About us

The Arizona Jazz Academy

1. Traditional Classroom/Rehearsals
2. World Class Guest Artist Educator/Performers
3. "Jazz Apprentice Program" featuring multiple venues where experienced AJA musicians gain professional performance experience, coaching and are paid in the process!
4. Weekly Jam Sessions and opportunities to "sit in" at AJA small group performances.
5. Arizona Jazz Radio. Students have the opportunity to host and produce thier own jazz/blues radio programs.
6. Southwest School of Music Technology. This is an extension of the AJA designed to meet a growing need in music business and new music technologies. Students have the opportunity to learn music business, recording arts, sound reinforcement and production. Many new careers in music have been created in the last 30 years. These classes create the opportunity for students to connect what they see in the media and on MTV with what they are learning in the bandroom and classroom.
7. Festivals. The AJA performs in jazz festivals every year to give our students the opportunity to hear other groups, to be adjudicated by professionals and college educators and to build connections by being heard and meeting professionals and university/college educators.
8. The AJA ensembles have traveled and performed among other places, in Los Angeles; Las Vegas; New Orleans; Mexico; Paris and Vienne, France; Montreux and Geneva, Switzerland; and San Sebastion, Vittoria, Segovia and Madrid, Spain. These performance tours allow AJA musicians to bond and grow personally and musically while benefiting from the educational and cultural experiences of travel.