June 21 – 26
Eugene Rousseau Saxophone Workshop
The Eugene Rousseau Saxophone Workshop with Jarrard Harris is one of the oldest and prestigious Saxophone-specific camps in the United States. It is one of the cornerstones of the Shell Lake Arts Center.
Instructor: Jarrard Harris
Residential Tuition…………..$895
Commuter Tuition…………..$695
- For Students grades 6-12
- Adult registration as Commuter and only with instructor consent
About
The Saxophone Camp is a dual jazz and classical saxophone immersion experiences for students. During the week, campers will participate in small ensembles, solo performance, and private instruction with our Master Teacher, Jarrard Harris.
On Friday at the final performance, all students will play in an ensemble and perform a solo with accompanist. All students, no matter what their playing level is, will benefit from the experiences they will get at this camp. Saxophone players from concert and jazz bands can expand their skills, technique and knowledge and focus on saxophone specific topics. Alto, Tenor, or Bari–All are encouraged to attend at this camp. You may even get the chance to perform on any or all during the week.
Placement Screening
On Sunday when campers arrive in Shell Lake, they will meet with the instructor to assess their skill level and abilities. This is a low pressure opportunity for Mr. Harris to learn a little bit about you and what you can do on your saxophone!
Students should be prepared to play:
- A full range chromatic scale (Whatever your lowest note is to your highest note)
- Eb and Ab Major Scale (2 octaves preferable),
- A 2-3 minute excerpt of a classical, jazz or etude solo of your choosing
- An improvisation over Bb Blues Changes (If you don’t know how to do this, you will by the end of the week!)
Sample Schedule
Wake-up
7:15 a.m.
Breakfast
8:00 a.m.
Group Warm Up and Calisthenics
9:00 a.m.
Masterclass
9:30 a.m.
Saxophone Technique, Saxophone History
Ensemble Rehearsals
10:30 a.m.
Duos, Trios, and Quartets based on students with like abilities and skills
Listening / Discussions
11:30 p.m.
Jazz and Classical Performance
Lunch
12:00 p.m.
Jazz Improvisation
1:00 p.m.
Grouped by like abilities and skills, no experience needed
Solo Practice Time / Lessons
2:00 p.m.
Free Time / Private Lesson
3:00 p.m.
Each participant receives a private lesson during the course of the week
Dinner
5:00 p.m.
Evening Concerts / Camp Activities
7:00 p.m.
Lights-out
10:30 p.m.
Meet the Instructors
About the Program Director
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, saxophonist and educator Jarrard Harris attended the Youth Performing Arts School in high school and attended the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music to further his jazz studies. At CCM he studied with Rick VanMatre, Pat Harbison, and Marc Fields. Upon Graduation from CCM Harris moved to Chicago in 1998 to further his studies at DePaul University where under the tutelage of Bob Lark, Tim Coffman, and Marc Colby he earned his master’s degree in jazz studies.Harris currently lives in Chicago, where he is on the jazz faculty of Northwestern University, Columbia College Chicago and the City Colleges of Chicago. He also serves as the director of jazz studies with the Chicago Public Schools Advanced Arts Education Program at Gallery 37. He maintains an active private teaching studio in addition to adjudicating and performing at college and high school festivals, giving master classes, and lecturing, he has performed with musicians in the United States and abroad. Jarrard was a founding board member of the Jazz education Network and serves as a current board member for the Jazz Institute of Chicago.
Faculty Member: Tamara Smith
Tamara Smith, Shell Lake Arts Center Collaborative Accompanist, maintains an active schedule in Northwest Wisconsin with a variety of things related to piano and as a free-lance musician. Private piano lessons are provided at her Studio in Shell Lake, and she serves as accompanist for area schools including Barron 7-12, Bloomer 7-12, Cameron K-4, Cumberland 5-12, Hayward 9-12, Shell Lake 7-12, and Spooner high school musicals. As Trinity Lutheran Church Minister of Music in Spooner, she directs the Celebration Choir and plays for services with other talented musicians. Tamara recently began tuning pianos after an apprenticeship with Steve Carlson and working through the Randy Potter School of Piano Technology coursework. She graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a BME-Instrumental degree, taught for three years in northwestern Wisconsin, and after 17 years in Metropolitan Denver, returned to her native Shell Lake with her wonderful husband and two outstanding daughters.
As the Shell Lake Collaborative Accompanist, Tamara accompanies all camps and programs as required. She has been a faculty member at the Shell Lake Arts Center Show Choir Accompanist and other high school and college-level camps since 1978; administrative staff person for 12 years; and a camper for nearly ten years with middle and high school camps and college-level courses.
Additional Information
Questions? Feel free to contact us for any additional information.
Accommodations
Lodges are available for the duration of the camp session. They are supervised by a professional counseling staff on duty 24 hours each day and meals are prepared under the supervision of a state-approved dietitian.
Commuter Expectations
Commuter students are expected to remain at camp until the day’s activities are completed (Typically 9:am-8pm).
Registrations
Online registrations are accepted until the camp is full. Students may be placed on a waiting list if desired. A camp registration form is sent after payment is received. All cancellations must be made in writing and received 3 weeks in advance of the start of camp for a full refund. A $100.00 fee will be deducted from your refund. Refunds less than three weeks before camp will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
Residential Tuition
Our student tuition is $895 per student and includes instructional fees, room and board and a camp t shirt which will be worn at the final performance. Please refer to the registration materials found on our registration site at Ultracamp for complete details. A $100 down payment is due at the time of registration. The remaining balance can be paid at the time of registration or in equal monthly installments. All Tuition must be paid before arrival at camp.
Commuter Tuition
This option is for campers that want to attend our camps but not stay in our dorms, The $695 tuition covers instructional fees, a camp T-Shirt which will be worn at the final performance, meals, and evening activities. Commuters arrive for their first class by 9AM, and can be picked up any time after evening activities conclude (usually around 8pm).
Check-in / Check-out
Check in begins at 2pm on Sunday of the week your camp begins. All medical, dietary, and consent forms must be completed in UltraCamp before arriving at camp. Additional information will be emailed to you approximately 4 weeks before camp begins.
Scholarships
Each year, the Arts Center raises funds for the scholarship program. If you are interested in applying for an Arts Center scholarship, please visit our website
Additional Information
To request disability accommodations, or other special requests, please contact the Arts Center at least two weeks in advance of camp. More information about camp and all of the opportunities available at the Shell Lake Arts Center can be found on our website.
Participants are admitted without regard to race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. The Shell Lake Arts Center is an inclusive organization, and we accept all artists and musicians.