Updated: December 12, 2022
Participants should bring their own instruments with current identification tags, except as noted below. Information on instrument rentals, drum usage, and whom to contact about rentals is provided below.
Primary instrument/multiple instruments
Participants who wish to play more than one instrument while attending camp must designate a primary instrument. Your primary instrument is the one you’ll play during the Placement Evaluation and in your combo. You may play other instruments in other classes. If you want to take a private lesson on an instrument other than your primary instrument, please contact us via e-mail at [email protected] as soon as possible.
Instrument rental
It is possible for participants to rent equipment and instruments from Stanford Jazz Workshop, but inventory and selection are limited. A deposit of $500 and a usage fee of $100 will be required. Rental requests must be received no later than June 15th. Participants will be responsible for any damage that occurs to these instruments. Usage fees and deposit will be due one week after confirmation of availability. Financial aid recipients are exempt from the usage fee, but still need to submit the deposit. Rental acoustic basses do not come equipped with their own pickups, so you need to provide your own.
To reserve an instrument, please e-mail us at [email protected] or call 650-736-0324.
You can also rent instruments from the following music stores:
- Music Village
- 2971 Union Ave, San Jose, CA 95124
- Website
- 408-377-2504
- Gelb Music
- 722 El Camino Real
Redwood City, CA 94063 - Website
- 650-365-8878
- Peninsula Music & Repair
- 4335 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306 - Website
- 650-948-5000
- Kamimoto Strings
- 609 North 4th St.
San Jose, CA 95112 - Website
- 408-298-8168
Note: Gelb Music rents only to local residents. They do not rent acoustic basses.
Brass and woodwind instruments
SJW has a limited supply of saxophones, trumpets, trombones, tubas, and sousaphones. Please contact us well in advance to reserve these instruments.
Guitars
We are not able to provide electric guitars.
Basses and cellos
If you are planning to fly with your bass, be sure to check with your airline about luggage restrictions and regulations.
A limited number of good quality acoustic basses and cellos are available to rent. These instruments are not equipped with pickups. Participants are welcome to use SJW bass amps (see Amps). If you are bringing your own acoustic/upright bass or if you are renting an instrument please bring your own pickup.
Pianos and keyboards
A piano and/or keyboard is provided in every rehearsal room.
Amps
SJW places a Peavey KBA100 in every combo room. These amps have four channels, no effects, and limited equalization. Bass and guitar players may both plug into the KBA100, which is sufficient for rehearsal purposes. If this situation is not adequate to your needs, you may bring your own small amp — please do not bring large amps. Participants may not move SJW’s amps to other rooms. Separate guitar and bass amps will be provided for all performances.
Drums
SJW provides drum kits for all participant drummers to use in classes, combo rehearsals, and performances. There is a $35 usage fee due at the time of registration for all drum participants to use SJW drum sets. Practice opportunities will usually be in the evenings when there are no classes in session.
Instrument storage
Instrument lockers are available on the first and second floors of the Braun Music Center on a first-come, first-served basis. Signs will direct you to the locker areas. Participants may claim lockers on the first day of Jazz Camp. You are responsible for providing your own padlock. Participants who are unable to get a locker may store their instruments in supervised instrument storage rooms. Large instruments, such as basses, should be stored in Braun Rehearsal Hall.