he walks you through the 16 categories of listening. Utilizing recordings of jazz and other music across time and around the world, Wynton will show you how to painlessly improve your listening skills and deepen your experience hearing music. Open to all skill levels.

INSTRUMENTAL/VOCAL STUDIOS
MON-WED-FRI, 1pm – PRE-RECORDED
Studio lessons will focus on foundational and jazz instrumental pedagogy. Fundamental aspects of technique will be covered with an emphasis on breathing, tone, attack, flexibility, velocity, range, phrasing, control, special effects, reading, and freely expressing a range of emotions. Each of the sections will focus on a different instrument including saxophones, trumpets, trombone, piano, bass, drums, guitar, woodwinds and vocals. Open to all skill levels.

FUNDAMENTALS OF JAZZ THROUGH REHEARSAL
MON-WED-FRI, 2:30pm – LIVE
This live class features a musician and arranger from each section of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra: saxes, trumpets, trombone and rhythm. They will dissect and discuss original arrangements exactly as they do in rehearsals. With the arranger leading and the others explaining how the sections go about contributing to the final realization of the performance. Open to all skill levels.

JAZZ CHAT
TUES & THURS, 10am – LIVE
Open to students of all skill levels, this informal class (conducted live) will feature members of each section of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra telling stories about and discussing their favorite players, solos, bands, and recordings.

JAZZ CHAT
TUES & THURS, 10am – LIVE
Open to students of all skill levels, this informal class (conducted live) will feature members of each section of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra telling stories about and dis cussing their favorite players, solos, bands, and recordings.

JAZZ HISTORY
TUES & THURS, 2:30pm – PRE-RECORDED
These sessions will give you an understanding of significant aspects of jazz history. Each session is taught by a different member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and utilizes books, interviews, recordings and playing to illuminate important moments and movements in our music. The sessions will also offer additional resources like compilations and videos for extended study. Open to all skill levels.

JAZZ ARRANGING
TUES THURS SAT, 1pm – LIVE
In this six-part class series, taught by different arrangers from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, students will explore the concepts as well as the methods of some of the world’s finest arrangers. Melody writing, part-writing, voicing and voice leading, arranging for small ensembles, utilizing the blues, developing thematic materials through chorus formatting, writing for the rhythm section, and much more. Offered to beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

JAZZ HEROES
MON WED FRI, 4pm – PRE-RECORDED
Explore the lives and works of some of the genre’s most powerful musicians. In each class a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will examine the work and life of their favorite jazz hero. Join Walter Blanding, Camille Thurman, Paul Nedzela, Chris Crenshaw, Elliot Mason, and Dan Nimmer as they illuminate the life and work of six important jazz heroes. Open to all skill levels.

BLINDFOLD TEST
FRI, 5pm – LIVE
Vincent Gardner, the ‘Band Historian’ and lifelong record collector will spin beginner, immediate and advanced recordings for all who love to test their hearing and knowledge. Rare recordings will be unapologetically played. Students can receive meaningful prizes for correct guesses. Open to all skill levels.

MASTERCLASSES
TUES THURS SAT, 5pm – LIVE
Hear from six definitive international artists – Cecile McLorin Salvant, Joe Lovano, Tommy Smith, Karolina Strassmayer, Paquito D’Rivera and Nduduzo Makhathini – as they are interviewed by some of the next generation’s most fantastic musicians (artists TBA) on their careers, favorite recordings, and most memorable performances. Get an insider’s view into the concepts and practices of some of the most renowned artists in the world today. Open to all skill levels.

Summer Jazz Academy is the latest offering in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s digital season and the organization’s efforts to provide people around the world easy access to Jazz at Lincoln Center’s wealth of programming, educational materials, and valuable resources during these challenging times.

These resources will be shared for free throughout the entirety of the pandemic with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s growing global community of over two million people, to share in-turn with their friends, family, fans, supporters, companies, and constituencies. Although The House of Swing may temporarily be dark to audiences, we at Jazz at Lincoln Center are providing resources for cultural nourishment and comfort in these uncertain times. Since 2014, Jazz at Lincoln Center has developed a wealth of audio recordings, video footage, music charts, photos, writings, and interactive material to serve its growing audience of fans, musicians, educators, advocates, students, and scholars. Jazz at Lincoln Center is making available a robust, curated and frequently updated program of offerings to reach people all over the world and bring the healing power of jazz into homes and communities.

Leadership support for Jazz at Lincoln Center is provided by Jody and John Arnhold, Helen and Robert Appel, and Diana and Joe DiMenna.
Major support for Summer Jazz Academy is provided by an Anonymous Family Foundation, Steward Family Foundation, and World Wide Technology Foundation.
Support for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s education programs is provided in part by The Herb Alpert Foundation, Rebecca and Arthur Samberg, and Vital Projects Fund, Inc.

Support for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s webcasting is provided by Louise and Leonard Riggio.

Operating Support for Jazz at Lincoln Center is provided in part by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Ford Foundation, Seedlings Foundation, and The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust.

« Previous Entry

Next Entry »