The Jazz Education Ensemble (JEE) is three divisions –
1) Beginning Jazz Classes (5-15 students/term) meet for 60 minutes, once/week and are taught by teachers with experience teaching children. Classes are fun, interactive but challenging enough to provide internal rewards to try new ideas. Once students realize their individual practice results in reaching goals they thought might not be possible and as they use new skills to increase the effectiveness of their musical team, their “internal light” begins to shine and students acquire a new sense of confidence as they experience new endeavors and challenges with a new set of problem solving skills that they can continue to build upon throughout their lives.
2) Our concert division features performances during which students perform on stage with world class jazz musicians (Ramsey Lewis’ drummer, Prince’s former keyboardist, etc.) who understand the future global community benefits of sharing jazz concepts with our youth. In 2024 we performed eight public concerts in Alameda, Santa Clara and Marin counties. We will add a San Mateo county performance in 2025.
3) In August, 2025 we will begin teaching beginning music classes to students who live primarily in lower income Oakland communities. As a result, classes will be completely free. Additionally, we will provide musical instruments, free to students whose families cannot afford to rent or buy their own. Classes will be offered after school, twice per week for 90 minutes each. And we expect to initially enroll 20-30 students.