Join us for the Summer Jazz Camp
Students in grades 7-12 are invited to our campus for a fun week of learning skills concerning jazz combo performance and improvisation.
2026 Camp Details
Date
June 15-20, 2026
Grades
7-12
Cost
$395-550
St. Mary’s University Summer Jazz Camp
Join us for a structured week of jazz combo rehearsals, instrumental masterclasses, jazz improvisation and theory workshops, guided listening sessions, daily performances by members of the St. Mary’s Jazz Faculty and a final concert.
The Jazz Camp is open to middle school and high school students in grades 7-12.
Jazz Combo Rehearsal
Students will meet together as part of a jazz combo, rehearsing music in preparation for an end-of-the-week performance. Students will have the opportunity to work with an esteemed member of the St. Mary’s Jazz Faculty in preparation for the concert.
Instrumental Masterclasses
Each student (saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, bass, drums) will meet together with their instrument-specific Jazz Faculty teacher to learn fundamentals specific to their instrument. The focus will be on advancing each student’s playing abilities in a jazz context.
Guided Listening/Improvisation/Jazz Theory
Students will explore the basics of learning how to listen to seminal recordings within the jazz tradition and learn to improvise in a small group jazz setting. For beginner, intermediate and advanced students, these sessions center more specifically on learning and advancing fundamentals and techniques to enhance the students’ skills concerning jazz improvisation. Members of the Jazz Faculty will also supplement each of the students with jazz theory material (e.g., improvisation patterns, chord voicings, etc.).
Placement Auditions
The first day of jazz camp will include placement auditions to ensure that each student is placed in the appropriate jazz combo that affords them the best opportunity for advancing as a musician. The placement auditions are supportive and encouraging and will help our Jazz Faculty place students in jazz combos that will allow them to have the best experience at camp.
The placement auditions will occur on the first day of the Summer Jazz Camp (following Welcome and Registration) at 9:30 a.m. Members of the Jazz Camp Staff will guide you to your placement audition locations.
Audition Materials
Beginner Level Audition Materials
Horns
(Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones and others)
Prepared Melody
Sonnymoon for Two
by Sonny Rollins.
Play the melody twice.
Guitar, Piano and Bass
Prepared Melody
Sonnymoon for Two by Sonny Rollins.
Play the melody twice.
Drums
Styles
Drummers should play examples of the following styles.
- Swing
- Play one chorus of 12-Bar Blues; quarter note equals 100 beats per minute.
- Bossa Nova
- Play sixteen measures; quarter note equals 120 beats per minute.
Preparation
Use the following to prepare.
- Jazz Blues Play-Along
- Swing; twelve measures; quarter note equals 100 beats per minute
- Bossa Nova Play-Along
- Sixteen measures; quarter note equals 120 beats per minute.
Beginner Level
Intermediate Level Audition Materials
Horns
(Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, and others)
Prepared Melody
Bags’ Groove by Milt Jackson.
Play the melody twice, followed by two improvised choruses.
Guitar, Piano and Bass
Prepared Melody
Bags’ Groove by Milt Jackson.
Play the melody twice, followed by two improvised choruses.
Drums
Styles
Drummers should play examples of the following styles.
- Bags’ Groove
- Swing; play four choruses of 12-Bar Blues; quarter note equals 110 beats per minute.
- Bossa Nova
- Play thirty-two measures; quarter note equals 120 beats per minute.
Preparation
Use the following to prepare.
- Bags’ Groove Play-Along
- Forty-eight measures; quarter note equals 110 beats per minute.
- Bossa Nova Play-Along
- Thirty-two measures; quarter note equals 120 beats per minute.
Intermediate Level
Advanced Level Audition Materials
Horns
(Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, and others)
Scales — Play the following scales.
Prepared Melody 1 — Doxy by Sonny Rollins.
Play the melody twice, followed by two improvised choruses.
Use the following links to prepare for Doxy.
Prepared Melody 2 — Blue Bossa by Kenny Dorham.
Play the melody twice, followed by two improvised choruses.
Use the following links to prepare for Blue Bossa.
Guitar, Piano and Bass
Scales — Play the following scales.
Prepared Melody 1 — Doxy by Sonny Rollins.
Play the melody twice, followed by two improvised choruses.
Use the following links to prepare for Doxy.
Prepared Melody 2 — Blue Bossa by Kenny Dorham.
Play the melody twice, followed by two improvised choruses.
Use the following links to prepare for Blue Bossa.
Drums
Styles
Drummers should play examples of the following styles.
- Doxy
- Swing; play four choruses of a 16-Bar Form; quarter note equals 130 beats per minute.
- Ballad with Brushes
- Play sixteen measures; quarter note equals 65 beats per minute.
- Blue Bossa
- Play four choruses; quarter note equals 155 beats per minute.
Preparation
Use the following links to prepare for playing the styles listed above.
- Doxy Play-Along
- Sixty-four measures; quarter note equals 130 beats per minute.
- In a Sentimental Mood Play-Along
- Ballad; sixteen measures with brushes; quarter note equals 65 beats per minute.
- Blue Bossa Play-Along
- Sixty-four measures; quarter note equals 155 beats per minute.
Advanced Level
Camp Fee
Commuter Option
$395 per student.
Includes camp tuition, lunch Monday through Friday, sheet music, folder, badge with name and schedule, bottled water and jazz camp T-shirt.
Residential Option
$550 per student.
Includes room and board at St. Mary’s, camp tuition, lunch Monday through Friday, sheet music, folder, badge with name and schedule, bottled water and jazz camp T-shirt.
Optional Fees
$30 Early Arrival: 8 to 8:45 a.m.
$30 Late Pick-up: 4 to 5 p.m.
Note: Fees are one-time total for the week.We officially open the band camp at 8 a.m. and require students to be picked up at the conclusion of the day by 4 p.m. every Monday to Friday. However, we can accommodate parents and guardians needing an earlier arrival and/or later pickup times.
Camp Schedule 2026
Monday through Friday
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Class and Rehearsal
Treadaway Recital Hall
Saturday
10 a.m.
Concert
Guadalupe Chapel
Opening Monday, June 15, 2026
| 9 a.m. | Welcome and Registration at Pecan Grove |
| 9:30 a.m. | Placement Auditions |
| 11:30 a.m. | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | Jazz Faculty Performance |
| 2:30 p.m. | Jazz Combo Rehearsals (students receive folders with music) |
Monday, June 15 Schedule
Tuesday, June 16, to Friday, June 19, 2026
| 9 a.m. | Instrumental Masterclass |
| 10 a.m. | Jazz Combo Rehearsals |
| 11:30 a.m. | Lunch |
| 12:45 p.m. | Guided Listening/Improvisation/Jazz Theory |
| 2 p.m. | Jazz Combo Rehearsals |
| 3:15 p.m. | Jazz Faculty Performance |
Tuesday through Friday, June 16-19 Schedule
Saturday, June 20, 2026
| 10 a.m. | Concert featuring the Summer Jazz Camp Combos |
Saturday, June 20 Schedule
Contact
For more information about the St. Mary’s University Summer Jazz Camp, contact Adrian Ruiz, D.M.A., Director of Jazz Studies.
Adrian Ruiz
Director of Jazz Studies
210-436-1386
aruiz22@stmarytx.edu