CURRENT STUDENTS: The first rehearsals for our three groups HAVE BEEN DELAYED BY ONE WEEK to 12/12, 12/14, and 12/16, respectively. We are adding two more audition days on Tuesday, 12/5 and Saturday, 12/9 to give us an opportunity to fill some open slots in our ensembles. So for any young music students (grades 8-12) who are still interested in joining the VJC, GO AHEAD AND APPLY!
Here are our CURRENT OPENINGS:
Indigo (Tuesdays) – ONE TRUMPET, TWO TROMBONES
Cerulean (Thursdays) – ONE TRUMPET, ONE TROMBONE
Sapphire (Saturdays) – TWO TRUMPETS, THREE TROMBONES, GUITAR, DRUMS
Let's work together to see how we can involve you in the VJC! Learn more about our program by clicking HERE.
EDUCATORS: Check out our new Flexible Instrumentation Big Band charts, released by VJC Publications. You can listen to most of these publications HERE on the VJC YouTube channel. We've added 10 additional "flex." big band charts this fall and hope you will consider buying this great new music!
VJC Publications offers flex. charts that don't compromise. As such, these are exceptional investments for your ensemble library: Great charts to have during your program's most robust years...and absolute lifesavers during those occasional lean years, too. Please give them a look and a listen!
VJC HANG
Please note: This page provides information about the traditional VJC Hang (which will return to the schedule once live, in-person VJC rehearsals can resume). If you want to learn more about the online VJC Zoom Hang (launched in May 2020), please click here.
At the conclusion of each week’s rehearsal, VJC participants are strongly encouraged to stay for an additional instructional period, called “the Hang”. In that setting, group instruction will be offered for 50-60 minutes on a rotating series of topics. Subjects will include improvisation, theory, and jazz history, with additional topics to be explored based on the needs of program participants.
Guest clinicians sometimes attend these sessions to work with students on specific areas of interest. Similarly, guest artists are occasionally invited to the Hang to perform impromptu jazz concerts and field questions from students about the performances. And it is vitally important that the Hang also be a time for the group to build a stronger sense of community, sharing experiences in and out of music with
one another.
The VJC Hang is open to any music student interested in jazz (grades 8-12, including home-schooled students). Non-VJC ensemble participants must register in advance for every Hang they plan to attend. They also must submit a signed and completed VJC consent/release form at the first Hang they attend each school year. (One completed form is sufficient for the entire academic year.)
Registration ensures sufficient handouts are available each week to those in attendance. It also provides the instructor an opportunity to contact students about changes or cancellations in the Hang schedule (as for term breaks or conflicts with major in-state jazz festivals).
Please note the online registration deadline for each Hang is 12:00 noon on the day before the session.