Proficiency Levels

The Academy students will be evaluated and will be grouped in the following categories in order to determine eligibility for the various academy offerings:

Beginner

Less than one year playing a musical instrument. Limited formal instruction. No to limited ability to read music.

Advanced Beginner

More than one year but less than two years playing a musical instrument. Has memorized and can play 3 major scales. Understands key signatures, can recognize and observe most often used symbols pertaining to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and other expressive details and can read and perform simple musical excerpts never seen before.

Intermediate

More than two years playing a musical instrument. Has memorized and can play 6 major scales. Can recognize and observe all symbols pertaining to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and other expressive details and can read and perform a musical score never seen before in simple and compound meters. Can extemporaneously create a melody using the pentatonic scale on the Blues progression. (Beginning improvisation)

Advanced

More than three years playing a musical instrument. Has memorized and can play all major scales. Can recognize and observe all symbols pertaining to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and other musical terms. Can read and perform a musical score never seen before in simple and compound meters. Can recognized and improvise on the Blues form and simple Rock and Latin progressions.

Company

More than three years playing a musical instrument. Has memorized and can play all major, minor, blues, and pentatonic scales. Can recognize and observe all symbols pertaining to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and other expressive details and can read and perform a musical score never seen before in simple and compound meters. Can recognized different jazz styles and can play expressively, incorporating appropriate contrasts of dynamics, phrasing and articulations in the style of music being performed. Can extemporaneously create a melody that is compatible with complex chord progressions (improvisation). Can transpose music from one key to another.

Students achieving the level of Company are periodically chosen to perform in concert with area professional musicians. All students admitted to the “Company” level of proficiency, who are pursing high school diplomas, are expected to maintain at least a ā€œCā€ average. Students who do not maintain a ā€œCā€ average for two consecutive grading periods will not be eligible for any performance opportunities during the school year.

Notices

Vocalists .....

JAM Camp and JAM Lab for the Beginner and Intermediate Level Vocalists

If you are a singer, in 5th - 12th grade, interested in exploring the world of Jazz then JAM Camp and JAM Lab are for you. It will allow you to expand your knowledge of Jazz and improvisation, and help to take your vocal performance to the next level.
Instructor: Eric Byrd
Click here for more information!

Register Now

Register now for JAM Camp

Transportation

Airport/Ground Transportation

Ground transportation available to and from IAD, DCA, BWI, BWI Amtrak, Union Station, Penn Station, and other major hubs to JAM Lab. [$80]

JAM Camp Transportation

Daily transportation to JAM Camp available from June 25 until July 13. Service is "Pickup" [$238] or "Pickup and Dropoff" [$475} at Sandy Spring Friends School. Pickups are Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville, and Glenmont Metros.
NO TRANSPORTATION and/or CLASS July 4 and after final concert on July 13.
NOTE: Pickup, or Pickup and Dropoff transportation to and from Sligo Middle School: FREE

News

The Jazz Academy at Sandy Spring Friends School!

The Jazz Academy of Music is partnering with Sandy Spring Friends School to bring music and jazz programming to the community! JAM Camp and JAM Lab are for 5th - 12th graders! Click the icon below to see pictures of SSFS -- a 140-acre site just 17 miles from the nation's capital!
Click Here to go to Sandy Spring Friends School Summer Camp Program!

Transportation available for JAM Camp: Transportation to JAM Lab is available from BWI, IAD, and DCA:

And, for the 5th and 6th Grade JAM Camp Student!

Extended Care before JAM Camp by SSFS from 9am - 11am: Lunch and Learn by the Jazz Academy from 11am - 1pm:

Links