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). Join us this summer to make your own jazz history.
July 23 @ 2:00 pm - July 28 @ 8:00 pm
For students completing grades 6-12; Adult Registration as commuter only and with instructor consent.
Final Concert:
Friday, July 28, 2023 - 5:00pm at the Shell Lake Pavilion (Rain location Aderman Auditorium)
Instruments for this camp include:
Trumpet, Trombone,
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
Drum Set, Vibes
Electric Bass, String Bass
Electric Guitar
Piano
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.
All Wind Instruments should be prepared to demonstrate the following:
1) Full-range chromatic scale from your lowest note to your highest note
2) At least three major scales of your choice, two octaves or full-range if possible.
3) Sight-reading of a swing jazz etude excerpt. (faculty will choose the piece)
4) Optional (but highly recommended) prepared jazz etude of your choosing.
5) Optional improvisation (but highly recommended) on a 12 bar blues. Student can choose the key they prefer for this.
Piano
1) Be prepared to perform one of the following
a jazz standard
a 12 bar jazz blues
an excerpt from a classical or ragtime piece
2) Students should improvise on chord changes from a standard jazz tune and/or blues progression.
3) If you have an additional prepared piece (ie a jazz solo transcription) , please let the faculty member hearing your audition know before you begin.
Guitar
Be prepared to perform
1) A comping pattern for blues in B-flat or F.
2) If you know a blues melody in one of these keys (i.e., “Tenor Madness”), you may play it as well.
3) If you have an additional prepared piece (ie a jazz solo transcription) , please let the faculty member hearing your audition know before you begin.
Bass
Be prepared to perform :
1) a walking blues bass line in the key of B-flat or F.
2) 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
Be prepared to perform
1) Various drum set styles (swing, latin, rock, etc.).
2) Sight-reading a jazz excerpt
3) Improvising a drum solo on a Jazz Standard or 12 Bar Blues.
4) If you have an additional prepared piece (ie a jazz solo transcription) , please let the faculty member hearing your audition know before you begin.
Daily Schedule
7:15 Wake Up
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Masterclass
10:00 Big Band Rehearsal
11:00 Improvisation
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Listening Class
2:00 Big Band Rehearsal
3:30 Combo Rehearsals/Individual Practice Time/Private Lessons/Free Time
5:00 Dinner
7:00 Evening Concerts/Camp Activities
10:30 Lights Out
Tom Luer is a freelance saxophonist who resides in Los Angeles, CA, and is a D’Addario Woodwinds Performing Artist. His album “Project Popular” was released in 2011 to critical acclaim. Recent recording credits include John Beasley’s Grammy nominated albums “MONK’estra:Volume 1, 2, and 3” Dave Slonaker’s Grammy nominated “Intrada” and Grammy winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling’s “The Brill Building Project”. Tom has also recorded with Lee Ritenour, the Alan Chan Orchestra, Laura Dickenson, the Mike Barone Big Band, Wayne Bergeron Big Band, Cooper Phillips, the Bicoastal Collective, and Oliver Future. Music from Tom’s CD was featured in nationally broadcast promos…
Learn MoreQuestions? 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 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 $75.00 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 $725 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 $400 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).
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
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.
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.