February 6, 2007 – Vail, Colorado – The Vail Jazz Foundation’s (VJF) Jazz Goes to School program returns for its ninth year in Eagle County Schools the week of February 12-15, 2007.  This program offers an innovative and fully integrated approach to teaching music and social studies at the elementary school level.  And best of all, the kids think it’s cool! 

• The program is presented by the VJF to all fourth and fifth graders in everye public school of Eagle County, plus the Eagle County Charter Academy, Vail Mountain School, Stone Creek Elementary, Vail Academy and St. Clare of Assisi. This year, Jazz Goes to School will reach over 1,000 students as the program continues to expand to serve the ever-increasing student population. 

Jazz Goes to School is a fun and interactive program, formatted as a sequential series of four lessons that are presented inside each school.  The curriculum fully integrates jazz music education and social studies subjects, such as world/American geography and history, and has been embraced by school administrators and instructors, parents and the students.  The program creates an awareness at a younger level, thus creating future audiences and potentially, future jazz musicians.  Last year, Ms. Pinkus from Avon Elementary School said ‘The Vail Jazz Goes to School visits and our opportunity to come to the Vilar Center have had huge impact on our students.  It will give them an interest in music, history and an appreciation for the arts.  Thank you.”

For this third session, three professional musicians present a lesson that includes age-appropriate discussions of the history of jazz and the fundamental elements comprising jazz.  In addition there are demonstrations of the playing of instruments generally used in jazz and of famous jazz compositions and popular children’s songs in jazz style.  Tony Gulizia, Music Director for Jazz Goes To School, will be joined by his brother on drums and Andy Hall on bass.

This year’s program will culminate with a true jazz concert performed for the students at the Vilar Center for the Arts on April 20th.  The valley’s 1,000 fourth and fifth graders will be treated to a sextet performance by the Jazz Goes to School band, led by local musician, Tony Gulizia.

Parents of local fourth and fifth graders are encouraged to attend their student’s session February 12-15, 2007 at their children’s schools.  For more information, please contact the Vail Jazz Foundation at 970-479-6146.

Local jazz musician and professional jazz educator, Tony Gulizia (keyboard and vocals), directs the Jazz Goes to School program.  Tony’s brother, Joey (drummer) is also a professional jazz musician
and educator, co-presents the sessions.  Other professional musicians and clinicians who assist the Gulizia brothers include –Andy Hall (bass) and Roger Neuman (saxophone).

The fourth and final session scheduled for April 20, 2006 and will feature the 7th Annual Jazz Concert for Vail Valley Students at the Vilar Center for the Arts in Beaver Creek for all elementary school students participating in the program.  The Jazz Concerts demonstrate all of the concepts taught in the first three classroom sessions and featured music written and/or performed by the greatest jazz musicians in history as well as blues tunes written by the fifth grade students.

Jazz Goes to School is an interactive learning experience that is an extremely valuable enhancement of the basic school curriculum that would not otherwise be available to the students in the Eagle County public schools without the support of the Vail Jazz Foundation.  Jazz is America’s gift to the world and the Vail Jazz Foundation’s mission is to perpetuate jazz music through live performances that showcase the artistry and talent of great jazz musicians, and through jazz education, with a focus on young musicians and young audiences.  By taking jazz into the schools, the VJF hopes to create an awareness at a younger level, thus creating future audiences and potentially, future jazz musicians.

Jazz Goes to School is sponsored by:  Alpine Bank, Buckman/Blount Community Use Fund, City Market/The Kroger Foundation, Colorado Mountain Express (Official Transportation Provider), Eagle County RE-50J School District and PTOs, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Vail Valley Foundation, Vilar Center for the Arts Beaver Creek, Walmart Foundation, the Colorado Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, contact:
Robin Litt
The Vail Jazz Foundation
P.O. Box 3035, Vail, CO 81658
vjf@vailjazz.org
www.vailjazz.org