Levine’s Jazz Department offers opportunities to develop musical skills and explore the art of jazz. Our world-class jazz faculty cultivates students’ technique and deepens their appreciation of jazz through performances focusing on renowned jazz musicians past and present. Whether you are a traditionally trained student who is curious about the world of jazz or you are an experienced jazz musician looking to expand your skills, Levine is the place to develop your talent.
For more information, contact the Jazz Department Chair, Bob Sykes at (202) 686-8000 x1115 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Private Lessons
Private lessons provide students with individual instruction with one of Levine’s talented faculty members and are geared towards the specific goals, needs and aspirations of each student regardless of experience or age. For new students, we take the time and ...
Levine offers private instruction year round in 22 instruments and voice – for the beginner, lifelong amateur, or budding virtuoso. Private lessons provide students with individual instruction with one of Levine’s talented faculty members and are geared towards the specific ...
Explore the many facets of violin technique in the performance of jazz, rock, blues, salsa and hip-hop; from Ellington to Bo Diddley, Puente to Tupac through private instruction. Applicants must be intermediate to advanced violinists, fluent at reading music.
For more ...
Group Classes
(Ages 16 - 21)
This monthly class provides advanced jazz guitar students with the opportunity to learn repertoire and play with each other in a coached environment. Students learn jazz repertoire similar to the requirements of a typical college undergraduate jazz program application. In each class, students analyze one or two songs from the standard repertoire, explore exercises in improvisation, listen to and discuss various recordings, and sight read as a group. Students may join upon the recommendation of their current Levine instructor.
Prerequisite: Students should be able to read basic music notation beyond the first position, understand basic chord charts using 7th chords such as those found in the “Real Book," and improvise on diatonic songs/blues using the blues scale. Students should be familiar with at least two closed-position voicings of the major scale, and should be studying jazz improvisation in their private lessons.Tuition: no additional charge (students must be enrolled in private lessons at Levine)
Day/time: Wednesdays 6:30-8:00pm
Class Dates: February 8, March 7, April 18, May 9, June 6, June 20 (6 meetings)For more information, contact Risa Carlson, Guitar Department Chair, at (202) 686-8000 x1104 or rcarlson@levineschool.org.
(Ages 11 - 18)
This fun-filled camp is a great opportunity for talented young musicians in middle and high school who are interested in performing rock, jazz or blues. Participants are grouped into bands based upon skill level, the wishes of friends to play together, and the type of music each person enjoys. During the week, students work to develop their performance and ensemble skills in their group, improve their technical and improvisational skills in instrument-specific sessions, gain experience in all three genres of rock, jazz, and blues, and enjoy workshops and demonstrations by Levine's stellar rock and jazz faculty. Each band will show off their skills in a final concert on Friday!
(Adults)
This three-day workshop is designed to give amateur jazz musicians an opportunity to come and expand their jazz experience under the direction of Levine's expert jazz faculty. The workshop includes small and large group jam sessions, level-specific jazz instructional sessions, as well as an end-of-weekend concert. The weekend is open to adult jazz musicians of all levels and to all instruments.
More information and enroll online(Ages 14 to Adult)
This course guides students through fundamental material about pitches, intervals, triads, seventh chords, voicing, harmonic progressions, chord substitutions and scales, including seven diatonic modes, blues scales and symmetrical scales. Students analyze recorded performances and also write their own jazz solos.
(Ages 12 to Adult)
Using elements of melody, harmony, rhythm, structure and expression, students of all instruments develop the ability to improvise in many styles, including jazz. Students also learn how to listen to and interact with each other while improvising in groups.
Ensemble Classes
(Ages 11 - 18)
This fun-filled camp is a great opportunity for talented young musicians in middle and high school who are interested in performing rock, jazz or blues. Participants are grouped into bands based upon skill level, the wishes of friends to play together, and the type of music each person enjoys. During the week, students work to develop their performance and ensemble skills in their group, improve their technical and improvisational skills in instrument-specific sessions, gain experience in all three genres of rock, jazz, and blues, and enjoy workshops and demonstrations by Levine's stellar rock and jazz faculty. Each band will show off their skills in a final concert on Friday!
(Ages 12 - 18)
Now offered in Virginia and Maryland!
This ensemble offers training for middle school and high school students who wish to play in a jazz band. Students study jazz repertoire, develop improvisation skills and build on their ability to work as a group. Past performances have included the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, and Taste of Arlington. Please note that an audition is required.
