As the weather warms up in 麻豆影院, it means one thing at the College of Music: High school and middle school students from around the area will soon be here to experience the summer music camps on the CU campus.
In addition to the high school and middle school Summer Music Academies, happening this week and next, the college also hosts an intensive and interactive Summer Jazz Academy in July.
Associate Professor of Jazz Studies Brad Goode directs the camp. He says it鈥檚 an opportunity for young jazz musicians to focus on their art in a way they perhaps haven鈥檛 been able to before.
鈥淚n addition to serving kids who already have an interest in jazz, we want to get other kinds of musicians into it. We want to introduce them to the music and give them a chance to learn from real jazz professionals while they explore our campus.鈥�
Members of the Thompson Jazz Studies Program faculty participate as instructors in the week-long academy, leading students in improv lessons and master classes and collaborating with them in combo settings.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 just teach them, we play with them all day long and each evening. And we always bring in a well-known guest artist to work with them as well,鈥� says Goode, who boasts a professional jazz trumpet career that spans more than 35 years.
Now in its sixth year, the Summer Jazz Academy this summer brings听in a guest artist who might be considered unconventional. Christian Howes doesn鈥檛 play sax or trumpet鈥攈e鈥檚 a violinist.
鈥淐hristian is recognized as one of the top jazz violinists in the world. He鈥檚 also a renowned educator and improvisation teacher for string players.
鈥淲e want to encourage violinists, violists and cellists to come to the camp, so we鈥檙e offering that option to them.鈥�
In addition to giving potential future students the lay of the land at CU 麻豆影院, the jazz academy is a learning opportunity for current College of Music students as well.
鈥淔our of them will serve as counselors this year. They鈥檒l get to interact and connect with the students, gain teaching experience and get a nice summer job opportunity.鈥�
The CU Summer Jazz Academy is July 16-21. There are still spots available for participants; to register, visit the academy鈥檚 homepage. And if you want to listen to some cool summer jazz, stop by the Old Main Chapel every night at 7 that week for a free performance with camp participants and the Thompson Jazz Studies faculty.听
