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Kansas City Jazz ACADEMy

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The American Jazz Museum is proud to present the Kansas City Jazz Academy. This program provides excellent jazz instruction for middle and high school students interested in improving their skills beyond what they’d normally receive in a traditional public/private school music program.

2024 Summer Kansas City Jazz Academy Instrumental Combo Camp OPEN!

$225

Who: High School and Advanced Middle School Instrumentalists
When: July 15, 2024, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Where: The American Jazz Museum 1616 East 18th St and Gem Theater 1615 East 18th St

Schedule

1

12TH STREET COMBO

12TH STREET COMBO

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Saturdays from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Our youngest students with very little to no experience of basic jazz and improvisational concepts. Often includes middle school and younger high school students. Named after the famous street that housed The Reno Club where Count Basie swung his band. Directors are Osmond Fisher and CharCarol Fisher.

2

J. MIQ COMBO

J. MIQ COMBO

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Saturdays from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Consists of students with at least 2 years of band experience, who possess some understanding of jazz fundamentals and a novice level of improvisation. This group is named in honor of pianist, composer and our former instructor, Joseph Miquelon, who passed away in early 2021. This group is directed by E.T. Thomas.

3

VINE STREET COMBO

VINE STREET COMBO

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Saturdays from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Considered our intermediate combo. Students in this ensemble have a clear understanding of basic jazz styles and a solid grasp of early concepts of improvisation. Vine Street in Kansas City, Missouri runs north and south, intersecting some of the most noteworthy addresses in the 18th and Vine District. This group is directed by Matthew Baldwin.

4

18TH STREET COMBO

18TH STREET COMBO

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Saturdays from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Consists of the most advanced students in the program, many of whom earned selection in the Missouri or Kansas All-State Jazz Ensembles. This group also performs more than the others and can be heard at various jazz festivals and venues such as Kansas City, Missouri's Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The cross section of 18th & Vine Street mark one of the most famous areas in America's jazz history, continuing to be the heartbeat of Kansas City Missouri's historic 18th & Vine District. The combo is directed by Stan Kessler and Charles Williams.

5

VOCAL JAZZ

VOCAL JAZZ

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Saturdays from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Do you want to be a jazz vocalist? Have you always wanted to learn the basics of songwriting? Are you ready to learn about the rich legacy of jazz, blues and R&B music? If you answered "yes" to these questions, then you are ready for Vocal Jazz classes. This class for middle and high school age students allows young singers an opportunity to hone their vocal ability while learning the specifics of the jazz style. This group is directed by Lisa Henry. Max Capacity: 10 students.

6

PIANO CLASS

PIANO CLASS

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Saturdays from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Piano class offers experienced and beginner students an opportunity to learn and explore jazz styles, theory, and technique. This class is open to elementary, middle, and high school students. This group is directed by Jacob Herzog. Max Capacity: 6 students.

PLACEMENT
REQUIREMENTS
FOR COMBOS

Wind Instruments

saxophones
Trumpets
trombones

1. One prepared piece of choice that may or may not include improvisation
2. Sight-reading
3. Improvisation over F or Bb blues changes (optional)

Rhythm Section Instruments

piano
guitar
vibes and bass

1. One prepared piece of choice that may or may not include improvisation
2. Sight-reading
3. Comping and improvisation over F or Bb blues changes

Drum Set

1. One prepared piece of choice that may or may not include improvisation
2. Sight-reading
3. Trading 4’s
4. Be required to play the following grooves - Swing, Funk/Rock, Latin

You may register and pay online, or if you prefer, register in the museum gift store, The Swing Shop, at the museum.                

For more information about the academy, contact Clarence Smith, Manager of Kansas City Jazz Academy, at csmith@kcjazz.org.

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