Jazz Boot Camp

One week session
July 8–12
9:00 a.m.–5 p.m. (Monday–Thursday), 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (Friday)
Rising 6th through rising 12th graders
$575 per session

What to Bring: Instrument, pencils, snacks, lunch with a drink, water bottle, sunscreen (labeled with name).

PREREQUSITE: At least one full year of experience with instrument required. Students must also be proficient in sight-reading.

The Landon Summer Jazz Boot Camp offers serious music students an opportunity to spend an entire week immersed in advancing their jazz knowledge and musical ability. Led by a faculty of inspiring and talented musicians, this camp gives students the chance to expand their instrumental talents, explore musical techniques, and experience the joy of reaching their highest potential. Jazz instruments include saxophone, trombone, trumpet, guitar, piano, bass, drums and vibes. This camp is designed for advanced music students who are experienced with their instrument and proficient in sight-reading.

Jazz orchestra and jazz combos meet on a daily basis to implement the essentials of jazz performance in both large and small ensemble settings. Intensive jazz workshops and master classes are established to study elements of improvisation, reading chord changes, and the appropriate use of chord scales and melodic development. On the first day of camp, students will receive a brief one-on-one assessment with an instructor to determine placement for seating. The assessment will include Bb, F and C blues scales, G and D dominant seventh scales, a short prepared piece, and sight-reading. The week culminates with a spectacular Friday concert for family and friends to attend showcasing the group’s talent.

Daily Schedule:

9–10 a.m.	Jazz theory
10 a.m.–12 p.m.	Rehearsal for big band
12–12:30 p.m.	Lecture/video
12:30–1:30 p.m.	Lunch/free time
1:30–2 p.m.	Sectionals with guest clinicians
2–4 p.m.	Small ensembles
4–4:30 p.m.	Break
4:30–5 p.m.	Rail time with combo tunes

Also included are a general camp meeting, warm-ups, sessions on fundamentals, concepts and sight-reading, and improvisations.

Also check out Band Clinics and Orchestra Clinics!

Meet our Staff:

Joseph Cunliffe

Joseph is a woodwind specialist, composer, distinguished recording artist, and music educator who has played in venues ranging from the Kennedy Center to an amphitheater at a remote Mayan archeological site. He is currently a private teacher and the woodwinds instructor at Landon School, and has served as director of the instrumental music programs at the National Cathedral School, Saint Albans and Concordia Lutheran School in the Washington, D.C., area. Together with his music partner Giorgia Cavallaro, he is also co-founder of the world music duo, Flutar, which has performed original music as well as their own arrangements of traditional Latin, Celtic and classical music to international acclaim.

Fun fact: Joseph has performed for numerous U.S. and foreign presidents, as well as Vice President Al Gore and Oprah Winfrey.