The Detroit Jazz Workshop, created in 2009 by myself and co-run with my wife, Delaine Miller, was born out of a need to provide jazz education in a weeklong summer workshop format to all levels, all ages, and all instruments. The results of this are the half-day workshop at MSU-Detroit building, Summer Jazz Week.
Most summer workshops are either recruiting devices for schools or camps for high school age students. They cater to mostly traditional jazz instruments and request an intermediate to advanced level of musicianship.
The Summer Jazz Week, with 22 jazz instructors and mentors, carefully places students in groups where they can be empowered in their creativity to learn in this half-day format. Students of every instrument and age can study because we are divided into levels. There is also a vocal jazz and middle school workshop to further help certain jazz musicans.
The SJW is affordable, offering online registration from January to June in approach of it's July workshop.
Many great jazz musicians have come through our workshop and we are proud to offer this service to SE Michigan and beyond.