JazzALIVE: for Schools
JazzALIVE
A comprehensive K-12 program designed to institute music education in Chicago public schools at the beginning of a student’s formal education and track students for continued band participation. In the 2022-2023 school year, CJP served 12 Chicago schools.
The mission of the Jazz Alive program is to provide a sequential track of music instruction and enrichment. This initiative encourages students who participate in music programming during their elementary years to continue as they reach the high school level.
“CJP’s commitment to being flexible and continuing to provide high-quality programming even in less-than-ideal circumstances (the pandemic) was amazing - I could tell [the students] were proud of what they accomplished. Both of the drumline instructors were professional and experts in their field and were able to create and maintain positive relationships with all participating students.”
Curriculum
The CJP curriculum is in 4 phases designed to be a flexible and stackable model. Each phase can be sustained as an individual program or used in tandem as a linear format with one or more other phases. This offers maximum customization to meet each school's individual student and budgetary needs.
-
Young students are introduced to learning the language of the arts, genres, history, and geography through live musical presentations delivered by professional groups.
Students begin with a weekly curriculum that focuses on an introduction to musicianship including musical symbols, notes, and theory. Life skills such as discipline, leadership, teamwork, concentration, and memorization are routinely emphasized and practiced through classroom games. Designed with younger students in mind, the curriculum includes music-related activities such as drawing and dancing. These activities refine motor skills and encourage individual creativity.
-
Students transfer their musical knowledge to a professional musical instrument. Life skills of band participation (listening, focus, self-discipline, teamwork) are reinforced, and students continue learning music theory, instrument and improvisation technique, jazz history, and jazz band repertoire. Sectionals and master classes are introduced and taught by professional CJP orchestra musicians to work with students in smaller groups on instrument technique. Other ensembles include a hybrid Suzuki-style curriculum that combines hands-on instrument technique with music theory learning and ear training exercises in GuitarsAlive, StringsAlive, Jazz Choir, and Drumline.
-
Students continue their learning with a performance-based musicianship curriculum that focuses on improving perceptive listening, critical thinking, and creative participation skills through learning basic music theory, instrument technique, improvisation exercises, jazz history, and repertoire. Students apply this learning in a rotation of three basic instrument curricula (voice/recorder, hand chimes/ piano, and drums) and form pseudo-ensembles.
-
Students receive instruction and community performance opportunities through workshops, master classes, and ensembles. The Jazz Band Aids program works with existing middle and high school jazz band programs.
Program Goals
Music enrichment and instruction with a focus on theory, technique, and performance
Introduction of the Jazz musical idiom, its historical significance as a substantial black and African American contribution to American society, and connections with life skills relevant to today’s students
Student retention in music and band programs
Providing schools a sustainable pathway to establishing a music and band program
Meaningful Growth
Read the 2022-2023 School Year Impact Report
2022-2023 School Partners!
Cesar Chavez Multicultural Academic Center
Linne Elementary School
Holden Elementary School
St. Viator Elementary School
Dulles Elementary School
Howe School of Excellence
Lawndale Community Academy
CICS Prairie
Daystar Academy
Village Leadership Academy
Funston Elementary School
Irma C. Ruiz Elementary School
A N Pritzker Public School
Short-term Residencies
Area high schools are also invited to participate in our Short-Term Residencies; 4–6-week intensive class offerings including Spontaneous Composition, Creative Projection: Self Expression in Digital Music, and Music and Culture: How Culture Shapes Music exploring several major musical traditions to see how the world interacts with sound, and what unites them all.
-
This course introduces students to the 5 fundamental elements of music and how they come together to create sonic art. No prior musical training is required! 6 sessions.
-
With options for students who have some musical background or those who have none, this series teaches students how to think in improvisatory terms. Students learn that improvisation is not simply knowing which notes to play, but a complete mindset that can be practiced and applied well beyond the band room. 4-6 sessions.
-
Digital music production is the most prevalent and popular means of creating, recording, and sharing music in the modern age. This course will teach students the basics of using a digital audio workstation, and will explore how to use the sounds and technologies of the digital realm in a creative, expressive fashion. By the end of the course, each student will know how to use these powerful tools, and will have produced their own original song from start to finish. 6 sessions.
-
Post Popular Culture shapes music, and music shapes culture. In a whirlwind trip around the globe and through time, this series explores several major musical traditions, from Africa to Asia, Europe to the Americas. Students will learn about how the world interacts with sound, and will see what makes each of these cultures unique -- and what unites them all. 6 sessions.
Inquire Today
Contact Education Programs Manager Jordan Mandela @ jordan.mandela@chijazzphil.org for more information