Seattle JazzED is now offering year-long after-school and multi-week enrichment programs to support students’ musical journeys across the region.

Choose from one of the following options:

 

Jazz Storytime (ages 8 month-5 years)

Jazz Storytime sparks the love of learning! Featuring stories, songs, and other rhythms, this fun-filled music education program emphasizes skills that help children learn what they need to be ready to read. This energetic, upbeat class is a great way to introduce babies and toddlers to literacy skills in a positive, social environment. Children are encouraged to engage with books and songs as they participate in the program. This is a four-week program with one class per week, approximately 30 minutes, led by both a jazz singer and piano accompanist.

Intro to Ukulele (4th grade+)

Learn the basics of playing ukulele in just 8 weeks. Get started playing basic chords and understanding strumming patterns in the Intro to Ukulele program. Perfect for beginners, students in grades 4th and above will learn how to hold a tune, play songs by ear, and deepen their love of music. Taught through the lens of jazz and Black American songs, Intro to Ukulele is an eight-week program with one 45-minute class/week that will be a fun, educational, and rewarding adventure for all. Students participating in the program will receive a free loaner ukulele to use and practice with in and out of the classroom!

Ukulele Protest Songs (6th grade+)

Ukulele Protest Songs draws from socially conscious songs by artists like Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, and more – to give students a solid musical foundation through jazz and other BIPOC American musical traditions. Students in this class program will learn and dive deep into the history of songs by learning chords, bridges, breaks, lyrics, and other key components of ukulele performance. Ukulele Protest Songs is an eight-week program, with one 45-minute class/week. Students will be provided a free loaner ukulele to practice at home while participating in this program.

Foundations (4th-8th grade)

Offered exclusively in the after-school space, Foundations is a year-long program geared towards beginning musicians. Students will learn in a group once per week after-school. This class is a great option for students participating in their school’s music program or those interested in learning a new instrument – no previous music experience necessary. Instruments offered: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, violin, cello, guitar, bass, drums.

By partnering with Seattle JazzED, you will receive:

  • Engaging curriculum focused on America’s music

  • Class schedule tailored to fit your needs

  • Experienced and dedicated music teachers

  • All equipment and supplies needed to operate program

  • Access to Seattle JazzED instrument library for all students

  • Music programming that fits your budget

Interested in learning more? We are currently accepting partnership inquires for the following programs for the 2023-24 academic year:

  • Intro to Ukulele

  • Ukulele Protest Songs

  • Jazz Storytime

Inquiries for the Foundations after-school program are being accepted for the 2024-25 academic year.

Core Curriculum Tenets

All Seattle JazzED programming is based on the core values of jazz music.

Jazz is a Black American art form shared by all cultures domestically and internationally. 

  • Our curriculum gives students a musical foundation through the historical lens of jazz as a uniquely American art form and it’s continued influence today. 

  • Students learn to appreciate and understand the importance of past and present artists and composers in jazz and other related genres (blues, Latin music, hip hop, and popular music)

  • We center rote learning as an extension of the aural tradition, learning songs by ear whenever appropriate.

 Jazz uses improvisation and individual interpretation as a powerful means of expression.

  • Ours is an active music-making curriculum that aligns with the National Core Arts Standards of Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting. 

  • Through improvisation and individual interpretation, students develop self-expression and understand how music can tell stories and even affect social change.

Jazz is a collaborative art form that is made in community. 

  • Students learn active-listening skills and how to communicate musically in a group setting through gestures and other non-verbal cues.

  • Students develop leadership skills by practicing stepping up and stepping back and leading through knee-to-knee instruction.

Program Costs

All community-based and after-school programming ranges in cost from $150-$300/hour, depending on the program selected.

This fee will cover the costs associated with retaining 1-2 Seattle JazzED teaching artists, an additional Seattle JazzED staff member for administrative support, and the associated materials for the successful completion of the class. As with all Seattle JazzED programming, the total amount due is adjustable via our sliding scale program to ensure that all young people have access to music education. 

For additional questions regarding programming and associated costs, please contact Programs Manager, Michael Fowlkes at michael@seattlejazzed.org. To submit a partnership request, including scheduling a meeting, please fill out our Partnership Inquiry Form.