Updated November 16, 2023
All participants
Each morning, Monday through Friday, you’ll join the mandatory Morning Meeting at 9:00 a.m. in Campbell Recital Hall, where you’ll receive your daily schedule, hear about the exciting things coming up during the day, and get to know the faculty and counselors.
Classes end by 5:00 p.m. each day. On Monday and Tuesday evenings, private lessons are scheduled from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. You’ll have one 25-minute private lesson on one of those evenings with one of our amazing faculty artists.
If you’re a commuter, we’ll email you the time and date of your private lesson before Jazz Camp starts so you can arrange to be picked up following the lesson.
Commuters
If you’re a commuter, we encourage you to stay for the concerts and evening activities, as you’ll hear hear incredible nationally-celebrated artists at the concerts, as well as during the faculty jams at CoHo. Please note that we don’t provide any supervision for commuter participants after classes are over.
You can arrange to be picked up at the 5:00 p.m. Jam Session in Campbell Courtyard — it’s a great way for your parent or guardian to see how much fun it is at Jazz Camp. If you want to stay later for the optional evening activities, please arrange for your parent or guardian to meet you in the Braun Music Center lobby or in the Coffee House (CoHo) in Tresidder Union — there will be SJW staff nearby in those locations.
Dorm Residents
As a dorm resident, you’ll be supervised by our experienced and dedicated SJW counseling staff. Counselors will take roll at the daily morning meeting at 9:00 a.m., and they conduct a late wake-up check at 9:15 a.m. in the dorms. At 5:00 p.m., the counselors have a daily check-in meeting with you where they go over that evening’s activity options and take roll. You then have free time to join in on counselor-led activities or Stanford Jazz Festival events until bedtime.
At 10:00 p.m., you must either check in with the dorm duty counselor and go to bed, or check in at the general 10:00 p.m. meeting to attend the CoHo Jam. After 10:00 p.m,. all students must be in their dorms or at the CoHo with the counselor on duty. Participants who attend the counselor-supervised CoHo Jam will be led back to the dorm by midnight. Counselors will do a final check-in at the dorm and then monitor the halls throughout the night.
General daily schedule
Although each participant’s schedule is tailored to their individual experience and learning goals, the basic schedule is consistent each day — though subject to change at any time.
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | General Meeting | Campbell Recital Hall |
| 9:20 a.m. | Theory or musicianship classes | Braun Music Center classrooms |
| 10:30 a.m. | Instrument-specific masterclasses | Braun Music Center classrooms |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch and noon concerts by faculty on Wednesday and Friday | Tresidder Union |
| 1:00 p.m. | Theory or musicianship classes | Braun Music Center classrooms |
| 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Combo rehearsals and afternoon classes | Braun Music Center classrooms |
| 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Dorm resident daily check-in | Campbell Recital Hall |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Jam session (optional) | Campbell Courtyard |
| 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Counselor-led sports (optional) | Meet in Braun Music Center lobby |
| 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Private lessons (Monday and Tuesday only) | Braun Music Center classrooms |
| 6:30 p.m. | Counselor-led activities (optional) | Braun Music Center, Levin Field, and Dormitories |
| 7:30 p.m. | Stanford Jazz Festival concerts (Sunday – Thursday, free to Jazz Camp students) | Campbell Recital Hall and Dinkelspiel Auditorium |
| 10:00 p.m. | Final Resident curfew and final dorm check. Residents must check in for the night with the dorm duty counselor by 10:00 p.m. or attend roll call at the dorm immediately after the Stanford Jazz Festival concert. | Dormitories |
| 10:00 p.m. | Faculty Jam (optional – dorm residents may attend accompanied by counselors) | Stanford Coffee House (CoHo) at Tresidder Union |
Jazz Camp daytime events
Morning meeting: This is an inspiring way to start the day. You’ll get your daily schedule from your counselor. You’ll hear about special activities, classes, and performances. You’ll hear some great performances by counselors and faculty, too!
Jazz theory: In your theory class, you’ll study the basics of jazz harmony, song forms, scales, and other fundamental concepts. The levels of this class range from beginning to advanced, with special classes for drummers.
Musicianship: This class focuses on ear training and rhythmic development. You’ll deepen your listening and musical communication skills by playing by ear and sharing musical ideas with the instructor and fellow participants.
Masterclasses: You’ll study your instrument with others who play the same instrument with a faculty artist, who will help you to improve your technique and tone, and to guide you to discover the vocabulary and jazz history that’s part of your instrument.
Afternoon classes: Alternating with combo rehearsals, special classes offer particular musical topics such as Latin jazz, funk jams, blues, and other topics.
Combos: In your combo, you’ll play really fun jazz tunes, work on improvising, learn the secrets of playing well as a group, and apply the lessons you learned in Jazz Theory, Musicianship, and Masterclass. During combo rehearsal times, vocalists will sing together as a group and also work on solo repertoire, accompanied by a professional rhythm section.
Jam sessions: Build your experience and confidence by sitting in on the optional, fun, no-pressure jam sessions.
Private lesson: You’ll have a 25-minute lesson with one of our amazing faculty artists on Monday or Tuesday evening. If you’re staying in the dorm, we’ll let you know your private lesson time when you arrive. If you’re a commuter, we’ll let you know via email in the weeks before Jazz Camp begins so you can schedule transportation.
Jazz Camp evening events
Stanford Jazz Festival concerts: During Jazz Camp, the Stanford Jazz Festival presents world-renowned jazz artists in concert, and you already have a reserved seat! This is an incredible opportunity to hear top jazz artists perform in quiet, comfortable settings. Additionally, many of the performers are themselves faculty members, and hearing your teachers perform is a great way to reinforce the experience of Jazz Camp.
CoHo Jam: After the Jazz Festival concerts on Monday through Thursday, there are faculty jam sessions at the Stanford Coffee House (CoHo) in Tresidder Union beginning around 10:00 p.m. Jazz Camp participants, their parents, and their guests are invited to come hear our faculty play. Dorm Residents will be able to attend this session with counselor supervision.
In addition to the Stanford Jazz Festival concerts and CoHo jams, Jazz Camp participants have a variety of evening activities from which to choose, including:
- Informal jam sessions
- Counselor-organized activities such as sports, movies, and games
- Practicing (until the Braun Music Center closes at 10:00 p.m.)
- Free time
Friday night events
Friends and Family Dinner. The Friday Night Friends and Family Dinner is an optional dinner open to your friends and family. It goes from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. outdoors on White Plaza, The dinner includes a buffet with vegetarian options. While you dine, you can enjoy participant combo performances, which begin at 6:00 p.m. on the nearby Outdoor Stage.
We recommend that friends and family purchase tickets for the Friday night dinner online through their SJW account or by calling us atl 650-736-0324. Instructions on how to purchase Friends and Family tickets will be emailed out ahead of time.
Tickets will also be sold at the dinner on Friday evening, subject to availability.
Jazz Camp Showcase At the Showcase, you’ll perform with your combo for your family and friends.
The performances take place in four locations that are all adjacent. A Concert Roster showing where and when each participant will be playing will be posted in the Braun Music Center lobby prior to the Showcase. SJW staff and volunteers will provide schedules to parents and audience members as they arrive at the venues.
The performances at the Outdoor Stage at Tresidder Union begin at 6:00 p.m. as part of the Friday Night Friends and Family Dinner, and the other three venues begin at 7:00 p.m. Following the concert, there will be an awards ceremony in Dinkelspiel Auditorium.
