1600x450_JFT_onsales

TDJazz
forTeens

register

Fall Semester: Sep 27 – Dec 13
Spring Semester: Jan 24 – May 16
Time: 10AM – 5PM (schedules vary based on placement)
Ages: 13 – 18
Tuition:
$700 per semester
$1,200 for full year

*For placement purposes, a short video submission and music theory test is required.

Colton Institute for Training and Research in the Arts

TD Jazz for Teens is a comprehensive and sequential jazz education program for instrumental and vocal musicians that develops well-rounded and confident young performers. Students receive top-notch musical training and study with world-class and GRAMMY® Award-winning teaching artists, in addition to benefiting from participation in large and small ensembles, masterclasses, private instruction, performances, college and career exploration and more.

Jazz for Teens on tv!

Free add-ons!

in the mix

learn more

creative coaching

learn more

creator’s room

learn more

Important! Select your instrument for information about placement

  • Must be an active member of Jazz for Teens
  • Must be proficient on their instrument

  • Be part of a small elite ensemble
  • Opportunity to present all forms of jazz and popular music
  • Encouraged/mentored in composing and arranging original material
  • Personal mentorship from Mark Gross and Jazz for Teens faculty

Students are required to submit a video for ensemble placement and complete a theory test for theory-level placement.  

Students less experienced with jazz improvisation and theory, or any other aspect listed should not be anxious about these requirements as the program caters to all levels. 

Beginning students should simply demonstrate any of the below criteria to the best of their ability. If you’re unfamiliar with any of the material or new to improvising, don’t be intimidated or embarrassed; do the best that you can do! 

TD Jazz for Teens Program welcomes beginning and experienced students alike. You are coming to this program to learn and we are ALL still learning.

Video Guidelines 

  • Your video should be in mp4 or MOV video format. You can use your phone, computer, or camera to record.
  • Your video should have a length of 5-7 minutes.
  • Film horizontally with your face in the top 2/3 of the screen
  • Film indoors to avoid the ambient sound (wind etc.).
  • Once your video is complete, please upload it to YouTube and name the video “Jazz for Teens Placement Video (Your Name and Instrument) 

How to submit your video placement and theory test

  • Click here for the placement form.
  • Once you have registered, you will be added to a Jazz for Teens Google classroom for the program and you will receive an assignment to submit your completed video and theory test. 
  • Once you have been added to Google Classroom, feel free to post comments or ask questions in google classroom about your video & theory placement assignment! 
  • Please upload the YouTube link of your video and the completed theory test to google classroom by the due date assigned.

Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Flute, Clarinet, Piano, Bass, Guitar

Scales Required
Chromatic Scale (full range of the instrument)
Dorian Minor Scale (Keys: D-, G-, C-, F-, A-, E-)
Major Scale (Keys: C, F, Bb, Eb, G, D)
Dominant 7th Scale (Keys: G7, C7, F7, Bb7, D7, A7)

Tune Recording

Please prepare one tune from the list below. You can record yourself playing to a play-along track. 

Instruments (Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Flute, Clarinet, Piano, Bass, Guitar)

Tune #1 Barefoot Sunday Blues (Cannonball Adderley)
Sheet Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkF8oIavCFk

Tune #2 Oleo (Sonny Rollins)
Sheet Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IY29EZb1pI

Tune #3 Doxy (Sonny Rollins)
Sheet Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpueyrkcMyQ

Drums

Drummers will be asked to demonstrate jazz drum-set styles including
Straight-ahead swing feel in any ballad (with brushes) at a tempo of 60 bpm
Medium tempo bossa-nova
Up-tempo samba feel
Medium tempo two-feel swing
Shuffle groove

Tune Recording

Please prepare one tune from the list below. You can record yourself playing to a play-along track. We suggest that drummers use the piano sheet music as their lead sheet when recording.

Tune #1 Barefoot Sunday Blues (Cannonball Adderley)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkF8oIavCFk

Tune #2 Oleo (Sonny Rollins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IY29EZb1pI

Tune #3 Doxy (Sonny Rollins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpueyrkcMyQ

Sheet Music

Snare Drum Solo (prepare a minimum of one)

Drummers choose one of the following snare drum solo pieces that is most challenging within their comfort level. Drummers are welcome to record more than one of these solo pieces if they wish. 

Snare Solo no. 01 – Challenge Level 1 – All American Drummer – Wilcoxon

Snare Solo no. 03 – Challenge Level 2 – All American Drummer – Wilcoxon

Snare Solo no. 12 – Challenge Level 3 – All American Drummer – Wilcoxon

Sheet Music

Vocalists

Scales Required
Chromatic Scale (full range)
Major Scale (any key)
Dorian Minor Scale (any key)
Dominant 7th Scale and chord arpeggios (any key)

Other Requirements
Singers with previous jazz experience should also be prepared to scat a bebop head in any key.

Tunes Required for Vocalists

Tune #1 All of Me (Marks/Simons)
Sheet Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JaJtNLhlfk

Tune #2 On The Sunny Side Of The Street (Jimmy McHugh)
Sheet Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbLL7IX4b3Q

Tune #3 How Insensitive (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
Sheet Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x2i2GITQ0Y

Financial Aid

We’re glad your student would like to join us this school year! NJPAC is dedicated to making our programs accessible to all students. No student is turned away for financial needs. If you require financial assistance and do not have a code yet, please click here to apply for financial aid.

 

Tuition Information, Refund Policy and Attendance

Tuition must be paid in full or a payment plan must be in place prior to the first session.
If a student withdraws prior to the start of the first session, a full refund will be issued.
If a student withdraws after attending the second session, a 50% refund will be issued.
If a student withdraws after attending three sessions, all tuition payments are non-refundable.
*Important* If a student is absent for the first two sessions without any communication or advance notification, they will be automatically withdrawn from the program and the full tuition payment will be forfeited. This allows for additional students to join the program from the waitlist.