Youth Programs
Vocal Jazz Camp
Students entering grades 9-12
Dates to be determined
Immerse yourself in the music. Practice, play, listen, jam, rehearse and perform with students of similar abilities!
Vocal Jazz Camp is a comprehensive program designed to foster the jazz vocalist’s artistic concept, musical knowledge and performance skills. The camp provides an educational and nurturing environment for aspiring jazz vocalists through intensified course of study and skills development conducted by a staff of professional jazz artists.
The daily curriculum for the four-day event consists of workshops in jazz improvisation, performance styles and techniques, solo performance preparation, music theory and social activities. The camp concludes with a student concert in which all camp participants perform.
Students stay four nights in residence halls with meals provided. Camp begins 4 p.m. Sunday and ends 6:30 p.m. Thursday with a public performance. Vocal Jazz Camp is limited to 50 participants, so register early!
Camp Highlights:
- High level training from professional staff
- Student to instructor ratio 10:1
- Instructional material provided (sheet music, vocaleses,practice tapes)
- Top-notch facilities at UW-L Center for the Arts withrehearsal rooms and professional sound equipment
- Public performance in the Center for the Arts, UW-L
- Emphasis placed on harmonious balance of male/female and choral/vocal classifications
Who Should Attend:
- Anyone wanting a solid concept of jazz instrumental and vocal style
- Jazz vocalists wanting to hone improvisatory skills, expand repertoire, improve performance techniques and rapport with the rhythm section
- Non-jazz vocalists wanting to make a transition to jazz vocal repertoire and style
- Vocal jazz educators wishing to improve their vocal jazz ensembles’ understanding of jazz performance style and their soloists’ improvisatory skills.
What to Bring:
- All personal items including
comfortable clothes for classes
and recreational activities.
- Sheet music or lead sheet with chords of a vocal jazz solo (that you’re familiar with) from a Broadway or jazz standard.
General Information & Costs:
- Camp begins 4 p.m. Sunday and ends 6:30 p.m. Thursday with a public performance in the Annette Recital Hall of the Center for the Arts on the UW-L campus.
- Commuter fee includes daily lunches, instructional materials and camp T-shirt.
- Resident fee includes all meals beginning Sunday dinner and ending with Thursday dinner, instructional materials, camp T-shirt and campus housing.
- Registration is limited to 50 participants
For more Information:
Karen DeSchepper,
608.785.6508 or kdeschepper@uwlax.edu
Center for the Arts, UW-La Crosse
Commuter fee: TBD, includes daily lunches, instructional materials and camp T-shirt
Resident fee: TBD, includes all meals beginning with Sunday dinner and ending with Thursday dinner, instructional materials, camp T-shirt and campus housing
Vocal Jazz Camp for Educators
Teachers attend workshops with high school students that concentrate on improvisation, performance styles and techniques, performance preparation and music theory. In addition, a master class for teachers is held during the camp focusing on:
- Vocal technique in the jazz idiom
- Small ensemble rehearsal techniques
- Proper selection of vocal jazz ensemble repertoire
- Sound reinforcement for vocal jazz ensembles
- Working with rhythm section
- Perfection of vocal jazz performance presentation techniques
General Information & Costs:
- Camp begins 1 p.m. Wednesday and ends 6:30 p.m. Thursday with a public performance in the Annette Recital Hall of the Center for the Arts on the UW-L campus.
- Commuter fee includes meals from Wednesday dinner through Thursday dinner, instructional materials and camp T-shirt.
- Resident fee includes Wednesday dinner through Thursday dinner, instructional materials, camp T-shirt and campus housing.
- Educator Discount*: Send two or more students to Vocal Jazz Camp and receive $50 discount.
Instructors:
Gary Walth, associate professor, UW-L music department, has extensive vocal jazz experience at both the collegiate and high school level. He has been the director of UW-L choral studies for the past 17 years and conducts the UW-L Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Mannechor. Walth has conducted choirs throughout the United States and Canada.
Janette Hansen, vocal music director, Sparta High School, has conducted mixed ensembles, treble choir, madrigal singers, show choir and the award winning Sparta High School vocal jazz ensemble for the past 17 years. She has also served as the director of the La Crosse Girl Choir and is a professional accompanist and performer.