FAQs

What is Jazz Camp for Girls?

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. It provides the opportunity for young female identifying musicians to experience Jazz music and explore improvisation in a supportive environment. The project connects tutors from across the North, 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.

Jazz North’s ‘Jazz Camp for Girls’ received the Jazz Education award at the 2022 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Jazz Camp for Girls now takes place in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Turkey, Poland and the UK.

Who are the camps aimed at?

The camps are designed for female identifying musicians aged between 8-15 with no or little experience of improvising. It gives them a positive first experience of playing in a band. The camps aim to inspire the participants through a range of activities celebrating the work of women in the Jazz industry. Each camp has slightly different entrance criteria so check the specific flyer for your area. All instruments and vocalists are welcome!

Are they literal camps?

Unfortunately, not at the moment. Our camps take the form of a one day or two day workshop depending on your venue.

When do they take place?

Our camps take place on the weekend before International Women’s Day at the beginning of March every year.

Where do they take place?

There are regional camps across the North of England with new partners joining the project each year. Camps have taken place in Hull, Leeds, Doncaster, Trafford, Sheffield, Liverpool and Newcastle.

How much do they cost?

Please apply to the camp in your area as each partner organisation has a slightly different funding situation. Bursary places may also be available on application to your camp.

What happens at a Jazz Camp for Girls workshop?

The camps generally run from 10am-4pm with breaks. Your child will need to bring a packed lunch with them.

To begin with all the girls will be together for fun, icebreakers and warm up activities. After that they will be put into ability bands and work with their Jazz camp tutor on a range of activities. The provision at each camp may be slightly different as we encourage our tutors to work to their particular strengths and musical interests. All of our camp tutors are experienced jazz educators and performers. At 2pm we connect the camps by Zoom so that the girls have the opportunity to say ‘hello’ and perform to each other. This makes them aware that they are part of something bigger and that girls across the North are playing jazz on this special weekend.

At the end of the day there may be an informal sharing session so that you can see what the groups have been working on. However, Jazz Camp for Girls is not focussed on the final performance, it is focussed on the process rather than the product and your child will leave with new musical concepts that they can apply to their future practice. Your child will also leave with a fantastic Jazz Camp for Girls handbook packed with practise tips and interviews with inspirational female jazz musicians.

How can I apply?

Regular information will be available on the Jazz North website jazznorth.org and socials including our Facebook page HERE