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

For middle school students

Prerequisite: 12 months instruction

July 10 – 14 and July 16– July 21, 2023

Stanford University Campus
Housing and meal plan option available for the July 16 – 21 portion. No housing available for July 10 – 14 portion.

Program Highlights

  • Includes Giant Steps Day Camp and one week of Jazz Camp
  • For instrumentalists and vocalists
  • Taught by jazz educators specializing in middle school music instruction

Program Focus

  • Big band and small combo ensembles
  • Jazz improvisation
  • One private lesson
  • Instrumental and vocal master classes
  • Jazz theory and musicianship classes
  • Free admission to Stanford Jazz Festival concerts
  • Fun outdoor sports and social activities
  • Showcase performances on Friday, July 14 and on Friday, July 21
  • Family dinner on Friday, July 21

Tuition: $2,370
Housing and meals for July 16 – 21: $990

Sign up now!

Vocal Programs Available

Giant Steps Package

Designed to meet the educational needs of middle school students, the Giant Steps Package includes two great weeks of jazz immersion: Giant Steps Day Camp and one week of Jazz Camp. Giant Steps Day Camp offers a fun introduction to jazz and improvisation for middle school vocalists and instrumentalists. Jazz Camp gives young jazz musicians a chance to grow even more through combo rehearsal and performance, as well as daily master classes, musicianship classes, and jazz theory classes.

Each student engages a variety of activities that emphasize the fundamentals of good musicianship while introducing concepts of jazz phrasing, articulation and improvisation. Daily master classes give students instruction on their own instruments or voice type, focusing on fundamentals such as good tone and technique. Each student will exercise their creativity through soloing and improvising in a small ensemble, and they’ll experience the excitement of large ensemble jazz, too. Special classes for vocalists and string instrumentalists introduce those students to the world of jazz.

A typical day at Giant Steps Day Camp:

9:00 All-camp meeting
9:30 Masterclass and music theory
10:15 Ensemble period 1, either small or large band
11:45 Lunch and outdoor activities
12:45 Faculty band concert
1:30 Ensemble period 2, either small or large band
3:00 End of the day; late pick up activities are available as an option

A typical day at Jazz Camp

  • 9:20 Theory or Musicianship classes
  • 10:30 Instrument-specific Masterclasses
  • 12:00 Lunch; Noon concerts by faculty on Wednesday and Friday
  • 1:00 Theory or Musicianship classes
  • 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. Faculty Jam (optional)

Faculty

Important Information: click icons below to learn how to prepare for camp

Giant Steps Day Camp