EDUCATION

ColaJazz offers accessible and comprehensive jazz education opportunities.

ColaJazz makes jazz accessible and exciting for all ages. Whether you're a seasoned musician or just discovering the joy of improvisation, our camps, workshops, classes and radio shows offer a fun and engaging way to experience this incredible art form.

COLAJAZZ ACADEMY

Home to an exciting series of jazz classes, workshops and combos taught by authorities of their crafts.

  • We offer beginner, advanced and Latin combos. These weekly ensemble sessions elevates your skills culminating in a public concert. Under the guidance of seasoned ColaJazz instructors, you’ll be challenged and have fun honing your skills.

    EXPERT INSTRUCTORS:
    Learn from accomplished jazz mentors.

    JAZZ THEORY:
    Build a solid foundation with in-depth theoretical knowledge.

    STANDARDS:
    Refine your technique with hands-on practice of jazz essentials.

    IMPROVISATION:
    Unlock your creative potential and take your improvisation to new heights.

    WEEKLY ENSEMBLE:
    Collaborate with fellow musicians in dynamic combo sessions.

    GRAND FINALE CONCERT:
    Showcase your progress in a final public performance out on the town.

  • ColaJazz offers a unique series of jazz classes and workshops taught by authorities in Jazz. These sessions are for anyone who enjoys learning, growing, and exploring jazz music. Classes range from theory, history, arranging, business, styles, and more! 

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COLAJAZZ CAMPS


SUMMER JAZZ CAMPS
Since 2016, ColaJazz has been offering immersive summer camps for jazz enthusiasts of all ages. From middle and high school students to adult jazz cats, our camps provide an exceptional and transformative experience.

Participants engage in large ensembles, small combos, jazz theory, improvisation, and a variety of electives like marketing, budgeting, and social media. The camp also features masterclasses and culminates in a grand finale performance.

Beyond music, students gain invaluable lessons in communication, self-discovery, and the balance between individual expression and group collaboration—fostering both personal growth and a sense of community.

COLAJAZZ ON-AIR

A collaboration between South Carolina Public Radio and The ColaJazz Foundation, ColaJazz Presents... is a special series featuring performances from a diverse group of South Carolina’s top jazz musicians, plus interviews offering intimate perspectives into their lives, communities, and passion for music. ColaJazz Presents... now in its 4th season, is produced by Shari Hutchinson, former producer of Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz.

Rapp on Jazz highlights the Palmetto State's connection to the history of jazz music and the current jazz scene. These 60-second segments cover everything from famous South Carolinians like Dizzy Gillespie and Eartha Kitt to the “Big Apple” dance craze of the 1930s to the best clubs to experience jazz in the state.