New England Entertainment Digest - Online
Brought to you by JAC Publishing & Promotions - Serving New England Since 1979!

Litchfield Jazz Camp Announces Teach the Teacher - 2-Day Professional Development Training

KENT, CT: Teach the Teacher was developed by Litchfield Jazz Camp to help music teachers at all grade levels develop or expand effective strategies for educating their students about America's national music – Jazz. Held on the campus of Kent School in Kent, Connecticut, July 20 and 21, the workshop is open to music teachers and undergraduate music education students.

This inaugural program is led by saxophonist/composer/educator and Music Director of Litchfield Jazz Camp, Don Braden, and an all-star faculty. Master teachers include baritone saxophonist Claire Daly, drummer Alvin Atkinson, trombonist Peter McEachern, pianist Helen Sung and alto saxophonist Kris Allen. They will provide tools to help music teachers take their jazz ensembles to the next level or to create a jazz ensemble if their school does not yet have one. Taking this course may help teachers accumulate Professional Development credit in their districts and meet National Standards in their classrooms. For Connecticut teachers, the course offers 1.2 Continuing Education Units.

Studying jazz teaches many valuable life skills. These include listening, creativity, leadership, teamwork, and emotional expression. Just as important, it teaches strategies that help students excel in academics. Teach the Teacher will tailor its instruction to both beginner and intermediate/advanced jazz teachers. Teachers will learn to help students develop clear goals for their musical expression, improve their rhythm, enhance basic piano skills, blend more effectively in an ensemble setting, practice more productively and more. The professionals will also help teachers sharpen their jazz theory skills and refresh their desire to teach jazz. Participants are invited to a faculty concert on July 20 followed by jam sessions, all included in the workshop fee.

Room and board are available for July 20 at Kent School for a fee of $78 per person double occupancy, which includes lunch and dinner on July 20 and breakfast and lunch on July 21. Meals for non-residents can be reserved for $13 per meal. Participants can arrange their own meals and accommodations if they prefer. Classes run from 9AM until 5PM on Tuesday, July 20 and Wednesday, July 21 with a concert at 7:15 PM on July 20. Litchfield Jazz Camp, which hosts Teach the Teacher, still has limited spaces available for enrollment of students ages 13 through adult in four 1-week sessions from July 11 – August 6. Workshop fee is $250 for teachers and $200 for undergraduate music education students. For more information and to apply on-line visit www.litchfieldjazzcamp.com and click on “registration and more.”