Registration for spring and summer programs now open

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You can now register for our spring and summer jazz immersion programs! Don’t forget to register by February 1, 2015 to receive the $50 Early Bird discount. Need help deciding which program is right for you or your child? Visit the links below to read about each program.

  • Giant Steps Day Camp  for middle school students offers a fun week of learning jazz styles and improvisation in big band and small group settings. No audition is required for admission, but students will be evaluated in advance to determine class placement.
  • Jazz Camp is for musicians aged 12 – 17, and provides a fun, encouraging environment in which to get immersed in jazz improvisation and combo playing. No audition is required for admission, but students will be evaluated in advance to determine class placement.
  • 2-Week Jazz Comprehensive provides 13 days of structured instruction in jazz improvisation, jazz performance, and instrumental and vocal mastery. No audition is required for admission, but students will be evaluated in advance to determine class placement.
  • Jazz Institute gives instrumentalists and vocalists a chance to work with the greatest jazz artists of our time. Auditions are required only for first-time applicants to the Vocal Program and for first-time instrumental applicants aged 17 or younger. All students will be evaluated in advance for class placement.
  • 2-Week Jazz Advanced Intensive for experienced high school musicians offers the best of both worlds: the structured curriculum of Jazz Camp and direct contact with the top jazz artists at the Jazz Institute. Auditions are required.
  • Giant Steps Jazz Singers gives middle school singers a fantastic introduction to ensemble singing and vocal improvisation.

Don’t forget, financial aid is available. Click here to learn more about financial aid.

Schedule your audition for the SJW Giant Steps Big Band now

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Thanks to your support, last year’s Giant Steps Big Band for Middle School was a huge success, so much so that this Fall we’re offering two after-school big bands.

Giant Steps Big Band North will rehearse Wednesdays at Carlmont High School, and will be directed by Mike Galisatus, of the College of San Mateo.

Giant Steps Big Band South will rehearse Tuesdays at The Harker School in Santa Clara, and will be directed by Dave Gregoric.

As with last year’s successful band, the program is in a big band format, and its focus is on developing improvisations skills, mastering jazz styles and articulations, and instilling good practice discipline.

We’ll hold auditions in two weeks for the program at Stanford University on September 6 and 7, and the weekly rehearsals will begin on September 23 at The Harker School, and September 24 at Carlmont High.

For more information, click here.

To schedule an audition, write [email protected] or call 650-736-0324.

Kenny Burrell shines at Stanford Jazz with new quartet

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We have been privileged this past week to have Kenny Burrell on our faculty at Jazz Institute! He delivered a series of invigorating masterclasses on guitar performance as well as the music of Duke Ellington. On Monday he performed at the Stanford Jazz Festival, first as a duo with masterful pianist Fred Hersch, and then with a brand new quartet consisting of Dena DeRose on piano, David Wong on bass, and Peter Erskine on drums. The star-studded performance was one for the ages! In addition to his active performance schedule, Kenny also teaches actively at UCLA where he is the Director of Jazz Studies and a Distinguished Professor of Jazz and Ethnomusicology.