Camp Heebie Jeebies
 What Happens at Camp    

Dixieland band rehearsals: The faculty places all students into Dixieland-style bands according to ability.  At the 2003 camp, there were six Dixieland bands each having between 8-10 players.  These bands are all taught by capable instructors (many of our faculty have been or are currently music teachers).  They may play from arrangements or from lead lines with chord symbols.  Whichever method is chosen, the group will perform at least two numbers at the student concert at the end of the week.  Students are encouraged but not required to play improvised solos.  Vocal students who do not play an instrument meet with the vocal instructor during these rehearsals.
 

Improvisation: While the students are still in their Dixieland band rehearsal location, instructors switch places for the improvisation class so that the students receive a different instructor’s perspective on improvising.  This method gives our well-qualified faculty an opportunity to interact with more students, and it also gives the students valuable practice on their soloing techniques.
 

Sectionals: During this class, the students get a chance to meet with all the other students who play the same instrument and have a group lesson with the faculty member who has the most expertise on that instrument.  Here the students can ask questions about their particular instrument and their own playing techniques, and they can also set up times for private lessons with that instructor.
 

Big Band Rehearsals: Because the Big Band Era followed the Dixieland Era so closely, Camp Heebie Jeebies has always included this popular style of jazz.  The Big Band style is more familiar than Dixieland is to a lot of the students who have jazz bands in their schools.  It gives them a chance to rehearse and perform tunes like “In The Mood” and many other great jazz tunes.  Students also play improvised solos in the big bands, and it is a challenge for them to play in a band with people they’ve never met before and put together some great music for the final concert in only five days!
 

Noontime and Evening Performances: Every day during the lunch hour, students and/or faculty are encouraged to provide impromptu performances for the group (it doesn’t have to be trad jazz)..  The first day usually one or more of the faculty perform to let the students have a day to work something up.  By the end of the week, there are always more performers than there is time to perform!  Each evening at 8:00 the faculty jazz band performs for the students (and the general public).   This is an opportunity for the students to hear how traditional jazz is played by the professionals.  For many of them, it is their first experience listening to this kind of music.  The faculty band usually makes a point of performing some of the tunes that the students bands are working on.  As the week goes on, students who feel comfortable are asked to sit in with the faculty band.