Sunday Jazz Lab
Play. Improvise. Perform.
A 10-week jazz band experience for high-school musicians who want to become stronger players, learn to improvise, and experience what it feels like to make music in a real jazz ensemble.
You do not need previous jazz or improvisation experience.
You do need to be comfortable on your instrument, read music, and be ready to practice, listen, experiment, and contribute to the band.
The program culminates in a live performance at the 2027 ColaJazz & Roots Fest.
Spring 2027
Grades: 9–12
Sundays: 2–4 PM
Dates: February 21–May 2, 2027
Performance: Saturday, May 15
Location: ColaJazz Office · Columbia, SC
Tuition:
$275 Early Registration — through January 24
$295 Regular Registration
Payment plans available. Need-based scholarships may be available as funding allows.
What You’ll Do
Over 10 Sundays, students will:
Learn and perform classic jazz repertoire
Develop improvisation skills
Strengthen rhythm, listening, and ensemble playing
Explore jazz history and important recordings
Learn how musicians communicate inside a jazz band
Rehearse and prepare a festival performance
Work directly with professional jazz teaching artists
The goal is not perfection.
The goal is to become a more confident, creative, listening musician — and have a great time making music with other students.
Who Should Join?
Sunday Jazz Lab is designed for high-school musicians in grades 9–12 who want to explore jazz more seriously.
You might be a good fit if:
You play in your school band, orchestra, jazz band, or independently
You want to learn how improvisation actually works
You want more experience playing in a small ensemble
You enjoy jazz but have never known where to begin
You already play jazz and want to take your musicianship further
No previous jazz improvisation experience is required.
Prerequisites
Sunday Jazz Lab is not intended for students who are just beginning their instrument.
Before registering, students should be able to:
Comfortably read standard music notation
Demonstrate solid knowledge of their instrument, including notes and fingerings
Play major scales with reasonable confidence
Maintain basic rhythms and follow written music in an ensemble
Practice independently between sessions
You do not need to be an exceptional sight-reader or advanced jazz musician.
You should simply have enough command of your instrument that you can focus on jazz, improvisation, listening, and ensemble playing rather than basic instrumental technique.
Not sure whether you're ready? Contact us at sam@colajazz.com before registering.
Instruments
We welcome:
Trumpet · Trombone · Saxophone · Piano · Guitar · Bass · Drums · Voice
Play another instrument? Reach out before registering and we’ll let you know whether we can accommodate it.
Enrollment may be balanced by instrumentation so we can create a functional jazz ensemble.
Spring Schedule
All regular sessions are Sundays from 2–4 PM.
February: 21, 28
March: 7, 14, 21
April: 4, 11, 18, 25
May: 2
Festival Performance
Saturday, May 15, 2027
The program is designed to culminate with a performance at the ColaJazz & Roots Fest in Finlay Park.
Festival performance details will be provided to participating families as the event approaches.
Tuition & Scholarships
Early Registration: $275 through January 24
Regular Tuition: $295
Tuition includes all 10 instructional sessions, ensemble coaching, program materials, and the culminating performance experience.
Payment plans are available.
Need-based scholarships may also be available as funding allows. We never want finances alone to prevent a motivated young musician from participating, so please contact us if assistance would make the program possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No.
Sunday Jazz Lab is specifically designed to help students develop jazz and improvisation skills.
You should already be comfortable playing your instrument, but you do not need extensive jazz experience.
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Absolutely.
That is one of the reasons Sunday Jazz Lab exists.
Improvisation can feel intimidating when you're first learning it. Our faculty creates an environment where students can experiment, make mistakes, ask questions, and gradually build confidence.
Nobody is expected to walk in already knowing how to solo.
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No.
This is a serious music program, but it is not an elite or audition-only jazz ensemble.
Students may arrive with different levels of jazz experience. What matters most is having solid instrumental fundamentals, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to the group.
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Yes.
You do not need to be an exceptional sight-reader, but you should be comfortable reading music on your instrument.
Jazz also involves listening, learning by ear, rhythm, improvisation, interaction, and musical communication. We will work on all of those skills.
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There is no traditional competitive audition.
We may ask students for basic information about their playing experience or conduct a brief readiness/placement check so we can understand each musician's level and build the strongest ensemble possible.
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Yes.
Vocalists participate as musicians alongside the instrumentalists and should have basic musical skills and be comfortable preparing assigned material.
Will I perform?
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Bring your instrument and the accessories you normally need to rehearse and perform.
Depending on your instrument, this may include reeds, sticks, cables, tuners, pencils, valve oil, straps, or other personal equipment.
Additional logistical information will be sent before the first session.
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Jazz ensembles depend on everyone being present.
Students should plan to attend all sessions whenever possible, particularly the later rehearsals leading into the festival performance.
If you already know about a significant scheduling conflict, contact us before registering.
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You’ll receive a registration confirmation immediately.
As the program approaches, ColaJazz will send participating families additional information about the first session, what to bring, ensemble placement, music, parking, and performance logistics.
Refund Policy
Refund requests may be submitted up to 14 days before the first scheduled class.
Within 14 days of the program start date, registration fees are nonrefundable because ColaJazz Foundation will have already committed program funds toward faculty, facilities, materials, equipment, and operations.
If ColaJazz Foundation cancels the entire program, registered families will receive information regarding refunds, credits, or other available options.
Program Policies
By registering for Sunday Jazz Lab, participants and their parent or guardian agree to the following:
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Registration is complete when all required information and payment have been received. Enrollment may be limited by overall capacity and ensemble instrumentation.
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Students are expected to attend regularly, prepare assigned music, participate constructively, and treat instructors, staff, and fellow musicians respectfully.
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Faculty, repertoire, rooms, activities, schedules, and performance details may be adjusted when circumstances require. ColaJazz Foundation will make reasonable changes while preserving the educational purpose and quality of the program.
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ColaJazz Foundation is committed to a professional, welcoming, and respectful environment. Behavior that substantially disrupts the program, threatens others, or violates program expectations may result in removal.
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Students are responsible for their instruments, equipment, and personal belongings.
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Classes, rehearsals, and performances may be photographed or recorded for educational, archival, promotional, and nonprofit communications purposes. Parent/guardian media permissions collected during registration will govern the use of an individual student's likeness.
About ColaJazz Foundation
The ColaJazz Foundation is a Columbia, South Carolina-based nonprofit dedicated to strengthening community through jazz.
We create opportunities for musicians to work, students to learn, audiences to experience live jazz, and people to connect through music.
Our work includes jazz education, school outreach, concerts, festivals, camps, artist development, radio programming, and year-round opportunities for musicians throughout the Midlands.
Come Play With Us.
Questions?
sam@colajazz.com
Ready to join the band?
Register for Sunday Jazz Lab
