Columbus, OH: The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) will continue its partnership with the JPMorgan Chase Foundation to serve the greater Columbus and Weinland Park areas through its Jazz Academy community and school programs. With its recent $85,000 award to the “Creative Communities" project, JPMorgan Chase has invested nearly a quarter million dollars in this strong combination of programs for children over the past three years.
The “Creative Communities" project strives to build creative environments that promote high levels of engagement, learning, and achievement for all involved. Partnering with the Columbus City Schools, the Godman Guild, and the CDC Headstart of Franklin County, “Creative Communities" has four main components: the Chase Jazz Academy Fellowship Program; Godman Guild Collaborations; Weinland Park Music Making; and, support for the Jazz Academy community programs and facility in the historic Lincoln Theatre complex.
“Jazz Arts Group is connecting and inspiring our community's young people in unique ways," said Jeff Lyttle, Region Executive for JPMorgan Chase & Co. “No other organization can offer the strong content, community partnerships, music, and the tools, technology and space of the Jazz Academy. This one-of-a-kind program is resonating in our neighborhoods, and Chase is truly proud to be its founding underwriter."
CHASE JAZZ ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM:
The Chase Jazz Academy Fellowship Program is a workforce development program designed to provide teens with a broad understanding of music business, technology and performance. The Chase Fellows have a regular work schedule consisting of Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-6:30 p.m., from October 2011 through May 2012. The Chase Fellow is paid $8.00 per hour and must serve as a volunteer for the Jazz Arts Group for at least 3 hours each month of the fellowship. Upon completing the Chase Fellowship Program, the Fellow should have:
A strong understanding of music industry software systems, including GarageBandTM and ProToolsTM; and the recording, mixing and mastering process
A basic understanding of the composition process, including instrumental and lyric writing
A strong understanding of aspects of music business and professionalism
A grasp of the history and significance of jazz and American music
New to the program this year, the Chase Jazz Academy Fellows have been invited to participate as composers and performers for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day celebration at Veterans Memorial auditorium on Monday, January 16, 2012.
GODMAN GUILD COLLABORATIONS:
The Jazz Academy will work with the Godman Guild's A.C.E.S. program (After School Program through Community Leaders, Educators and Students) to offer extended learning opportunities through jazz and American music. This program will kick off in November 2011 with a program for students in grades K2 based on the blues. The students will learn about the history and significance of the blues, 12-bar blues form, and then create their own blues lyrics. The students will then work with an ensemble of professional musicians to rehearse and ultimately perform their composition at the February 2012 Godman Guild Family Night at Weinland Park Elementary School. The program will continue in March with students in grades 35 participating in the A.C.E.S. program.
The Jazz Academy will partner with the Godman Guild's T.E.E.N. program (Teen Education and Employment Network) to offer programs that will allow young people to explore their creativity. The teens will visit the Jazz Academy facility four times and participate in one of three workshops: “Exploring Improvisation through the Drum Circle;" “Writing & Rapping;" or, “Live Recording."
The summer S.T.E.P. program (Summer Teen Employment Program) provides teenagers summer work opportunities. Hosted by the Godman Guild, Jazz Arts Group's Jazz Academy participated in the S.T.E.P. program again this past summer. Six teens worked 20 hours per week for six weeks writing, producing and performing original music that was part of the S.T.E.P. annual awards ceremony at the Schottenstein Center in August 2011. A few of these students also performed at the Weinland Park community festival. The academy plans to participate in the S.T.E.P. program again during the summer of 2012.
WEINLAND PARK MUSIC MAKING:
Jumpin' JaKs (Jazz & Kids) is the Jazz Academy's preschool program that combines literacy/early childhood education with music making. Monthly, preschools through the CDC Headstart of Franklin County, who makes its home in the Weinland Park community, come to the Jazz Academy for Jumpin' JaKs. For the past two years, the Academy has partnered with the head start program at the Schoenbaum Center; starting in November, the partnership will be with the head start program at the Godman Guild.
Making Choices is a Jazz in Schools residency program for middle school students which will take place at Dominion Middle School during the 2011-12 academic year. The program provides opportunities for musicians to contribute and interact personally with the teachers and the students. The musicians, led by drummer Reggie Jackson, offer a side-by-side opportunity for band students and their director to play, improvise and develop individual perspectives within the structure and roots of the blues. Each student is encouraged to understand the blues as an option while making creative decisions and exploring the possibilities music has to offer, both in and outside of the school environment.
JAZZ ACADEMY OPERATIONS:
JPMorgan Chase funding also supports the operations of the Jazz Academy community programs and the facility as well as its many partnerships, collaborations and outreach programs.
About JPMorgan Chase & Co.:
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.3 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. The firm is the largest private employer in central Ohio, and one of the state's largest employers. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management and private equity. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands.
About the Jazz Arts Group:
The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) is America's oldest not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to producing, performing and promoting jazz. JAG is the third largest performing arts organization in Columbus and consists of four focus areas: the Columbus Jazz Orchestra (CJO), one of the world's finest professional jazz orchestras; the Jazz Academy, JAG's extensive instructional programs educating both students and adults about jazz and American music; Inside Track, a new jazz and blues performance series produced at the historic Lincoln Theatre; and Affiliate Musicians, a program providing employment opportunities for professional musicians.
