Nonprofit

Jazz House Kids

Montclair, NJ | www.jazzhousekids.org
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About Us

Jazz House Kids is a Montclair-based grassroots organization that has gained a reputation as one of the nation’s preeminent arts education and performance organizations. Our mission is to transform lives by helping students gain an “artistic edge” using jazz as an exciting teaching tool to build a foundation based on music, mentoring, education and apprenticeship. Jazz House Kids celebrates the internationally revered art form of jazz, and is dedicated to bridging the gap in music education in our schools and communities.

We’re really proud of our in-school achievements, which include providing daily music programs for at-risk youth in underserved schools, leading a jazz choir and instrumental music program for students with special needs, and putting instruments in the hands of kids who were sitting on the sidelines. We’ve been equally active outside the classroom, with the 2013 opening of our Jazz House music studio in downtown Montclair that serves students from more than 40 New Jersey communities. We offer robust year-round classes and the acclaimed Jazz House Summer Workshop taught by our esteemed faculty; provide tuition assistance for 40% of our student body; and lead award-winning ensembles and a professional track for emerging musicians. Each year, our programs feature internationally acclaimed artists under the direction of Artistic Chair and multi-Grammy Award-winning bassist Christian McBride. Through the study of jazz, students from all backgrounds enhance their academic achievement and develop essential life skills.

In 2014, our organization and students won nearly 40 national awards, including nominations as U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, DownBeat student music awards, and ASCAP Foundation awards. In 2014, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts honored Jazz House Kids with a Citation of Excellence. JazzTimes calls Jazz House Kids “one of the most successful and respected jazz education programs in the country.” 

Jazz House Kids is a Montclair-based grassroots organization that has gained a reputation as one of the nation’s preeminent arts education and performance organizations. Our mission is to transform lives by helping students gain an…

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