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Hi all,
Does anyone know of any jazz camps/retreats/intensives for an intermediate player to go somewhere and study for a couple weeks? I'm based in the U.S., but willing to travel for the right fit. When I was younger, I used to attend the now-defunct National Guitar Summer Workshop, which was pretty good. I love the folk school model in Europe but haven't found anything similar that focuses on jazz. It could also be more of a one-on-one or small ensemble intensive or even a homestay with a great instructor.
Any suggestions or thoughts are welcome.
Thanks!
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11-15-2024 01:46 PM
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There are some options
Jamey Aebersold's Summer Jazz Workshops
Big Jersey Guitar Camps
Northwoods Jazz Camp | A learning and growing jazz experience for grown-ups in a beautiful wooded lakeside setting of Northern Wisconsin
Downbeat usually has a list like this too
You Do ‘You’ at Summer Jazz Camp
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Allan posted some nice camps, but they are weekly or weekend ones, and not "a couple of weeks".
I know of no such events in the USA, that last a couple of weeks.
I found the comment "even a homestay with a great instructor", interesting. Yea, I assume there are some jazz guitar instructors that might be willing to agree to such an arrangement, but it would likely cost $500 - $1,000 per day.
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Thanks, James. Yeah, the longer (or more intensive) options seem elusive. Jake Eddy, an amazing bluegrass player (who also used to play a fair amount of jazz) has a really cool homestay program that he runs (details here: Jake B. Eddy | Getting asked about this way more than ever - which is nice, but crazy! 😂 I’d love to share more details with you if you think you’d be a... | Instagram), but I haven't come across any other similar programs.
Originally Posted by jameslovestal
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Most Americans can't afford to take a few weeks off from work. If they even have the PTO in the first place....
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I thought PTO was something a tractor has for running farm equipment. Originally Posted by AllanAllen
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I think i remember Ozark saying he was retired? Or am I thinking of someone else?
Blie Lake Fine Arts camp might have something...I know they have a big band program..
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Open Studio. Several online classes a day for 6 days a week.
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There are programs of a week or less, but I don't know any that last for two weeks or more.
One thing that comes to mind is that the Jazzschool in Berkeley CA has a summer schedule. You could register for a bunch of classes and thereby create your own program. It could include their usual week long guitar intensive, taught by experts, e.g. Mimi Fox. I think that would be good for an intermediate player.
I went to Jazz Camp West some years ago. It had a lot of great faculty and they were approachable. There were classes in a great many aspects of music. I enjoyed the week and learned a fair amount. Played in a Salsa group taught by John Benitez, backed up a Gospel choir led by Terrence Kelly, played standards in a combo (can't recall the name of the bassist who led it), took a vocal class from Faye Carol and a Brazilian band class (playing hand percussion) taught by Jovino Santos Neto. All great experiences.
One thing that was missing was much of an opportunity to jam. There were multiple sites (it's a big campus) set up with piano and drums but it was very difficult to get a group of people together in a certain area at a certain time. So, with a few exceptions, jams didn't happen and, when they did, they tended to be advanced to pro.
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Tritone Fantasy Jazz Camps, which are Sunday evening through Saturday AM. There are two, one in New York State and the other in Door County Wisconsin. I went to the one in Wisconsin, which is at a place called Björklunden, a delightful spot. It was an excellent experience; I went three years in a row when Gene Bertoncini was the instructor for guitarists. Learned a lot, but perhaps the best thing was nightly jam sessions for a couple of hours. No better way to learn jazz than by doing it until you run out of ideas and have to come up with something new, plus being surrounded by people whose ideas are better than yours.
I have talked to people who went to the Northwoods camp (there was a lot of crossover between that and Tritone) and heard good things about it, although I've never been myself.
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And if the retreats/schools/... I've seen in Europe are any indication, most Europeans don't have the money or time for more than "a bit over a week" either... Originally Posted by AllanAllen
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Upcoming documentary: Is Jazz in Retreat?
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I found the audition part interesting. E.g. what are the criteria used by the those that watch the audition video?
While I would advise each potential student to not prepare but just play and use the first-take (since I believe that is a better representation of one's current ability), that is something very difficult to ask for someone to do!
Audition
A limited number of students will be accepted based on an audition process in the form of a submitted video. Be sure to frame yourself in the center of the video so we can see and hear you play. The video recording needs to include:
The applicants version of the jazz standard “Autumn Leaves” By Joseph Kosma. You should demonstrate your ability to play the melody, accompany with chords and improvise a solo.
A selection of the applicants choice, in any style that best demonstrates your guitar playing abilities.
The video recording should be no longer than 5 minutes. Your performances can be in either a solo, group setting, or with a pre-recorded backing track.
Email video link to: [email protected]
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The VSO School (Vancouver BC) does a couple of weeks back to back in the summer.
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While I am sure this would be a GREAT experience, it is worth mentioning that this is NOT cheap. Originally Posted by HiFi Mule2Ride
No word on whether Bruce is teaching this course, but he is still on faculty:
https://music.usc.edu/faculty/studiojazz-guitar-faculty/
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