The Kingston Jazz Festival education and outreach initiative is designed as an on-going program that will address a diverse cross-section of educators, students and adult audiences.

The goal of this initiative is to create an interactive program exploring the elements of jazz in both small group and large ensemble styles; to explore various aspects of jazz composition, performance and history; to develop the ability of every listener to perceive and respond to the aesthetic content of jazz music and to enhance their ability to communicate and articulate jazz concepts.

The initiative will demonstrate the value of integrating the art form of jazz with curriculum based learning experiences and provide a paradigm for the development of new music education initiatives, which will broaden the horizons of students. The overall design of the project will combine the resources of rural and urban communities and create a jazz learning laboratory with a potential of disseminating information to both neighboring and distant communities via emerging technologies.

The project model merges three Planet Arts programs(the Art of Jazz, the Open MIC Project -®, © 2005 and Composition In the Classroom). The goal is to construct creative bridges that will:

• allow for an exchange of ideas and methods
• explore a cross-section of musical styles
• expand the music vocabulary of the project participants
• create new work
• provide an opportunity for students, educators and community members to further understand the origins and depth of the creative process
• promote the development and growth of jazz music through education and community outreach programs
• develop the ability of every listener to perceive and respond to the aesthetic content of jazz music and to enhance their ability to communicate and articulate jazz concepts
• integrate the art form of jazz with curriculum-based learning experiences

Art of Jazz
The Art of Jazz project celebrates the legacy of the music and explores the classic compositions from the jazz canon as well as new contributions from some of the most important living composers. Using this as a framework, topics dealing with various aspects of ensemble playing, composition, improvisation and the art of listening are addressed. The learning process includes the literature, materials and historical origins that are specific to jazz music.

The Open MIC (Music Industry Connections) Project - ®, © 2005
The Open MIC Project was created to provide young people with an opportunity to learn about various aspects of the music industry from professionals in the field. The core of the project is the creative process (composition, songwriting, performance and improvisation). Using this as a jumping off point, students are connected to the industry through direct contact with and observation of working professionals.

Composition In The Classroom
A "standards" based journey into the world of music. The basic elements of music are introduced and immediately utilized in such a way that student's of all ages are able to create original compositions.

Merging the project models will open the possibility to explore, expand and create a portfolio of new music and ideas. Observing and participating in the activities of different musical art forms will provide an in depth look at the creative process of various artists and familiarize the participants with the tools and materials with which the artist works as well as the cultural context from which the music emerges.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS