San Jose Jazz

Unlock your potential in our two-week learning lab led by some of the region’s best teaching artists. Designed for middle and high school students with backgrounds ranging from intermediate, our camp offers all-day immersion in every aspect of jazz—from theory to performance. Each student participates in both a small ensemble and a big band, and one advanced ensemble will be chosen to play on the Main Stage of the 2015 San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, August 7-9.

You’ll gain extraordinary experience in performance, music theory, improvisation, composition, ear training, performance and more.  Questions? Contact Camp Director Wally Schnalle at wallys@sanjosejazz.org.

Curriculum

• Big band and combos
• Vocal groups and solos
• Latin percussion lab
• Straight ahead, Latin jazz and fusion
• Music Theory
• Ear Training
• Instrument training
• Improvisation
• Music tech
• Sight reading
• Arranging
• Composition
• Performance

Wally Schnalle, Camp Director

Wally Schnalle is a recording artist, composer, educator, clinician and bandleader with a long history of working with San Jose Jazz and performing and recording with the finest musicians in the Bay Area and beyond. In addition, Wally is an editor and columnist for DRUM! Magazine, a position he has held for 20 years. As an educator and clinician, Wally has actively shared his knowledge at schools, camps, clinics, and private lessons. As a professional drummer, Wally performs and teaches in many genres, including Latin, funk, rock, and blues, but his emphasis has always been jazz and fusion. Wally has performed with many recording artists, including Phil Woods, Ernie Watts, Bill Henderson, Med Flory, Dave Pell, and Mary Wilson. He has performed widely, including gigs at San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, Monterey Jazz Festival, Yoshi’s Jazz Club, Portland Jazz Festival, San Francisco’s Jazz in the City series, and much more. He has released eight CDs of original compositions and performed on countless CDs with other artists. The California Arts Council awarded Mr. Schnalle an Artist in Residence Grant and Santa Clara University School of Music and Dance awarded him a Compositional Commission. Wally is sponsored by Pearl Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Drum Sticks, and Earthwork High Definition Microphones. Wally earned his Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance at San Jose State University.

We recently spoke with Wally about his long-time involvement with San Jose Jazz and his plans for this year’s camp. You can read it on our blog here.