Union Jazz Institute

The Union Jazz Institute (UJI) at Paradise Valley Community College is an intensive jazz preparatory program for young musicians, with an equal emphasis on musical performance and jazz education. Students participating in the program will perform in one of the institutes’ jazz combos and will study improvisation, jazz theory, jazz history, musical composition and jazz arranging. This unique educational opportunity is specifically designed for high school students and 1st-year college students, ages 15-19. Acceptance into the program is by audition only and is limited to a maximum of 16 students. Selected students will attend the program completely free of charge as all associated tuition costs and fees will be paid by the college in the form of a scholarship through the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, a 501©3 non-profit organization. Faculty members from PVCC’s Division of Fine & Performing Arts and guest artists will provide instruction for the entire program.

Instrumentation for the program will include:

Piano, Bass, Drums, Guitar, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Voice

Accepted students will be enrolled for a 1-credit music ensemble course at PVCC (MUP 181).

The $104 cost of tuition and fees will be completely covered through Fine Arts scholarships.

Program of Study – Wednesday Evenings at PVCC:

5:00p-5:50p – Jazz Combo A Rehearsal (max of 8 students)

6:00p-6:50p – Group Instruction (all students in program/max of 16)

7:00p-7:50p - Jazz Combo B Rehearsal (max of 8 students)

Group Instruction Topics (Two topics presented each week/25-minutes each):

1. Improvisation

2. Jazz History

3. Jazz Theory & Aural Skills

4. Jazz Composition/Arranging

Audition Information:

Auditions will be held in the Center for the Performing Arts (www.paradisevalley.edu/cpa)

Auditions will be by appointment only, call 602-787-6595 to schedule an audition

Audition Requirements:

Students should prepare two short pieces of contrasting style (uptempo, ballad, latin, etc.)

Students should prepare to improvise over a 12-bar blues in F major

Students may also be asked to sight read the melody from a well-known jazz standard

For additional information about the UJI or other fine and performing arts programs at PVCC, please contact Dr. Keith Kelly via email at  keith.kelly@paradisevalley.edu or by phone at 602-787-7345.