How to Prepare for Your SJW Experience:
For All Program Participants
To make the most of your time at SJW, start preparing now! Regular practice will help you feel more confident and ready to dive into the music. We recommend playing your instrument or singing daily, beginning four to six weeks before camp.
To help you get in shape for camp, our SJW faculty have created a series of fantastic online play-along resources. These will sharpen your skills and build your confidence before you arrive.
Key Areas to Focus On:
Warm Up & Refresh Your Scales and Arpeggios
Build a strong foundation by practicing scales, arpeggios, and rhythm patterns. Then, take it a step further by applying them to improvisation with these play-along sessions, led by SJW faculty. Sheet music is available for download in the video descriptions.
- Dorian Mode warmup with Steven Lugerner, Caili O’Doherty, Kristen Strom, JJ Kirkpatrick, and John Sturino
- Mixolydian Mode warmup with Steven Lugerner, Ben Flocks, Naomi Siegel, and Markus Howell
Play Jazz Standards & Practice Improvisation
Nothing beats playing with great musicians—even virtually! We’ve curated 15 classic jazz standards, recorded by our world-class SJW faculty, for you to play along with. No downloads required—just pick a song, choose your part, and the sheet music will appear on your screen.
Want to take it further? Scroll down on the sheet music to explore scales, voicings, and patterns that will deepen your understanding and improve your improvisation.
Click here for the SJW Real Easy Book Player.
By investing time in preparation, you’ll arrive at SJW ready to play, learn, and connect with fellow musicians. See you at camp!
