UMKC Jazz Camp

About Jazz Camp

Jazz Camp brings world class musicians and jazz educators to Kansas City to work with talented young instrumentalists. Participants form lasting friendships as they delve deep into an intensive week of studying jazz music which includes daily masterclasses with Jazz Camp faculty, theory and improvisation classes, listening sessions and more.

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Registration, Tuition and Fees

Registration and payment must be received by June 6, 2025. We do not offer refunds for our summer programs. All fees and deposits are non-refundable.

Online registration

If you register online, you will need an account with our online registration software. Creating an account is easy and just requires some contact information. Please contact us if you have any trouble creating or accessing your account.
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Mail in registration

Hard copy forms are available upon request.
Request a hard copy registration form

Special registration requests

If registration is being partially or fully funded by a student’s school or outside source, please contact us for special instructions.
Contact us

Registration fees

Tuition includes all classes, all scheduled events during the workshop, and lunch. This fee does not include overnight housing, breakfast or dinner.

Early bird registration - due Friday, April 11
- $425
Standard registration - due Friday, June 6
- $490

Optional extras

On-campus housing - $350 (high school students only)

Participants who choose to stay on campus will be housed in a UMKC residence hall. This fee includes WiFi access, bed linens (sheets and pillow), breakfast and dinner.

On-campus parking permit - $25

This will allow participants to park in any UMKC Student Parking Lot. Parking is limited on campus, so a permit is strongly encouraged for those who will be bringing a car.

Private lessons - $50/each

Students may purchase as many as 5 private lessons. Students may also indicate preferred faculty for lessons. These requests will be strongly considered, but due to scheduling are not guaranteed.

General schedule

June 23, 2025

8:30am - 9:00am - Program check-in
9:00am - 9:30am - Welcome meeting
9:30am - 11:00am - Studio class
11:00am - 12:00pm - Theory
12:00pm - 1:30pm - Lunch
1:30pm - 3:00pm - Ensembles
3:00pm - 4:00pm - Special topics
4:00pm - 5:00pm - Faculty demonstration/performance
5:00pm - 5:30pm - Program check-out (commuting students only)
5:00pm - 5:30pm - Dorm check-in
- Students may store their luggage and other dorm items in a safe and secured area during program check-in.

June 24-26, 2025

8:30am - 9:00am - Program check-in (commuting students only)
9:00am - 10:00am - Studio class
10:00am - 11:00am - Jazz history/listening class
11:00am - 12:00pm - Theory
12:00pm - 1:30pm - Lunch
1:30pm - 3:00pm - Ensembles
3:00pm - 4:00pm - Special topics
4:00pm - 5:00pm - Faculty demonstration/performance
5:00pm - 5:30pm - Program check-out (commuting students only)

June 27, 2025

8:30am - 9:00am - Program check-in (commuting students only)
9:00am - 10:00am - Studio class
10:00am - 11:00am - Jazz history/listening class
11:00am - 12:00pm - Theory
12:00pm - 1:30pm - Lunch
1:30pm - 2:30pm - Ensembles
2:30pm - 3:00pm - Dress rehearsal
3:00pm - 4:00pm - Grand finale concert

Check out

Program check-out for all students will occur immediately after the closing concert. All students must check out prior to departing.

Placement auditions

All students will be asked to submit a virtual audition prior to camp. This will be a low-stress, informal audition, and will help determine each participant’s placement in ensembles and theory classes (beginner, intermediate, or advanced) during the week. After registration closes on June 5, all participants will be emailed our welcome packet, which will include instructions for submitting your audition.

Students should plan to submit a video of themselves performing a jazz piece of their choice that they feel will showcase their abilities. If your child is new to jazz, they may play a non-jazz styled piece to help us access their playing level. Students will also be asked to complete a short online theory quiz. Students may be asked to match key signatures to their corresponding scales, and identify the notes in a chord, based on its name (ie: CMAJ, C7, Cdim, etc). Audition results will be posted on Monday morning before the start of classes.

Faculty Location and parking

Location and parking

James C. Olson Performing Arts Center (PAC) - 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, MO 64110

Students can be dropped off on the south side of the PAC, just in front of the main entrance. A staff member will be inside the lobby waiting to check students in as they arrive.

Parking

Students driving themselves that have purchased a parking pass can park in the Rockhill Parking Garage. If participants do not want to purchase a pass, they can park in the metered parking lot on the south side of Grant Hall. If students are going to be leaving the workshop by themselves, they will need to park within view of the check-out station (east side of building).

Detailed parking, drop-off and pick-up instructions will be provided in our welcome packet. Welcome packets are emailed to registered students after registration closes.

UMKC Volker Campus Map

Housing (optional)

Those wishing to stay close to camp events may want to register for on-campus housing. This $350 fee includes four nights in a UMKC dormitory room. Rooms in UMKC residence halls are set up suite-style, with either two or four rooms connected to a shared bathroom. During registration, participants will be able to indicate their preference for room style, but due to limited availability, we cannot guarantee that preferences will be honored. Participants will be housed in either the Oak Street or the Johnson Residence hall.

Detailed housing information will be provided in our welcome packet. Welcome packets are emailed to registered students after registration closes.

Housing dates

Check in - June 15
Check out - June 19

Housing staff

All programs that offer on-campus housing will have at least one male and one female staff member staying on the same floor as our participants and will be available to participants 24/7 in case of an emergency. Parents will be provided contact information for these staff members at program check-in.

Suitemates

During registration, students will have the option to request suitemates. In order for a request to be granted, both students must have requested each other. Students may make multiple requests in case they are placed in a four-room suite.

Meals

All meals will occur on the UMKC campus.

Students with special dietary restrictions should note this in their registration. Students must stay with the group, as students are not allowed to leave the campus without a chaperone. Students are welcome to bring snacks and water bottles. There are also vending machines and water fountains available in campus buildings. For those staying in dorms, each room contains a mini-fridge should students need to store food in them.
Students who will be providing their own meals: Students wishing to bring their own food from home are welcome to do so, but they still must stay with their group/chaperone during meals.
All participants will eat with a chaperoned group. Participants may not leave the group to eat elsewhere, unless a parent/guardian has put in a special request to pick-up their child. No food is allowed during rehearsals or concert events.

Meal options

Lunch (included with tuition)
- Lunch vouchers will be provided for all lunches during the camp. Meals will occur on the UMKC campus. Breakfast and dinner are not included in tuition.
Breakfast and dinner (included with overnight housing fee)

Peanut allergies

Please refrain from bringing peanuts or items with peanuts to the camp. We appreciate your cooperation in this regard.