The “Creative Communities" project strives to build creative environments that promote high levels of engagement, learning, and achievement for all involved. Partnering with the Columbus City Schools, the Godman Guild, and the CDC Headstart of Franklin County, “Creative Communities" has four main components: the Chase Jazz Academy Fellowship Program; Godman Guild Collaborations; Weinland Park Music Making; and, support for the Jazz Academy community programs and facility in the historic Lincoln Theatre complex.
“Jazz Arts Group is connecting and inspiring our community's young people in unique ways," said Jeff Lyttle, Region Executive for JPMorgan Chase & Co. “No other organization can offer the strong content, community partnerships, music, and the tools, technology and space of the Jazz Academy. This one-of-a-kind program is resonating in our neighborhoods, and Chase is truly proud to be its founding underwriter."
CHASE JAZZ ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM:
The Chase Jazz Academy Fellowship Program is a workforce development program designed to provide teens with a broad understanding of music business, technology and performance. The Chase Fellows have a regular work schedule consisting of Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-6:30 p.m., from October 2011 through May 2012. The Chase Fellow is paid $8.00 per hour and must serve as a volunteer for the Jazz Arts Group for at least 3 hours each month of the fellowship. Upon completing the Chase Fellowship Program, the Fellow should have:
A strong understanding of music industry software systems, including GarageBandTM and ProToolsTM; and the recording, mixing and mastering process
A basic understanding of the composition process, including instrumental and lyric writing
A strong understanding of aspects of music business and professionalism
A grasp of the history and significance of jazz and American music
New to the program this year, the Chase Jazz Academy Fellows have been invited to participate as composers and performers for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day celebration at Veterans Memorial auditorium on Monday, January 16, 2012.
GODMAN GUILD COLLABORATIONS:
The Jazz Academy will work with the Godman Guild's A.C.E.S. program (After School Program through Community Leaders, Educators and Students) to offer extended learning opportunities through jazz and American music. This program will kick off in November 2011 with a program for students in grades K2 based on the blues. The students will learn about the history and significance of the blues, 12-bar blues form, and then create their own blues lyrics. The students will then work with an ensemble of professional musicians to rehearse and ultimately perform their composition at the February 2012 Godman Guild Family Night at Weinland Park Elementary School. The program will continue in March with students in grades 35 participating in the A.C.E.S. program.
The Jazz Academy will partner with the Godman Guild's T.E.E.N. program (Teen Education and Employment Network) to offer programs that will allow young people to explore their creativity. The teens will visit the Jazz Academy facility four times and participate in one of three workshops: “Exploring Improvisation through the Drum Circle;" “Writing & Rapping;" or, “Live Recording."
The summer S.T.E.P. program (Summer Teen Employment Program) provides teenagers summer work opportunities. Hosted by the Godman Guild, Jazz Arts Group's Jazz Academy participated in the S.T.E.P. program again this past summer. Six teens worked 20 hours per week for six weeks writing, producing and performing original music that was part of the S.T.E.P. annual awards ceremony at the Schottenstein Center in August 2011. A few of these students also performed at the Weinland Park community festival. The academy plans to participate in the S.T.E.P. program again during the summer of 2012.
WEINLAND PARK MUSIC MAKING:
Jumpin' JaKs (Jazz & Kids) is the Jazz Academy's preschool program that combines literacy/early childhood education with music making. Monthly, preschools through the CDC Headstart of Franklin County, who makes its home in the Weinland Park community, come to the Jazz Academy for Jumpin' JaKs. For the past two years, the Academy has partnered with the head start program at the Schoenbaum Center; starting in November, the partnership will be with the head start program at the Godman Guild.
Making Choices is a Jazz in Schools residency program for middle school students which will take place at Dominion Middle School during the 2011-12 academic year. The program provides opportunities for musicians to contribute and interact personally with the teachers and the students. The musicians, led by drummer Reggie Jackson, offer a side-by-side opportunity for band students and their director to play, improvise and develop individual perspectives within the structure and roots of the blues. Each student is encouraged to understand the blues as an option while making creative decisions and exploring the possibilities music has to offer, both in and outside of the school environment.
JAZZ ACADEMY OPERATIONS:
JPMorgan Chase funding also supports the operations of the Jazz Academy community programs and the facility as well as its many partnerships, collaborations and outreach programs.
About JPMorgan Chase & Co.:
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.3 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. The firm is the largest private employer in central Ohio, and one of the state's largest employers. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management and private equity. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands.
About the Jazz Arts Group:
The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) is America's oldest not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to producing, performing and promoting jazz. JAG is the third largest performing arts organization in Columbus and consists of four focus areas: the Columbus Jazz Orchestra (CJO), one of the world's finest professional jazz orchestras; the Jazz Academy, JAG's extensive instructional programs educating both students and adults about jazz and American music; Inside Track, a new jazz and blues performance series produced at the historic Lincoln Theatre; and Affiliate Musicians, a program providing employment opportunities for professional musicians.
