Press

December 31, 2013 – 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 13-16, 2014.

The program features a quintet of professional musician/educators who travel to 15 local elementary schools to share their love of jazz and American history, and inspire young people to embrace jazz: America’s own art form.

While September’s Session 1 focused on the origins of jazz and the rhythm section with handmade bongos and drums, this second session of the four part program adds in the horn 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 trumpet to create a clean cool sound they love” continued Gulizia.

Later in the Jazz Goes to School curriculum, the older students try their hand at writing their own 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 into our schools. “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. Additionally, Alpine Bank’s grant to The Vail Jazz Foundation provides funds to bring the accomplished jazz instructors into all elementary schools in the region.

“We encourage parents of 4th and 5th graders to attend their children’s programs to share their enthusiasm for what they’re learning. Their love for the program can be really infectious!” says Robin Litt, Executive Director of The Vail Jazz Foundation.

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 Mike Gurciullo (trumpet).

About Jazz Goes To School

Jazz Goes to School, which is in its 16th 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, Vail Christian Academy, Stone Creek Elementary Schools, and St. Clare of Assisi. Jazz Goes to School reaches over 1,100 students each year, and has exposed over 15,000 school students to the course about this uniquely American art form.

Elements of Jazz Goes to School will be presented in a summer program entitled Jammin’ Jazz Kids at the Vail Farmers’ Market as part of Vail Jazz’s weekly free Jazz @ The Market series in July, 2014.

The Vail Jazz Foundation is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2014.

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 Vail Resorts Echo, Alpine Bank, Colorado Mountain Express (Official Transportation Provider), Eagle County RE-50J School District, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, United Way of Eagle River Valley, Vilar Center Community Performance Fund, and East West Resorts, Antlers at Vail and other corporate sponsors and individual donors.