Oaktown Jazz Workshops offer intensive instructional workshops and classes for young musicians, ages 10-18 at our Oakland venue located in historic Jack London Square. Our programs include:

Combo Workshops (Ages 12 – 18): weekly 2-hour workshops in which young musicians learn to improvise instrumental solos while playing different types of jazz and blues tunes in a full band setting, with guidance from our faculty of professional musicians.

Performance Ensemble Workshop (Ages 14-18): weekly 2-hour workshops in which young musicians improve their musicianship, develop their personal voices, and challenge themselves musically in a band setting.

Jazz Improvisation Workshop (Ages 10-14): a 10-week course offered every fall and spring that focuses on Ensemble Playing, Ear Training, Melodic Phrasing and Harmonic Forms.

Music Theory Workshop (Ages 14-18): a 10-week course offered every fall and spring that focuses on Modes, Chord Analysis, Ear Training, and Composition.

Live Audio Reinforcement (Ages 14 – 18): a 3-week course that focuses on microphone techniques for live performances, digital and analog mix routing, and hands-on experience using mixing board and speaker systems.

Jazz Encounters (Ages 10-18): special clinics in which young musicians meet and learn from world-class touring musicians.

One-on-One Private Music Lessons: Oaktown Jazz Workshops offers private lessons from professional musicians.

Jazz in the Schools (Ages 10-18): Oaktown Jazz Workshops presents concerts and presentations at local public schools, and our instructors lead sectionals to foster the artistic growth of young musicians.

Oaktown Jazz in the Library: Our instructors, Youth Mentors, and students bring multi-generational concerts to public libraries, mixed with presentations on jazz history, influence, and elements.

Community Performances (Ages 14-18): Oaktown Jazz Workshops’ young musicians perform dozens of concerts, festivals, and community events in Oakland and surrounding communities every year. Special emphasis on bringing performance to underserved communities that lack access to live music.