June 23-28
Jazz Camp Week II
Join us this summer to make your own jazz history.
Residential Tuition…………..$895
Commuter Tuition…………..$695
- For Students grades 6-12
- Adult registration as Commuter and only with instructor consent
About
For more than 55 years, the Master Teachers of the Shell Lake Arts Center Jazz Camps have launched the careers for some of America’s most acclaimed young jazz musicians: Ethan Iverson (The Bad Plus), Geoff Keezer (Art Blakey, David Sanborn), Lyle Mays (Pat Metheny Group), Bill Evans Saxophone (Miles Davis, Randy Brecker), Trumpeter Byron Stripling (Count Basie, Woody Herman).
This camp is intended for:
vibes
Electric Bass
String bass
Electric Guitar
Drumset
Piano
trumpet
Trombone
Alto Saxophone
tenor saxophone
baritone saxophone
Other Instruments with approval of the camp director.
Placement Screening
Whether you’re just starting out studying jazz, or are an accomplished, passionate performer continuing your studies, this camp is for you! All levels of experience are accepted-from beginner to advanced. Students receive a personal private placement screening on Sunday when they arrive in Shell Lake. They are matched with others of the same abilities and technical skills.
Wind Instruments should be prepared to demonstrate the following:
- Full-range chromatic scale from your lowest note to your highest note
- At least three major scales of your choice, two octaves or full-range if possible.
- Sight-reading of a swing jazz etude excerpt. (faculty will choose the piece)
- Optional (but highly recommended) prepared jazz etude of your choosing.
- Optional improvisation (but highly recommended) on a 12 bar blues. Student can choose the key they prefer for this.
Pianos should be prepared to demonstrate the following:
- A jazz standard
- A 12 bar jazz blues
- An excerpt from a classical or ragtime piece
- Students should improvise on chord changes from a standard jazz tune and/or blues progression.
- Note: If you have an additional prepared piece (ie a jazz solo transcription) , please let the faculty member hearing your audition know before you begin.
Guitars should be prepared to demonstrate the following:
- 1) A comping pattern for blues in B-flat or F.
- If you know a blues melody in one of these keys (i.e., “Tenor Madness”), you may play it as well.
- Note: If you have an additional prepared piece (ie a jazz solo transcription) , please let the faculty member hearing your audition know before you begin
Basses should be prepared to demonstrate the following:
- A walking blues bass line in the key of B-flat or F.
- Note: If you have an additional prepared piece (ie a jazz solo transcription) , please let the faculty member hearing your audition know before you begin.
Percussion should be prepared to demonstrate the following:
- Various drum set styles (swing, latin, rock, etc.).
- Sight-reading a jazz excerpt
- Improvising a drum solo on a Jazz Standard or 12 Bar Blues.
- Note: If you have an additional prepared piece (ie a jazz solo transcription) , please let the faculty member hearing your audition know before you begin.
Sample Schedule
Wake-up
7:15 a.m.
Breakfast
8:00 a.m.
Masterclass
9:00 a.m.
Big Band Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.
Improvisation
11:00 a.m.
Lunch
12:00 p.m.
Listening Class
1:00 p.m.
Big Band Rehearsal
2:00 p.m.
Combo Rehearsal
3:30 p.m.
Individual Practice Time/Private Lessons/Free Time
Dinner
5:00 p.m.
Evening Concerts/Camp Activities
7:00 p.m.
Free Time
Lights-out
10:00 p.m.
About the Instructor
Riley Helgeson is an in-demand lead and jazz trumpet player as well as a composer based in Minneapolis/Saint Paul, MN. Helgeson has toured North America and Europe with Sonny Knight and the Lakers, Friendly Fires (UK), and his own project, McNasty Brass Band. He has also performed on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” with Minneapolis-based McNasty Brass Band. His performances have been broadcast on MPR, The Current, and “The Lowertown Line” at Twin Cities PBS.
He has had the honor to perform with O.A.R., PJ Morton, Marie Osmond, Stokely, Fred Wesley(James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic) and John “Jabo” Starks(Bobby Bland, James Brown).
Other notable performances include shows at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts (MN), Fitzgerald Theater (MN), the Armory (MN), First Avenue (MN), the Fonda Theater (Los Angeles), The Fillmore (San Francisco), Monterey Jazz Festival (CA), Rochester Jazz Festival (NY), Saratoga Springs Jazz Festival (NY), Twin Cities Jazz Festival (MN), Winnipeg Jazz Festival (MB), and Pori Jazz Festival (Finland).
He serves on the jazz faculty of Shell Lake Arts Center, WI, maintains a private trumpet studio in the Twin Cities, and is trumpet faculty at Century College in White Bear Lake, MN.
Riley Helgeson is an XO Brass artist.
Helgeson holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Trumpet Performance from University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
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.