Giant Steps Day Camp July 7 – 11

Middle school musicians thrive as they explore the art of jazz at Giant Steps Day Camp.

Register now!

Giant Steps Day Camp July 7 - 11

Middle school musicians thrive as they explore the art of jazz at Giant Steps Day Camp.

Register now!

Middle School Musicians Welcome!

Ready to explore the world of jazz? Giant Steps Day Camp provides a fun, supportive, and inspiring week-long experience for middle school musicians on the Stanford University campus. Learn from world-class artists, play alongside talented peers from across the Bay Area, and develop your musical skills in a dynamic and engaging environment.

Ready to explore the world of jazz? Giant Steps Day Camp provides a fun, supportive, and inspiring week-long experience for middle school musicians on the Stanford University campus. Learn from world-class artists, play alongside talented peers from across the Bay Area, and develop your musical skills in a dynamic and engaging environment.

Middle school musicians are at an exciting stage in their musical journey, and Giant Steps Day Camp is built to support their unique growth. Our expert faculty—trained in middle school education techniques—are dedicated to creating an engaging, supportive, and inspiring learning environment, ensuring every student gets the most out of their experience.

Middle school musicians are at an exciting stage in their musical journey, and Giant Steps Day Camp is built to support their unique growth. Our expert faculty—trained in middle school education techniques—are dedicated to creating an engaging, supportive, and inspiring learning environment, ensuring every student gets the most out of their experience.

Whether you’re new to jazz or already have some experience, Giant Steps Day Camp has a place for you! With masterclasses, combos, and big bands tailored to different skill levels, every young musician can grow and thrive in a fun, supportive, and inspiring environment. That’s what makes Giant Steps Day Camp the ultimate summer music experience for middle schoolers!

Whether you’re new to jazz or already have some experience, Giant Steps Day Camp has a place for you! With masterclasses, combos, and big bands tailored to different skill levels, every young musician can grow and thrive in a fun, supportive, and inspiring environment. That’s what makes Giant Steps Day Camp the ultimate summer music experience for middle schoolers!

Your week at Giant Steps Day Camp includes:

Daily Master Classes

Enhance your technical proficiency and deepen your understanding of your instrument through intensive instruction from our distinguished jazz faculty.

Music Theory

Develop a comprehensive understanding of jazz by exploring harmony, rhythm, and scales, equipping yourself with the tools to interpret and create music with greater sophistication.

Improvisation

Cultivate your ability to express yourself through improvisation, refining your soloing skills and developing musical intuition in collaborative settings.

Ensemble Playing

Engage in both large and small ensemble performances, experiencing the dynamic energy of a big band and the nuanced interplay of a jazz combo.

The Roots of Jazz

Explore the profound historical and cultural significance of jazz, gaining insight into its evolution and the contributions of pioneering jazz musicians.

A Safe and Supportive Environment

We provide a structured and inclusive environment where students can learn, grow, and develop confidence in their musical abilities.

A Community of Musicians

Join a network of dedicated young musicians from across the Bay Area, forging lasting connections and collaborative opportunities that extend beyond the program.

Final Performance Showcase

The program culminates in a live performance, where students demonstrate their progress by performing in both big band and combo settings for family and friends.

Whether you’re a vocalist or an instrumentalist, Giant Steps Day Camp is the perfect place to explore and grow as a musician.

Discover the excitement of jazz in a fun, supportive environment, building skills that will prepare you for your high school music program and keep you inspired as you continue to develop as a musician.

Whether you’re a vocalist or an instrumentalist, Giant Steps Day Camp is the perfect place to explore and grow as a musician.

Discover the excitement of jazz in a fun, supportive environment, building skills that will prepare you for your high school music program and keep you inspired as you continue to develop as a musician.

Program details

Giant Steps Day Camp is for current middle school vocalists and instrumentalists, students entering middle school in the fall, and rising ninth graders.

Giant Steps Day Camp classes and programs occur during the following hours:

  • July 7 – 11, Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Showcase performance on Friday, July 11: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Supervision and late pickup option from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. is available.

All classes and performances are held at the Braun Music Center on the Stanford University campus, 541 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, CA 94305.

  • Tuition for five days of instruction: $915
  • Catered lunch for five days: $125
  • Supervision and late pickup: $200

Financial aid is available; you may apply for financial aid during the online registration process. Click for details on program pricing.

There is no audition to be accepted into Giant Steps Day Camp. We hold placement evaluations at Stanford in June, where we listen to each young musician in order to place them in the classes and ensembles that are optimal for their development. Once you register, we’ll send you information about the placement evaluations via email, and through your SJW dashboard.

Most instruments are welcome at SJW, including:

  • All brass instruments (trumpet, F horn, trombone, baritone, tuba)
  • All woodwinds (flute, clarinet, saxophone)
  • All strings (violin, viola, cello)
  • All rhythm section instruments (guitar, piano, keyboards, vibraphone, bass, drums)
  • Vocalists are welcome

Giant Steps Day Camp Faculty