Savannah Music Festival (SMF), a leading nonprofit performing arts organization, will officially launch SMF Jazz Academy as a free virtual music education program designed specifically for Savannah-Chatham County Public School (SCCPSS) students on Sept. 14, 2020. 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.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SCCPSS recently transitioned to online learning for the start of 2020-2021 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 twelfth grade who does not have a jazz band offered at his or her school. SMF Jazz Academy is currently 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 and an accomplished 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. 

SMF Jazz Academy has added several new staff members and, with the transition to online learning, will offer students special masterclasses and workshops led by Dessel as well as other talented artists from across the United States.                       

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. 

The mission of SMF Jazz Academy is to lead positive and progressive change in Savannah by providing equal access to exceptional music education in a safe, accepting learning environment that supports each child’s development. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the after-school jazz program was based at the School of Humanities at Juliette Gordon Low Elementary in Savannah, Ga.

Applications are currently being accepted for SMF Jazz Academy. To apply, visit www.savannahmusicfestival.org/jazzacademy.

Questions? Contact Jessica Messere at [email protected] or 912.234.3378 x107.