Press

January 5, 2012 – Vail, Colorado – Jazz Goes to School, the Vail Jazz Foundation’s jazz education program for 4 th and 5th graders, returns to Eagle County schools January 9-12. The program features a quintet of professional musician/educators who travel to all 16 local elementary schools to share their love of jazz and American history, and inspire young people to embrace jazz: America’s own art form.

This second session of the four part program examines the foundation of jazz music; the rhythm section. “We want to introduce the kids to the heart of jazz; the cool combination of drums, piano and bass forms the core of all jazz music”, said program director Tony Gulizia. “Now we add in the saxophone and percussion to create a clean cool sound they love.” continued Gulizia.

The children have the opportunity to not only hear the quintet play, but also to participate by playing special melodic and percussion instruments. Later in the Jazz Goes to School curriculum, the older students try their hand at creating jazz music. The final concert includes blues compositions created by the fifth graders, performed in medley at the final concert.

Gulizia is not the only one who appreciates how Jazz Goes to School makes a difference for local kids. Vail Resorts Echo, the company’s philanthropy program, has identified Jazz Goes to School as a necessary and valuable way to help bring the arts back into our schools. Parents of 4th and 5th graders are encouraged to attend their children’s program next week to share their enthusiasm for what they learn.

“Vail Resorts supports Jazz Goes to School as an incredibly important program that teaches the wonders of Jazz to the children of Eagle County,” said Nicky DeFord, Manager of Charitable Giving for Vail Resorts Echo.Tony Gulizia (keyboard and vocals), directs the Jazz Goes to School program for the Vail Jazz Foundation. Gulizia is joined by his brother Joey, who is also a professional jazz musician and educator, on drums. Other musician/educators performing this week include Andy Hall (bass), Roger Neumann (saxophone), and Michael Pujado (percussion).

About Jazz Goes To School

Jazz Goes to School, which is in its 15th year, supports and promotes the jazz art form with a focus on educating young musicians and young audiences – fulfilling the mission of the Vail Jazz Foundation.

Jazz Goes to School is presented by the Vail Jazz Foundation (VJF) to Eagle County 4 th and 5 th graders, including all public schools plus the Eagle County Charter Academy, Vail Mountain School, The Vail Academy, Stone Creek Elementary School and St. Clare of Assisi. Jazz Goes to School reaches over 1,100 students each year, and has exposed over 11,000 school students to a course about this uniquely American art form. The public is welcome to attend a session at one of the schools, please contact the Vail Jazz Foundation at 970-479-6146 to arrange a visit.

Jazz Goes to School offers a unique interactive learning experience that enhances the basic school curriculum and is provided free of charge, thanks to each school’s PTO and program sponsors, including Alpine Bank, Vail Resorts Echo, Vilar Center Community Performance Fund, Colorado Mountain Express (Official Transportation Provider), Eagle County RE-50J School District, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, United Way of Eagle River Valley, and other corporate sponsors and individual donors.