The Clarence Acox Jazz Scholars
Bringing jazz into the classroom.
Jazz Scholars is SRJO's school-partnered program, providing jazz technique and instrumental music lessons for low-income band students from marginalized communities. The program began at Denny International Middle School in southwest Seattle.
Alex Dugdale directs Jazz Scholars, which has recently expanded to include programs at Chief Sealth International High School, Aki Kurose Middle School, Concord Elementary, Highland Park Elementary School, Roxhill Elementary, Sanislo Elementary, and West Seattle Elementary.
Professional instructors selected by Alex provide weekly individual or group lessons in the six areas of band instrumentation: saxophone and reeds, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, and drums. All instructors are experienced music teachers and active performers in the Seattle area.
The project goal is to increase the amount and quality of access these underserved communities have to music training that will enhance the experience of students and provide them with the same learning opportunities as their peers in the rest of the city.
As our Jazz Scholars Director Alex Dugdale says “for me, music did more than enhance my social experience turning a time of tumultuous change into an exciting journey of self-discovery, it taught me discipline, it taught me that feelings are good to have and gave me a safe space to express those feelings.”
Music is an essential part of learning, yet these programs that build a non-exclusive community are first to have their budgets cut. Music teachers are pioneers of equitable grading and setting inclusive standards and redefining success for all students. These teachers are not getting the support they deserve and are unable to do their best by their students. Please support these amazing educators and their amazing students.
Jazz Scholars has a goal of having jazz scholars coaches giving lessons in 20 Seattle area schools. It would cost $80.000 a year for us to do that. We hope to partner with like-minded people to achieve this goal!
If you would like to support our goals of getting instruments into the hands of any child who wants one, please contribute generously.
Professional instructors selected by SRJO provide weekly individual or group lessons in the six areas of band instrumentation: saxophone and reeds, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, and drums. All instructors are experienced music teachers and active performers in the Seattle area. The instructors provide individual and small group lessons and occasionally assist band director Marcus Pimpleton in sectional rehearsals for the entire jazz band.
The overall project goal is to demonstrate "best practices" for providing essential music training that will permit these students to succeed. We hope to achieve a stable individual music lesson program at Denny, with a diversified funding base; the creation of a successful model demonstrating how to support low-income middle school band programs; and the possible inclusion of the Jazz Scholars program in other schools.
We have long known that music study encourages individual cognitive improvement and growth in areas of study other than music, including reading and mathematics. Participation in band, orchestra, and chorus also teaches students crucial social skills, including organization and leadership, cooperation with others toward a goal, acceptance of direction, and active mastery of skills they love.
SRJO also provides donated instruments to students who cannot afford to buy their own.
The SRJO is proud to support Jazz Scholars and has long term goals to expand the program's reach to other middle schools in the Seattle area. We hope to partner with like-minded people to achieve this goal!
SRJO has the goal of putting the Clarence Acox Jazz Scholars into 20 Seattle area schools. It would cost $80.000 a year for us to do that. If you would like to support our goals of getting jazz instruments into the hands of any child who wants one, please contribute generously.