2008 Blaine Jazz Festival. Cool Music in a Cool Setting!

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View the movie of 2007 Blaine Jazz Festival

Still Accepting Registrations

7th Annual
Blaine Jazz Festival
July 6-12, 2008

Seven exciting days of rehearsals, combos, improv, composition, and other great classes for teens with an internationally recognized faculty culminating in a jazz concert featuring student big bands, combos and vocal groups PLUS multiple performances by visiting jazz artists.

We offer comprehensive programs in instrumental and vocal jazz and a new program in Swing Dance. Instrumentalists will be placed in performance groups and classes based on their skill levels. The jazz bands will be playing big band arrangements that will most likely range from swing to Latin, blues, jazz-rock and other big band forms.

In addition to jazz bands, the morning offers classes for beginners who cannot read music and a course called "Let's Rock" in which rhythm section players work with our rhythm section faculty to develop excellent performance skills and will rehearse and perform rock/jazz pieces in our final concert.

New this year... Classics Plus !
Apply your classical training to jazz, rock & funk! Students who are classically oriented may elect our new Classics Plus program (strings including electric bass, woodwinds and brass, keyboard, acoustic, electric guitar, and percussion).

The entire afternoon is devoted to instruction in improv and application in performance thru combos and jazz labs. The combos range from 5-7 players, the jazz labs slightly larger. Swing Dancers will participate in dance classes and chorus or music theory classes as they choose. It is possible to mix programs in dance, instrumental, and vocal jazz.

Afternoons for all instrumentalists will consist of a combination of improv instruction and hands on playing in smaller groups. Exceptions are made for instrumental kids who wish to sing in a vocal jazz ensemble or study composition or swing dance. They have this opportunity during one of the afternoon periods but would then have to give up the hands on part of improv. It's the student's choice.

Composition classes are open to interested high school students who pass a written music theory exam. Students who demonstrate sufficient knowledge and skill in the music theory placement exam are assigned to composition on a space-available basis, with students who register early given the top priority.

Private lessons are also available at $25.00/half hour and students are pulled from Improv classes or study with a private teacher from 4:00-5:00pm.

About Jazz Theory at The Blaine Jazz Festival

"Theory!" We know, UGGG! Just saying the word conjures up images of boring exercises and dull lectures. But jazz theory at the Blaine Jazz Festival is different. With instruments in hand, we learn not just the fundamentals of jazz theory, but more advanced aspects of jazz improvisation by trying out those concepts on our instruments. Plus, we often include listening examples from the "masters" themselves (Miles, Herbie, Coltrane, et al.) to see how the "pros" do it.

For more on Music Theory click here.

Depending on the student's level, we will cover concepts like jazz styles (bebop, dixie, cool jazz, funk, advant garde, swing, Latin, etc), scales and modes, basic piano and keyboard, transposing, the blues scale and form, tri-tone substitutions, chord theory (including advanced alterations), the ii7 - V7 - I, improv patterns ("licks"), listening skills, and more. A short exam will be given each student at the start of the festival to help us place each student in the best class for them.

Registration is still in progress...

Tuition Fees: $250.00 Registration runs through June. Payment in full is due at the time of registration for all students.

Housing and meals fees for out of town students: $350.00

Mentor Program (Ages 18 to 23) internships click here.

Optional Private Lessons: $25.00/half hour with a maximum of two lessons per student per instructor, based on a first come/first served basis. We have a NEW system for assigning lessons due to increased demand. Lessons times will be assigned during registration on a space available basis and you'll be given the opportunity to sign up based on when you sent in your registration.

The Vocal Program: Students may elect to study purely vocal music or a mix of vocal and instrumental jazz and/or swing dance - Vocal majors study both solo and ensemble jazz. Private lessons in voice are optional at $25.00/half hour.

TO REGISTER online, go to our secure online order form. Fill in the information, and pay for tuition and (optional) room and board by Visa or Mastercard or fill in the information and mail in your check. Online, make a note that your check is in this mail. Register NOW to ensure a place in desired classes and the option of taking private lessons. A few students may be added after June 30 until July 4 if room allows, but spots for some instruments are rapidly filling up. We still have limited dorm space available. For assistance registering online or questions about specific classes, phone Sandy at (360) 371-0141.

A secure, supervised and structured environment for students

Every year at the conclusion of the festival we have our students fill out an evaluation of our program. Consistently the dorm kids tell us one of the most fun aspects of the Blaine Jazz Festival is staying at Smuggler's Inn, a professional Bed and Breakfast with a newly remodeled dorm for students adjacent to the main house. Students often jam together in the evening, and they form friendships lasting many years.

Students are chaperoned by counselors carefully selected for their training and experience in working with kids and music. Steve Barnes, head counselor, is a graduate of Western Washington University and holds a degree in Music Education. He is a popular choir director in the Bellingham School District, and recently served as assistant vocal coach in the wildly successful production of Les Miserables. In addition to counselors, we have mentors staying at the dorm--older students with formal college training in music and good recommendations from teachers for their skills and helpful attitude exhibited towards other students.

Students are supervised at all times, with meals provided at the dorm and/or in local restaurants. During lunch, they enjoy a packed meal while listening to concerts, and every evening they attend a concert or planned social activity. They are transported to and from classes and concerts by a bus driver who is an physician and grandfather of nine. The Producer and Artistic Director have over twenty years of experience working with teens in the arts.

Drugs, alcohol, and smoking are not permitted, and all students understand any violation will result in immediate dismissal from the camp.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any specific concerns regarding your child's health.

Our Concert Series:
In addition to our formal educational program, the Blaine Jazz Festival features a series of concerts during the week.

The Blaine Jazz Festival is presented by the Pacific Arts Association
and the City of Blaine, in cooperation with the Blaine School District.
Sponsors include Smuggler's Inn, Grandis Pond, and The Northern Light.