JAM Camp
The Jazz Academy Annual Summer “JAM” Camp is a great place for young musicians grades 6th thorough 12th to learn to play and perform Jazz music the way the professionals do. Sessions are led by professional musicians and recording artists based in the DC metropolitan area as well as other nationally renown recording artist from all across the country.
If you would like to play your instrument like a jazz music professional read on!
JAM Camp is a Summer Youth Program structured yet full of fun for young musicians.
To play like a professional you must study really hard, practice a lot and listen to your teachers at school. You also have to go the extra mile, by listening to the music, learning its history and theory. At some point you also need to have exposure to the professionals. At the Jazz Academy of Music Summer Jam Camp, you will get just that–exposure to professional performing musicians that will share their experiences and techniques with you. At the camp you will explore the music of the great artist like Benny Goodman, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong. And you will play right along with the professional musicians.
Each year the camp is commemorated with video coverage of classes, lectures and performances. The guest artists and gifted instructors add to this American jazz music experience. In 2007, the featured guests included Branford Marsalis, John Jensen, Imani, and Jason Marshall.
Check out the JAM Camp Video Library!
It’s A Daily JAM Session!
There is nothing like playing and performing with professional musicians and your fellow students. At the JAM camp you will be a part of sessions that include some of the top professional musicians in the Washington Metropolitan Area and beyond. You will gain experience playing in big band and combo settings. You will be in a professional atmosphere with various professional musicians in addition to the primary camp instructors who are also accomplished professionals.
The Camp Works This Way!
The Academy will hold its Summer Jazz Academy of Music (“JAM”) Camp for three weeks this summer, June 23 - July 11, 2008. The camp hours will be from 1:00 pm to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
Only students who have achieved the proficiency level of advanced beginner and above are eligible to attend the camp.
Students meeting the minimum criteria will be admitted to the camp on a first come first serve basis until all slots are filled.
The camp will feature the following activities:
| ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION |
| Big Band Sessions | Students at the same level of proficiency are grouped into a large ensemble to learn and perform the big band charts of Duke Ellington, Glen Miller and other writers of the big band era. |
| Combo/Concert Hour | Students are grouped into small combos or groups to create and perform their self-developed repertoire of music. On alternate days the combos perform for the other students or the camp instructors perform for the students. |
| Jazz Idiom | Students are provided an overview of the history of jazz from the early 1900’s to today. Also covered will be the Blues, Spiritual and Classical influences in Jazz Music. |
| Improvisation & Music Theory | Students learn the language of jazz and techniques for creating and playing extemporaneously created melodies over chord progressions. |
| Solo Lab | Students are provided the opportunity to practice improvisation techniques with a semi-private tutor to help the students create their own personal solo style. |
| Masters Class | During the course of the camp, various established recording artists will be invited to work with the students and share their experiences as a recording artist. |
Concert
The camp will culminate with a student concert . The concert will be open to the public and will cost $12.00 per person. The students will perform the musical selections that they have learned and created over the course of the camp in big band and combo formats. A guest recording artist will perform with the students on the concert.
Camp Staff
Paul Carr, Camp Director
Pepe Gonzalez, Jazz Idiom Instructor
Richard Seals, Combo Instructor
Jon Ozment, Improvisation Instructor
Kenny Rittenhouse, Trumpet Instructor
Guest Recording Artist
The guest artist for this year’s camp are TBD.
Location & Directions
The tenative location for the camp is Sligo Middle School; 1401 Dennis Ave; Silver Spring, MD:
FROM THE BELTWAY: Exit Georgia Avenue going north . Turn right on Dennis Avenue and proceed about 1.5 miles. The school will be on your left.
FROM DC: Take Georgia Ave going north to Dennis Avenue. Turn right on Dennis Avenue and proceed about 1.5 miles. The school will be on your left.
| INSTRUMENT | REMAINING SLOTS AVAILABLE |
| Piano | Closed |
| Bass Guitar | Closed |
| Guitar | Closed |
| Drums | Closed |
| Percussion | Closed |
| Flute | 2 |
| Clarinet | Closed |
| Alto Sax | Closed |
| Tenor Sax | Closed |
| Baritone Sax | 1 |
| Trombone | 2 |
| Trumpet | closed |
Students will be required to pay tuition to attend the camp and must provide their own Musical instruments. The tuition is $550.00 per student.
If there is a slot available for your instrument please click here to continue.
Concert opens on Sept 14th with critically acclaimed Jazz saxophonist Paul Carr! 
The Jazz Academy Orchestra begins the Fall semester on Wednesday, September 17th at Sligo Middle School. This session promises to be fun and exciting for the students. There will be plenty of activities including a chance to be in a line-up with area Jazz talent. 
Assistant Director Pepe Gonzalez with the Mingus JAM Band
Director Paul Carr with the Coltrane JAM Band featuring Sharon Clark
