OUR PHILOSOPHY
The Vocal Jazz Academy is a mobile one-day event, with the goal of educating and connecting vocal jazz educators and students as they prepare for the new school year. Whether you are new to vocal jazz or a seasoned pro, the Academy offers a space to learn something new, refresh old skills, or to connect with the growing community of educators and performers.
Teachers are welcome to attend on their own, send their students, or bring their whole choir with them (group rates are available)!
In addition to all-Academy sessions, teachers and students are placed into tracks tailored to their needs.
Teacher Track session offerings may include:
- New Music Reading Session
- Teacher Mass Choir (if enrollment allows)
- Rehearsal Techniques
- Rhythm Section Techniques
- Sound Engineering 101
- Jazz Theory
- Improvisation & Facilitating Improvisation
Student Track session offerings may include:
- Student Mass Choir (separate from Teachers if enrollment allows)
- Solo Singing Masterclass
- Audition Technique
- Vocal Technique & Navigating Different Styles
- Vocal Percussion
- Sound Engineering & Recording 101
- Jazz Theory Fundamentals
…and so much more! Each Academy is customized to fit the needs of the local vocal jazz community.
What is our mission?
- To support and equip vocal jazz educators in their continuing educational journey
- To reach out to and educate students in vocal jazz, regardless of their experience level
- To emphasize a variety of skills in both jazz choir and jazz solo performance
- To emphasize the importance of developing secondary skills like jazz piano, improvisation, working with a rhythm section, music technology, sound engineering, and arranging
- To provide a sound foundation of and appreciation for the traditions of jazz, while actively seeking to evolve the music in today’s culture
Education
We strive to create a comfortable learning environment for teachers, singers, players, and sound engineers to learn from vocal jazz professionals, and each other.
Networking
Our mission is to assist in strengthening the local and area vocal jazz communities, and to encourage connection to the larger networks (JEN, ACDA, etc.)