July   24 · 25 · 26   2009

Historic Downtown Ellensburg, WA

 

Educational Outreach

Jazz in the Valley is dedicated to the promotion and development of jazz education. JIV intitiates programs which nurture and promote the understanding and appreciation of jazz and its heritage, provide leadership to educators regarding curricula; assists teachers and practitioners with information and resources; and takes an active part in organizing clinics at local levels.

During the first four years of the festival, a "Paint to Jazz" program was developed for the Ellensburg School district. This program conducted educational presentations on the history of Jazz and its evolution and promoted artistic expression of jazz through creative paintings. These paintings are exhibited every year during the Jazz in the Valley Festival along the perimeter fencing at the Rotary Pavilion Main Stage.  One year jazz banners were produced to hang in the downtown area during the festival.

 

The Festival has since expanded it's mission to include cultivating interest in jazz by providing clinics for students to interact with professional jazz artists. Through it's clinics, JIV encourages education which provides the knowledge and skills vital to a career in jazz and advocates for jazz in all appropriate forums, thereby building a larger group of both audience and artists.

 

In 2007 we provided financial support for the CWU Vocal Jazz 1's trip to New York in January, where they were invited to perform at the International Association of Jazz Education convention. Here are some reflections from Vijay Singh (the director) about the event:

"...my group performed to a packed venue (standing room only by halfway) on Saturday Jan. 13, 2007 at 3pm..........all the "heavy hitters" of the vocal jazz world were there and we performed a full hour program featuring music arranged completely by CWU alumns, directors, and current students. To my knowledge, this has rarely (if ever) been done by other institutions except CWU and North Texas University (the big jazz factory).....this shows the strength of composers/arrangers that have come through and continue to choose CWU for their jazz/music education. Coach Moawad always encouraged students to do it all i.e the "real musicians" of old played, sang, wrote, taught, arranged, and were their own businessmen.......this is still an ideal we strive to communicate here at Central. We premiered six new pieces at the convention (written specifically for this event)....this also rarely happens.....most groups will premiere one or two new works.......my soloists were dynamite, rhythm section played well, and we featured two guest artists (Kirk Marcy, who used to sing/play with the Four Freshmen and now sings in Just 4 Kicks, and Rueben Alvarez, one of the premiere Latin percussionists in the jazz world today). An immediate standing ovation followed our last tune and the students floated off the stage on cloud 9.....it was the best gig they had at that point in the year and they were elated! Many thanks to JIV for helping make this trip possible for 19 exciting young musicians and future music educators! "

Over the last several years, our educational outreach program has also worked with Central Washington Jazz Studies to sponsor a variety of music clinics for high school and college students. (See the following)


Primal Mates
 May 23, 2007

  • Provided clinics at both CWU & Ellensburg HS
  • Performed free concerts

Reptet
 May 17-18, 2007

Reptet, a jazz sextet from Seattle that pushes the boundaries of jazz interpretation, delighted the audience with a performance of their original music that included prerecorded sound bites, choreography, and story-telling. Earlier that day a clinic and combo coaching sessions were presented. The next morning the group went over to Ellensburg High School and performed for the students, pausing to discuss their backgrounds, approaches and music insights.

Comments from Don Mays (EHS Band Director):

"Raptet did an amazing job showing the kids a different kind of jazz....group soloing, writing on the fly, etc. 50 kids enjoyed the morning clinic and really appreciated being able to ask questions, talk with group members, and simply listen to the pros. The kids are still talking about the May 18 clinic."


Jon Stowell
 April 24, 2007

Presenting both clinics and a concert, Jon Stowell was warmly received by both students, faculty and the greater Ellensburg community. His solo performance demonstrated his gifts for composition, reworking of standard jazz repertoire, and his deft approach to improvisation.


Moawad Jazz Festival
 Guest Artists: Jon Wikan and Ingrid Jensen
Jan 19-20, 2007

With nearly 900 students and parents from around the state in attendance, the Moawad Invitational Jazz Festival proudly presented guest artist Ingrid Jensen (trumpet) and Jon Wikan (drums). Each day the pair gave two clinics in front of the gathered attendees and then performed with CWU's Vocal Jazz I and Jazz Band I at the end of each day.

  • Clinics both at CWU and EHS
  • Masterclasses at CWU
  • Performance at EHS
  • Provided free concert in the Central Washington University Music Department Recital Hall


Jay Thomas & the East/West Alliance
 November 14, 2006

Jay Thomas brought two musical friends from Japan with him as well as some great Seattle players, presenting an astounding concert that truly bridged the Pacific Ocean and showed that musically, these guys were all cut from the same cloth. The concert was filled with fresh versions of jazz standards and original music by both Jay and his musical guests. Earlier that day the group coached combos and presented a clinic. The following morning they went to the high school and played for the vocal jazz and jazz band students, stopping to explain their approaches and concepts of the music.

Garey Williams
 October 6, 2006
November 4, 2005

Garey Williams presented clinics at both EHS and CWU with emphasis on big band drumset technique. Student reaction was amazement and appreciation as he made a huge difference in the ensembles at both schools.

  • Conducted four clinics at Central Washington and Ellensburg High School
  • Masterclasses at CWU
  • Combo Coaching at CWU
  • Performance at EHS
  • Provided free concert in the Central Washington University Music Department Recital Hall

 

 


Reptet - EHS 2007

 

 

 

 

 


Jon Wikan and Ingrid Jensen - CWU Concert Hall

 

 

 

 


Garey Williams - EHS 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jon Gordon Quartet
May 8 & 9, 2006

  • Clinics both at CWU and Ellensburg High School
  • Masterclasses at CWU
  • Combo Coaching at CWU
  • Performance at EHS
  • Provided free concert in the Central Washington University Music Department Recital Hall

Ruel Lubag Quartet
February 15 & 16, 2006

  • Clinics both at CWU and Ellensburg High School
  • Masterclasses at CWU
  • Combo Coaching at CWU
  • Performance at EHS
  • Provided free concert in the Central Washington University Music Department Recital Hall

Jon Hamar Quartet -
January 31 & February 1, 2006

  • Clinics both at CWU and Ellensburg High School
  • Masterclasses at CWU
  • Combo Coaching at CWU
  • Performance at EHS
  • Provided free concert in the Central Washington University Music Department Recital Hall