NIU Jazz Camp

July 14 - 19, 2013

Grades 8 - 12, grade completion.

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Calling All Instrumentalists!

This exciting camp is for enthusiastic jazz musicians of all skill levels who want to focus on a creative approach to improvisation and ensemble playing. This camp is jam-packed with performing, learning, and listening, and is for musicians who want to improve their understanding and performance of the jazz tradition.

Campers attend rehearsals, seminars, master classes, jam sessions, sectionals, and group classes, all taught by renowned NIU jazz faculty, alumni, and students. Concerts, optional private lessons, and recreational activities fill the evening hours. Download, print, and practice tunes for the jam sessions BEFORE camp begins.  

Campers participate in classes on jazz improvisation and jazz theory and attend instrument master classes that focus on specific techniques for performing jazz and related music. All-camp seminars include discussions on jazz styles and the business of music.

Auditions and Ensembles
Campers audition on Sunday and are assigned to a big band, a combo, or the Latin Jazz Combo. 

Campers are welcome to prepare a piece for the auditions, and improvise blues or rhythm changes, but this is not necessary.  Sight-reading is part of the audition.  Audition and evaluation results will be used to assign campers to classes and ensembles. 

The combos and big bands rehearse twice a day and perform at the concert on the final day of camp.

Jazz Bands: Interpret, stylize, and perform big band music from the 1930's to the present, playing the music of Basie, Ellington, Woody Herman, and others.

Jazz Combos: Play in the small group chamber setting for jazz. Get a feel for different approaches to improvisation and arranging techniques by playing jazz standards of the jazz masters.

Latin Jazz Combo: Play in a small jazz chamber group that performs jazz, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and various fusion styles.

Space is limited for certain instruments. We recommend early registration for this camp.

For more information about fees, need scholarships, discounts, housing, meals, refunds, etc, see the general information section. Click here for a registration form to print, complete, and mail or fax.

About the Camp Staff

Learn more about camp director Ron Carter and his staff.