Jazz Camp for Girls
Would you like to join Jazz North’s award winning project and host a jazz camp in 2025?
Jazz North’s ‘Jazz Camp for Girls’ was inspired by a successful Danish initiative to introduce young female musicians to improvisation and address gender balance in the music industry. The camps are a safe spaces for girls aged between 8-15 to explore improvisation in a fun, supportive environment. The project connects tutors from across the North, encouraging them to network and share examples of good practice.
Get in touch with Helena Summerfield helena@jazznorth.org
About
Jazz North’s ‘Jazz Camp for Girls’ was inspired by ‘JazzCamp for Piger’ a successful initiative developed by Jazz Danmark and the Copenhagen Jazz Festival to introduce young female musicians to improvisation.
With an emphasis on improvisation and finding their own voice, there will be minimal use of sheet music and within these education spaces dedicated to girls, participants will create good experiences with instrumental music – together. Camp activity will be connected via social media in order to emphasise the experience of shared learning and peer support.
The project connects tutors from across the North of England, encouraging them to network and share examples of good practice. It also helps to signpost girls to regular jazz sessions in their region and ultimately aims to create a progressive pathway from music hub to NYMO to conservatoire level. In 2022, Jazz Camp for Girls was recognised with the Jazz Education Award at the Parliamentary Jazz Award.
Jazz Camp for Girls now takes place in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Turkey, Poland and the UK.
Aims
To provide a supportive atmosphere in which young female musicians can hone their musical skills
To encourage friendships among young female musicians
To foster enhanced self-esteem and confidence
To increase their skills and appreciation in the practice of improvisation and creative music
To raise their aspirations through positive role model and peer support
Outcomes
Outcomes of Jazz Camp for Girls
Participants will improve their musical ability
Participants will learn how to compose/improvise simple tunes
Participants will create a piece of music
Participants will develop knowledge, skills and confidence in creative music making
Listen
Here’s a playlist of music by contemporary female jazz artists to inspire young musicians attending one of our jazz camps. The playlist includes music by several camp tutors and artists featured in the Jazz Camp for Girls Handbook.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6XKuedEhi1Z31TRFkKxdbp?si=61c4745cfa3d4271
Testimonials
“confidence building in the girls was amazing to see”
“I had the opportunity to improvise for the first time in a nice setting which is a skill that can be taken through into other bands / projects”
“My child has learnt an immense amount from this camp and she is incredibly overjoyed. We will definitely send her here next year. Such an innovative project deserves all of the appreciation and more. I have little to say other than thank you. Thank you for bringing such lively jazz music up to the north.”
Our Partners
Jazz Camp for Girls is a project based on partnerships. We have worked with organisations, tutors and young people across the entirety of the North. To find out more and get involved, get in touch with the Jazz North team.
Here is a list of current and historical Jazz Camp For Girls partners.
BlueJam Arts, Bury Music Service, Conductive Music, Doncaster Youth Jazz Association, East Lincolnshire Music Service, Huddersfield University, Hull Music Service, Lancashire Music Hub, Leeds Junior Conservatoire, Newcastle Arts Centre, Rotherham Music Service, Sheffield Music Hub, Sheffield University, The Sage, Gateshead, Trafford Music Service, Up-beat Rock Academy, Poulton-le-Fylde, Women in Jazz Media Group, Liverpool Hope University
FAQs
For Prospective Partners
Partner FAQ
Why should I become a partner organisation?
You will be joining an award winning and supportive initiative!
How much does it cost?
To reduce barriers to access we have removed the financial contribution from partner organisations from 2025 onwards
When you join up Jazz North will provide the following resources:
• Resource pack to help you to plan and deliver your camp
• Online videos and audio resource recordings
• Copies of the Jazz Camp for Girls handbook for the attendees
• Online induction session for camp leaders & tutors
• Example artist contract
• Risk assessment template document
• Help to find suitable professional musicians to deliver the camp if needed
Marketing and PR:
• Jazz North will promote the event through social media and other networks
Jazz North and partner will work collaboratively to:
• ensure maximum PR and media exposure for the project
• make best use of any photography and other media taken at the events
By participating in the project, partner organisations agree to:
• Provide a fully equipped, appropriate venue for the Jazz Camp day
• Allow staff time to plan, deliver and evaluate the project
• Recruit at least 6 participants for the camp
• Issue contracts to musicians/tutors (musicians/tutors will invoice partner for their fee)
• Ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are in place
Partner will ensure that all artists are DBS checked and that their camp is delivered in line with their own safeguarding policies and procedures:
• Complete a risk assessment (Jazz North provides template)
• Send at least one member of staff to the reflective evaluation meeting
• Provide post event participant/artist monitoring as appropriate
• Contribute to the final report as required
Our Funders
Jazz Camp for Girls would not have been possible without the funding it has received. We express gratitude for the support we have had from the following organisations:
The Victoria Wood Foundation
Martyn Donaldson Music Trust