Texas Jazz & Blues Camp 2024
9th Annual Texas Jazz & Blues Camp
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About this event
Texas Jazz & Blues Camp welcomes students from 11 to adult, with most in their mid-teens. Previous jazz experience is preferred but not required, as long as the student has the equivalent of 2 years’ experience on their instrument, and has an interest in learning to improvise.
Don Braden, world-class jazz educator and saxophonist, is our camp Music Director and has toured extensively with Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams, Betty Carter, & Roy Haynes. Don is a Harvard alumnus and is the Director of the Harvard University Jazz Combo Initiative. For Don’s full bio, see https://www.newschoolofmusic.net/faculty/don-braden/
NSM, VP of Performance & Education Outreach, Joe Morales, is an acclaimed saxophonist, vocalist, jazz educator, recording artist, Grammy winner, and the founder of the Austin Jazz Club, & co-founder of the New School Jazz Club. Joe is an in-demand session artist, arranger, and composer and has recorded on many albums with artists such, as Linda Ronstadt, John Hyatt, Flaco Jimenez, Texas Tornadoes, Freddie Fender, Duck Soup, The Brew and hundreds more.
LOCATION: St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
6500 St Stephens Dr, Austin, TX 78746
DATES and TIMES: June 10 – 14
COST:
$895 – Day Camp
$1295 – Residential
AGE: 11 – adult
Partial and full scholarships are available, and we want to help interested students with two years of instrument experience to attend.
Please download the Scholarship Application from here and email it to enroll@newschoolofmusic.net.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Texas Jazz & Blues Camp is an all-embracing program focused on musical and personal growth where our students can learn by hearing the greats on our staff and each other. While the commitment to the music is at the highest level, the program is not competitive. There is no pre-audition required.
We listen to you when you arrive and assign you to a combo at your own level. Need-based and merit scholarships are available.
STUDENTS
Students are ages 11 to adult, with most in their mid-teens. Previous jazz experience is preferred but not required, as long as the student has the equivalent of 2 years’ experience on their instrument, and has an interest in learning to improvise.
Groups are welcome to attend and be coached together. Instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome.
End-of-Week Concert & Daily Jams
Performance opportunities abound! End of day student jams are available, and the end-of-week concert features student combos and faculty. Parents, guests and Campers are welcome free of charge.
DIRECTORS
• Music Director, Don Braden
• Improvisation Director, Andre Hayward
• Ensemble Director, Joe Morales
• Executive Director, Richard Spencer
Testimonial from NPR reporter, John Burnett
I attended 2023 Texas Jazz & Blues Camp for the first time and I didn’t know what to expect. I was the oldest, tallest student with the smallest instrument!. The experience and musicianship of the instructors was astonishing: we were getting tips on playing from Andre Hayward–a Jazz at Lincoln Center alum–and Don Braden, who blew with Herbie Hancock and Freddie Hubbard. The musical wisdom they passed on to us about constructing solos, honoring the melody, listening to each other, tips on practicing, and sage advice on how to approach playing jazz music, all that is priceless. I can say my five days at Texas Jazz Camp was inspirational…I’ll be sipping from that spring for a long time.
John Burnett, chromatic and diatonic harmonicas, retired NPR national correspondent
Sponsored by
New School of Music, Austin
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
Ratamacamp
This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
REFUND POLICY
Camp tuition is fully refundable for emergency withdrawals until May 1, 2024. After May 1, only 25% of the tuition is refundable for emergency withdrawals.
COVID-19 Safety Policy
St. Stephen’s and NSM, Austin are in compliance with CDC’s recommended guidelines for pandemic precautions, and will remain so throughout our 2024 summer camp programs.