NCCU Summer Jazz Band Camp for K-12 Teachers and Adults

Gain Hands-on Experience

Gain hands-on experience in large and small ensembles while sharpening your jazz pedagogy in improv and rhythm section teaching. Open to all skill levels with vocal tracks available, this four-day Durham camp offers 25 continuing education units (CEUs) to inspire you and your students.

Registration will open soon!

Why Attend

Experience jazz from the inside out with North Carolina Central University Jazz! This four-day intensive immersion into “Eagle Jazz” invites K-12 music educators and adults to spend time in Durham making music, sharpening their performance skills, and expanding their pedagogical approach to jazz teaching. Whether you are new to teaching jazz or a seasoned educator, this hands-on workshop will motivate both you and your students.

Large and Small Ensemble Playing: Perform and gain practical experience playing in both big band and combo settings.
Improvisation and Listening: Improve your improvisation skills, participate in "Intro to Improv" and "Improv in Action," and listen to classic recordings to develop critical listening skills.
Rhythm Section 101: Learn to play rhythm section instruments to better guide your students.
Pedagogy for All Levels: Gain invaluable pedagogical experience tailored to teaching beginning, intermediate, and advanced jazz students.
Complete Vocal Jazz Track: A full vocal jazz track is available, featuring a dedicated rhythm section on site all four days to work directly with vocalists.
All Experience Levels Welcome: No jazz experience? No problem!

Event Details and Registration Information

Dates: June 28–July 1, 2027
Daily Hours: 9 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Location: BN Duke Auditorium Complex, 1801 Fayetteville St., Durham, NC
Cost: $200
Continuing Education: Earn 25 CEUs for four full days of playing and learning.

Registration will open soon!

Typical Daily Schedule

Block 1: Jazz Combo/Intro to Improv
Block 2: Jazz Band
Lunch: Campus Cafeteria
Block 3: Rhythm Section 101/Improv in Action
Block 4: Jazz Band

About NCCU Jazz Studies

Founded by legendary trumpeter Donald Byrd and designated an NCCU Area of Distinction, the Jazz Studies program at North Carolina Central University is recognized as one of the premier collegiate jazz programs in the nation. In 1979, NCCU became the first university in North Carolina to offer a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, later expanding to include comprehensive vocal jazz studies and Master of Music degree concentrations in performance, composition, and arranging.

Legacy of Excellence and World-Class Mentorship

Distinguished Faculty: Students learn directly from an acclaimed faculty alongside world-renowned Artists-in-Residence, including saxophonist Branford Marsalis and pianist Joey Calderazzo.
Global Stages: NCCU big bands, combos, and vocal ensembles regularly perform and earn top honors at premier venues worldwide, including Jazz at Lincoln Center (taking first place in the 2023 Jack Rudin Collegiate Competition), the Newport Jazz Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the White House.
Comprehensive Pedagogy: Dedicated to preserving the integrity of the jazz art form, the program emphasizes deep historical foundation, ensemble performance, advanced improvisation, and rigorous pedagogical training that prepares graduates as versatile performers, arrangers, and music educators.

Visit the Music Department