Teaching Methods & Curriculum
Our Educational Mission Statement
Provide results-driven alternatives to conventional music education through community-centered, experiential, aural-based learning that builds musical understanding and ability.
What We Teach—We teach skills needed to play jazz with others.
By facilitating the act of playing together in both small and large groups, Jazz Night School helps students develop the technical and improvisational skills needed for jazz and appreciation of Black American music. We prioritize listening, memorizing, syncing with others, and improvising—skills essential for playing jazz standards and other jam session staples with others.
In our combos, studies of music theory, ear training, and technical skills are tailored and limited to the needs of the ensemble and the music they’re preparing to perform. Detailed goals and songs for combos are available:
Our skills classes build the musical foundations that support students’ participation in combos and large ensembles, helping them grow as players. Topics like improvisation, theory, ear training, rhythm, and jazz history are taught in more depth to reinforce what’s learned and applied in ensemble settings, and advance their understanding of Black American music.
How We Teach
For ensemble classes, our teaching methods focus on direct, actionable feedback tailored to creating cohesive musical performances. Ensemble songs are selected with clear educational goals, and students receive individualized coaching throughout rehearsals. While teaching styles may vary slightly between instructors, core practices are present throughout. We aim to keep rehearsals 80% playing and 20% discussion. All of our instructors are experienced performers in the styles they teach and provide valuable insights into each instrument’s role within the group.
Jazz Night School also offers a range of classes and a written curriculum for students who want to develop skills outside the combo setting. These classes, created for our community, by our staff, reflect over 20 years of experience and are based on the evolving needs of our students. Instruction emphasizes active listening, playing, and learning through practice and feedback, rather than relying heavily on standard notation, lectures, or reading materials.
Most of our ensembles and classes do not require music-reading skills.
Why We Teach
At Jazz Night School, we’ve seen how the transformative power of jazz and other Black American musical art forms uplifts lives and creates friendships. Our work is rooted in the conviction that making music together deepens cultural understanding and strengthens the fabric of our community.
We care that everyone who wants to learn, can do so. We teach because we know there is a gap in effective music instruction for adult learners.
We use the methods and curriculum we do because they work—we’ve seen their effectiveness time and again in our students. Through the teaching and appreciation of Black American music, we strive to honor its origins and give thanks to the Black Americans who created and continue to shape this essential art form.