When we picked our son up, he said ‘I was among giants’ and was very excited by the professional level of the musicians he
met during the week.
~ Jazz Camp parent
Giant Steps Package
Each student engages in a variety of activities that emphasize the fundamentals of good musicianship while introducing concepts of jazz phrasing, articulation, vocabulary, and improvisation. Daily master classes give students instruction on their own instruments or voice type, focusing on fundamentals such as good tone production and technique.
Students exercise their creativity through soloing and improvising in small and large ensembles. Dedicated classes for vocalists and string instrumentalists introduce those students to the world of jazz and provide repertoire that’s unique and tailored to their instrument or voice.
A typical day at Giant Steps Day Camp
9:00 a.m. All-camp meeting
9:30 a.m. Masterclass and music theory
10:15 a.m. Ensemble period 1, either small or large band
11:45 a.m. Lunch and outdoor activities
12:45 p.m. Faculty band concert
1:30 p.m. Ensemble period 2, either small or large band
3:00 p.m. End of the day; late pick up activities are available as an option
A typical day at Jazz Camp
9:00 a.m. All-camp morning meeting
9:20 a.m. Theory or musicianship
10:30 a.m. Instrument-specific of vocal masterclasses
12:00 Lunch; noon concerts by faculty on Wednesday and Friday
1:00 p.m. Theory or musicianship
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Combo rehearsals and afternoon classes
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Dorm resident daily check-in
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Jam session (optional)
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Counselor-led sports (optional)
5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Private lessons, Stanford Jazz Festival concerts, dorm dance, s’mores cooking, or other counselor-led activities
10:00 p.m. CoHo Jam for faculty artists (optional)