Free Savannah Music Festival Jazz Academy Program on Sept. 14 – Savannah Morning News

Savannah Music Festival is accepting applications for children to participate in its Jazz Academy as a free virtual music education program. It is designed specifically for Savannah-Chatham County Public School (SCCPSS) students on Sept. 14.

This first full year of SMF Jazz Academy follows up the Spring 2020 pilot semester at the School of Humanities at Juliette Gordon Low Elementary, according to festival officials.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SCCPSS recently transitioned to online learning for the start of 2020-21 school year. Taking the district’s lead, SMF Jazz Academy will start online on Sept. 14 and continue exclusively online for the Fall 2020 semester.

“We want students to remain engaged and excited about learning jazz in 2020,” said Ulysses Owens Jr., SMF Jazz Academy Artistic Educator in Residence. “We have a world-class faculty who will work with these children. The kids just need to be willing to learn.”

The program is now open to any SCCPSS student in fifth grade through 12tj grade who does not have a jazz band offered at his or her school. SMF Jazz Academy is accepting beginning, intermediate and advanced students. Previous musical experience is not required.

“We’re planning to focus on the positive aspects of learning through technology,” said Erez Dessel, SMF Jazz Academy Music Director Fellow, who is also a pianist, composer and educator. “The core of jazz music is improvisation and putting together this program has felt like a large exercise in improvisation. We’re hopeful that students will benefit from a flexible program that’s able to adapt to their needs and give them the skills to grow their creativity.”

The online SMF Jazz Academy program includes free instrument rental, if needed, as well as weekly private lessons via video, composition and music technology classes, virtual practice rooms, online masterclasses with guest artists and much more. Thanks to founding sponsors Ron and Susan Whitaker, the program is free to all participating students. The Hodge Foundation, Junior Jazz Foundation and Widespread Panic’s Tunes for Tots provide support for free instrument rentals to participants.

To apply, visit savannahmusicfestival.org/jazzacademy.