The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) offers a stellar line-up of music making opportunities at the Jazz Academy to engage all ages and interests including clinics and workshops with guitar virtuoso Sheryl Bailey, international trombone star Sarah Morrow, Blues Music Award-winning guitarist Duke Robillard, gospel singer Nia Allen, and Grammy-nominated jazz trumpeter-composer Dave Douglas.

Nationally acclaimed music educator Bradley Sowash offers piano basics in Creative Chords I and group piano lessons in That’s Jazz 1 and Creative Chords III. If guitar is more your style, Tim Cummiskey gives you the opportunity to advance your guitar skills with Guitar: Chords and Scales to Progressions, Intermediate to Advanced Guitar Concepts, and Guitar Ensemble. Led by Rachel Sepulveda, Vocal Ensemble explores the rewarding journey of singing in harmony with friends in a joyful and supportive environment. Central City Recording’s Recording Session teaches you the basics – from running Pro Tools™ to setting up a live recording session – then applies what you’ve learned by setting up a live recording session for the Rock Ensemble class at the Jazz Academy. Lyrical Fitness with Speak Williams is designed to stretch the mind of anyone interested in developing techniques to take their poetry, hip-hop, and songwriting lyrics to the next level. Jay Miglia’s Big Band for Grown-Ups is your chance to dust off your instrument and exercise your mind and spirit through the experience of playing music. And Jumpin’ JaKs (Jazz & Kids) will give preschoolers, ages 3-5, the opportunity to explore American music in all of its forms.

Other course offerings include Rock Ensemble with Dennis Hodges, Music Business 202 with Ron Riley, Sing! Sing a Song! Sing Out Loud! Sing Out Strong! with Mary McClendon, and Drum Set Styles with Reggie Jackson, Carlos Fisher, Cedric Easton and Ryan Jewell. Fall/Winter session will also include free workshops for musicians in partnership with the Columbus Music Co-op such as Music and Community: How to Put on a Benefit Show and More! and So You Want to Make Music in Columbus?.

Discounted registration is available for Jazz Academy community partners including subscribers to the Columbus Jazz Orchestra; Jazz Arts Group’s Youth Jazz participants; employees of Abercrombie & Fitch, Cardinal Health, Grange Insurance, Limited Brands, Nationwide and the State Auto Group; students of Capital University; and members of the Columbus Blues Alliance (CBA), the Columbus Council on World Affairs (CCWA), Columbus Music Co-op, King Arts Complex, TiXiT, WCBE 90.5 FM, WOSU Public Media and United Way of Central Ohio’s Young Leadership Group, Key Club and Cinquefoil.

With nearly 5,000 square feet, the Jazz Academy is a premier facility for multi-generational and recreational music making, ensemble playing, after-school programs, technology instruction and lectures with world-class musicians. For more information regarding classes, registration policies, or scholarships, please contact Jazz Arts Group at 614-294-5200 x 107 or visit http://www.jazzartsgroup.org for complete class descriptions, faculty biographies and online registration.

Jazz Academy programs are made possible through ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio Arts Council, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Columbus Foundation, Chase Bank, AEP Ohio, Limited Brands, Cardinal Health, Honda of America Mfg., Abercrombie & Fitch, Nationwide, National City/PNC Bank, Bob Evans Farms, Fifth Third Bank, Plante & Moran, PLLC and Wolfe Enterprises, Inc. Jazz Academy music partners include Yamaha, Sabian, Remo, Sweetwater Music, Central City Recording, and Capital University with media support from WCBE 90.5 FM and WOSU Public Media.

you should check out the jazz academy if you have a chance. really amazing facility!

we are also lucky that the awesome folks at the jazz academy will be donating space to the columbus music co-op for two new workshops this fall! more info soon!