FAQ

Form of Payment

Payment for Jazz Camp West may be made by check, cash, money order, VISA or MASTER CARD. If you live outside of the United States, be careful to send money orders recognized by American banks in the equivalent of U.S. dollars.

All balances are due by June 1st in order to receive your $50 discount.

Housing

Jazz Camp West is held at a YMCA camp which has a myriad of cabins with approximately 6 bunkbeds in each. All cabins have electricity and heating. Everyone will have both the top and bottom bunk. You can place your belongings on either bed and use the other for sleeping.Sarah Vaughan cabins have a shared bathroom with shower. Thelonius Monk Cabins have a bathroom close by with several showers and toilets.

All cabins are separated male/female and are specifically arranged with several things in mind. Most cabins will be mixed ages often with both teenagers and adults together. We do our best to house people carrying heavy instruments in a location closest to where there classes will be held. If you have a roomate request, feel free to let us know and we will make sure to house you together. If you know that you snore, please let us know in advance and we can try to make special arrangements.

Many people prefer to camp throughout the week. This affords privacy and there are a myriad of places on the site that one can pitch a tent. Anyone interested in camping will need to bring their own tents and camping necessities such as sleeping pads, cots, extention cords, etc.

Some people may prefer to stay off site. View our list of off-site accomodations.

There are many other accomodations in Half Moon Bay, about a 30 minute drive from our site. Please call the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce for more housing info there.

Food

YMCA Camp Jones Gulch provides the food for us during the week of camp. Food is served buffet style and there is always a vegetarian alternative. Every lunch and dinner has a salad bar and there is always fresh fruit available. Meals are well rounded and robust, often with fresh bread. Coffee and tea are available throughout the day, and each evening after our faculty concert, the kitchen prepares a yummy dessert such as cookies or brownies. The menu for the week of camp will be prepared a few weeks in advance of the week, and if you have particular questions, you can e-mail or call.

If you have a particular food concern, we cannot prepare special meals for individuals. However, there are some refrigerators on site and you are welcome to bring extra food with you to make sure you have whatever you need.

Scholarships/Work Study

Living Jazz (formerly Rhythmic Concepts, Inc.) has a strong commitment to scholarships. We try to make Jazz Camp available to as many low-income people as possible. All scholarships are based on financial need and are considered workstudy positions. Anyone receivng a scholarship will be asked to help with a task during the week of camp. Workstudy jobs are assigned on the first day of the program. Workstudy jobs take approximately one hour a day. Examples of what you might be asked to do would be adjunctive clean up crew, office support, equipment movers, etc. Please read the scholarship information and let us know if you would like to be sent a scholarship/workstudy application in the mail. We always need a crew of people to help on the first day of camp to set up equipment. This is one of the most important workstudy positions. If you are planning to apply for a scholarship and think you can arrive early to help set up, let us know.

Ages

Ages range from 15 through seniors. We usually have about 40 teenagers out of approximately 250 students attending the program. Occasionally we will allow someone younger if they are serious about their music, and are mature enough to be in an adult environment. There is a teen point person on site throughout the week, but we do not provide extra counselors for our teenagers. Parents of all teens must feel comfortable having their child be in an adult setting. Teenagers must be self-motivated, be able to adhere to all camp rules and policies, and enjoy being in a setting where there are mixed ages in classes and cabins. All teenagers and parents will be required to sign a rules and regulations sheet in advance of camp.

There is a teen point person on site throughout the week. This person, along with Stacey Hoffman, Executive Director, meets with all the teens on the first day of the program to get acquainted, answer questions, and go over all rules and regulations. The teen point person will be available to help with any concerns or problems that might arise during our stay at camp.

Schedule of Events

All participants arrive between 10:00 and 11:00 am on tne first Saturday. After registration, people can unpack and settle in their cabins. There is an outdoor BBQ at Noon. After lunch there will be a tour of the site at 1:00. There is an all-camp meeting at 2:00 pm where the faculty will be introduced and the program will be explained. After the all-camp meeting, evaluations for the vocal intensive, advanced vocal ensemble and combos will be held. Everyone will be asked to sign up for the classes they would like to take on sheets posted in the dining hall for the rest of the afternoon. Most classes are not limited in size. Dinner will be served at 6:30 and the first faculty concert wil be held at 8:15, which will be an exciting faculty sampler. After the concert, dessert will be served and we will hold our first faculty led jam session.

Classes start in at 9:00 am the following morning. People have the option of taking up to 6 one hour classes per day. Our student performance time (open mic) is then held at 5:30 in the amphitheatre. Dinner is served at 6:30, faculty concerts typically start at 8:15 each evening and we always hold a faculty led jam session in the dining hall after the concert is over.

All participants will stay in the same classes throughout the week. Friday evening, the final dance performance and Gospel Choir concert is held in the dining hall and then we all walk over to the amphitheatre for our Latin Big Band performance and final dance party! The final day (Saturday), we will hold a half day student performance and out-door picnic; and things finish up around 2-3:00 pm. Friends and family are invited to attend the events on the last day. All workstudy students are asked to stay until 5pm to help close up camp.

Guests

Jazz Camp West discourages guests visiting during the week. This assures privacy and safety for our participants. If there is a visitor on site, they must check in at the office and all meals must be paid for. Friends and familty are encouraged to visit on the final day.

Instruments

Jazz Camp West does not provide instruments. There are a limited amount of pianos, drum kits and amps for students to use in classes.

ALL CAMPERS MUST BRING YOUR INSTRUMENTS.

Drummers, this includes you! We now have a huge, indoor drum room (Elvin’s Drum Zone) where you can set up your kit (and rug) for the week. Percussionists – bring your instruments. Electric keyboards are optional. (We have a new, piano room - Piedmont Piano Lab).

Don't forget your amplifiers and amp cords, extension cords, guitar strings, reeds, music stands, etc. As well as all class materials: manuscript paper, fake books, blank tapes, portable tape recorders, charts, batteries, pens and pencils.

If you plan to take the Sibelius class you need to bring your laptop. We will provide the Sibelius program for everyone, both MAC and PC. If you don’t have a laptop, of course, you are still welcome to attend this class.

We will be offering an early morning Yoga Class. Please bring your mats.

Dancers - Bring jazz shoes for the jazz class; aerobic shoes for hip-hop, and comfortable shoes for Salsa. All dance classes will be taught on wood floors. Also bring sweatshirts, leotards, tights, sweat pants, etc.

We also suggest bringing a dolly or suitcase carrier with bungee cords for moving heavy instruments around. The site is quite large and you may need to walk quite a distance at times. A carrier with wheels can be very helpful if you have a heavy instrument!

Curriculum

The curriculum for Jazz Camp West will not be complete until about a month before the program begins. Last year's curriculum is now posted on the web and will give you a very good idea of the types of classes we will be offering. If you have a specific question about the curriculum for this year, feel free to inquire.