Education

Jazz Society Education Programs

As part of the JSOP Strategic Plan, we want to reach out to the student population and encourage the development and love of jazz music. By introducing talented musician/educators into the classroom, the students have a chance to personally interact and learn from them, following the tradition of jazz since its inception. As a musical genre, Jazz is in danger of falling by the wayside if the young musicians don’t have the opportunity for this type of personal interaction. JSOP  launched two initiatives during the 2010-11 academic year, and the 2011-12 program is now underway.

Join the “JETS”!

In order to secure a solid financial footing, and avoid cutting into funds needed to present JazzFest, the Education Committee is seeking donations specifically earmarked for these education programs.  A $100 tax-deductible donation will earn membership in the “JETS”, which stands for “Jazz Education Team Supporters.”  JETS will be invited to the private reception for Jazz Educators that will take place prior to the Jazz Competition Finals, and their names will be listed in the Finals program, plus a pin that identifies them as supporters of the this program.
To contribute, simply send a check to the office, and indicate on the check that it is for JETS, or call the office to make a donation using a credit card.
The Education Committee thanks our JETS in advance for supporting this effort, designed to engage and develop the next generation of jazz musicians, while introducing them to the Jazz Society and welcoming them into our community.

School Outreach Program

The Program Development Team, which consists of a group of musicians who are also educators, have developed four in-school Workshops that focus on various aspects of Jazz. The presentations are geared to Middle and High School Jazz Bands. (In the future, we plan to offer additional presentations, including some for Elementary schools, targeted to the general student population. Those workshops could be designed to mesh with the goals of Elementary school principals regarding possible non-musical issues, i.e. cooperation, bullying, listening, etc.).

These four workshops that are currently available for the 2011-12 academic year include:

• Introduction to Improvisation
• Jazz Articulation
• Rhythm Section Roles and Interaction
• Jazz Vocal Skills and Stylings

Each presentation includes supplemental materials designed to be used in the classroom both before and after the actual presentation. The presenters include highly qualified musician/educators, and each presentation can be modified to meet the goals of the individual band directors and bands. At each presentation, students are given information about our Jazz Competition and the Jazz Society. We hope that by making the students aware of the Jazz Society, we will attract young musicians to participate in our events and programs. For more information about scheduling a Jazz Presentation for your students (limited to Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties in Florida), please email us at info@jazzpensacola.com, or call 850-433-8382.

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Student Jazz Competition

As part of our mission, JSOP seeks to encourage and assist emerging jazz musicians (vocalists and instrumentalists) during their student years. The larger jazz community, including musicians and educators, feels that by welcoming students and giving them an opportunity to showcase and develop their talents, we are helping to create the jazz musicians of the future — and thereby fostering the future of jazz.

2012 JSOP Student Jazz Competition

Three Divisions:

The competition will be divided into three groups: College Instrumental, High School Instrumental, and Jazz Vocals. There will be five finalists selected for each division, and awards will be as follows:

• College Instrumental Division:
  • First Place: $800 toward educational purposes
  • Second Place: $600 toward educational purposes
  • Third Place: $400 toward educational purposes
• High School Instrumental Division:
  • First Place: $600 toward educational purposes
  • Second Place: $400 toward educational purposes
  • Third Place:$200 toward educational purposes
• Vocal Division
  • First Place: $600 toward educational purposes
  • Second Place: $400 toward educational purposes
  • Third Place:$200 toward educational purposes
    

Monetary awards are to be used for furthering the student’s jazz education, such as tuition assistance in a jazz education program, private instruction with jazz educator, jazz camps, or other music education programs. Award monies will be paid by JSOP directly to the source(s) identified by the finalist.

The first, second and third place finalists from each division will be invited to perform with a professional rhythm section at the 2012 Pensacola JazzFest, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 14-15, 2012.

Selection Process:

The submitted recordings and the live competition performances will be evaluated and critiqued by an impartial panel of judges who are experienced jazz musicians and/or educators. Judging criteria include:

• Sound: tone quality, appropriate to style
• Technique: speed, evenness and clarity of execution
• Time: consistent accuracy and feeling of the pulse
• Tonal materials: selected chords, scales, emphasized melody notes
• Spirit/drive: emotional feeling, vitality, conviction
• Lyricism: melodiusness

THE FINALISTS FOR THE 2012 COMPETITION HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED:

High School Instrumental Division:
Steven Ales (trombone)
Kaleb Broom (tenor sax)
Austin Paul Conner Jr. (alto sax)
Jacob Dearrington (trumpet)
Sarah Harley (alto sax)

College Instrumental Division:
Matthew Cassady (alto sax)
Michael Danielson (bass)
Avery Greene Jr. (trumpet)
Tito Rogers (trumpet)
Jackson Willis (trombone)

Jazz Vocal Division:
Sarah Harley
Destiny Howard
Isabelle Peterson

LIVE JAZZ COMPETITION FINALS
will be held 0n Thurs. March 15, 2012, 7:30 pm
Ashmore Auditorium on the Pensacola State College campus
The finalists will perform live in the Competition Finals. A professional rhythm section will be provided. The live performances will be observed and evaluated by judges as described above, who will then select the first, second, and third place award winners with the awards presentation to follow. In addition, critiques will be made available to the performers. Admission to this live event is free, and family, friends, teachers and bandmates are encouraged to attend and provide support.

For more information about the Student Jazz Competition, please email us at info@jazzpensacola.com, or call 850-433-8382.