A wide variety of week-long, action-packed ensembles & classes. Registration is now OPEN.
CCJA’s Summer Institute offers something for everyone, from middle schoolers to adult musicians. Immerse yourself in topic-based courses and action-packed themed and jazz ensembles for a week at a time! Summer Institute classes are easy to mix and match – students can participate in more than one at a time and are welcome to join us for one or multiple weeks
Need-based scholarships are available for CCJA Summer Institute Programming, please reach out for more information.
Denver Classes:
Denver Student Small Groups
Open to students in middle school and high school, the Summer Institute small groups are a great way for students to work on their improvisation and ensemble playing with like-minded peers. Each group will be directed and mentored by a local professional musician. This session will take place at 800 Kalamath on June 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 from 4:30-6 pm This session will culminate with a concert open to the public on June 21st.
Denver Adult Small Groups
The Denver CCJA Adult Group will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays June 4-20 from 7-8:30 pm. There, CCJA students and faculty play and perform together as they study jazz improvisation, technique, style, theory, and history. Students are encouraged to express themselves improvisationally and through composing/arranging for their groups. This session will culminate in a performance for the public on June 20.
Brazilian Ensemble 17+:
The Denver CCJA Adult Brazilian Ensemble will meet at 800 Kalamath on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 4-20, 7-8:30. There, CCJA students and faculty play and perform together as they study Brazilian music through improvisation, technique, style, theory, and history. Students are encouraged to express themselves improvisationally and through composing/arranging for their groups. This session will culminate in a performance for the public on June 20.
Workshops and Classes:
Jazz Piano 101
Open to students of all ages. Led by Camilla Vaitaitis, this class will teach you the basics of jazz piano playing. Learn to play simple to intermediate chords, melodic playing, comping and more! You don’t need to be a piano player to join, learning basic jazz piano will help you better understand jazz harmony, comping, and how it relates to the rest of the ensemble!
Percussion Workshop
Are you ready to take your percussion skills to the next level? Join us for a 4-day percussion camp, open to middle and high school students, where you’ll have the opportunity to learn and practice Jazz Vibes, Modern Drumset, and World Percussion for 4 hours each day.
Our experienced instructors, Greg Tanner Harris and Alejandro Castaño will guide you through rehearsals, performances, and listening sessions, helping you develop your skills and confidence as a percussionist.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, this camp is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of percussion and take your playing to new heights.
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to learn, grow, and perform. Sign up now for our 4-day percussion camp!
Jazz Vibes:
Introduction to the vibraphone and its role in jazz music
Basic technique and playing exercises
Practice playing simple melodies and chords
Rehearsal: work on a jazz standard or original composition featuring the vibraphone
Practice playing melodies and chords with more advanced rhythms
Rehearsal: work on a jazz standard or original composition featuring the vibraphone
Performance: perform a piece as a group featuring the vibraphone
Practice improvising over jazz chord progressions
Rehearsal: work on a jazz standard or original composition featuring the vibraphone
Performance: perform a piece as a group featuring the vibraphone
Modern Drumset:
Introduction to contemporary drumset playing Groove and timekeeping exercises
Practice playing different styles of music (jazz, rock, funk, pop, etc.)
Rehearsal: work on a contemporary song or original composition featuring the drumset
Practice playing advanced grooves and fills
Rehearsal: work on a contemporary song or original composition featuring the drumset
Performance: perform a piece as a group featuring the drumset
Practice playing advanced grooves and fills with more musicality
Rehearsal: work on a contemporary song or original composition featuring the drumset
World Percussion:
Introduction to various world percussion instruments (congas, bongos, djembe, dundun, frame drums from around the world, etc.)
Basic technique and playing exercises
Practice playing traditional rhythms from different cultures
Rehearsal: work on a traditional piece or original composition featuring world percussion instruments
Practice playing traditional rhythms with more advanced techniques and musicality
Rehearsal: work on a traditional piece or original composition featuring world percussion instruments
Performance: perform a piece as a group featuring world percussion instruments
Listening session:
Listen to recordings of famous percussionists and discuss their styles and techniques
Reflect on the camp experience and discuss goals for future musical development
Boulder Classes
Boulder Student Small Groups
Open to students in high school, the Summer Institute small groups are a great way for students to work on their improvisation and ensemble playing with like-minded peers. Each group will be directed and mentored by a local professional musician. These groups will meet in the CU Boulder Carlson Gym from 7-8:30 pm. This session will culminate with a concert open to the public on the last days of the session. The middle school group will meet on June 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28.
Boulder Adult Small Group
The Boulder CCJA Adult Group will meet in the CU Boulder Carlson Gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 4-20 at 7 pm. There, CCJA students and faculty play and perform together as they study jazz improvisation, technique, style, theory, and history. Students are encouraged to express themselves improvisationally and through composing/arranging for their groups. This session will culminate in a performance for the public on June 20th.
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