Jazz House Kids

JAZZ HOUSE KiDS COVID-19 EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND

HELP US PLAY THROUGH CHANGES!


As musicians, we thrive on communication. We play together. Social isolation? So not our thing.


But as jazz musicians, we also excel at improvisation. We train for it. We love it!


When the Covid-19 pandemic forced JAZZ HOUSE KiDS to close its doors—for now—we didn’t miss a beat. We improvised, swinging new doors open and determined to find innovative ways to serve our students and community. 


Support JAZZ HOUSE KiDS now and protect its future!  Please help us to continue our Covid-19 initiatives and to maintain a robust organization until we can all be together again.



***** YOUR GIFT IS BEING MATCHED!  *****


Support us now and you will help us meet the Herb Alpert Foundation Challenge, a generous dollar-to-dollar match for new or increased donations, up to $100,000!  We are halfway there...help us take it home! 


WHO WE ARE


JAZZ HOUSE KiDS is a nationally-recognized jazz education nonprofit dedicated to bridging the gap in the arts. Led by president & founder, vocalist Melissa Walker and artistic director, renowned bassist Christian McBride, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS makes sure young musicians have access to a top-tier music education, regardless of their financial status. Students of all ages and abilities join us at our studios in downtown Montclair, at our JAZZ HOUSE Summer Workshop, or in their own schools in underserved districts in New Jersey. Our community knows and values us as producers of the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL and numerous other public jazz programs.


Right now, our students need continued access to their instructors, our staff, and just as important, each other. We are more than just a place to listen and learn: We’re where they create their own communities, full of peers, cheerleaders, and mentors for music and life. For many, playing jazz is a lifeline, and paves a road to higher education and a more fulfilling future. 


OUR STORY: WE DIDN’T MISS A BEAT


Here’s what we did as soon as we learned we’d have to suspend our classes and in-school programs:


•For our current students:


—We moved all of our ensemble classes and, where possible, our in-school programs, onto Zoom. We open our Zoom classrooms 45 minutes before start time so students can hang out with their friends—just as they did when we could all gather in the same physical classroom. 


—We created a weekly online masterclass for drum students and a second one, open to all, with special guest artists such as pianist Helen Sung and saxophonist Doug Lawrence from the Count Basie Orchestra. 


We’re already hearing how much families value these opportunities:


“I want you to know how much I appreciate all your efforts to keep kids like Ben engaged, hopeful and excited about the music and about the future. He has something to look forward to…and you're always delivering a message of optimism and encouragement. Thank you ALL for everything you're doing. It's making all the difference around here.” — JAZZ HOUSE parent


“What you guys are doing is fantastic! Thanks for keeping our kids involved.” — JAZZ HOUSE parent


“I just want to thank JAZZ HOUSE KiDS for keeping our education going online, and I also wanted to thank them for keeping us all connected during this time of social distancing.” — JAZZ HOUSE student


•For our community:


—We launched a weekly online Hang @ Home Listening Party, hosted by Melissa and Christian. These hangs bring together great artists—people like DeeDee Bridgewater, Marcus Printup, Mark Whitfield, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Lauren Sevian, and Ron Blake—to swap stories, talk music, and pay tribute to the musicians who influenced them. Thousands of our friends are watching, asking questions, and commenting: “We’re already looking forward to next week” and “You guys are killin’, love it. Thank you!”  More than 60,000 music fans have tuned in.


—Some of our families are facing extraordinary hardships due to the onset of the virus and social isolation. For them, we’ve created small financial care packages, pooling donations from other families and our team members to purchase VISA gift cards, to be used wherever the need is greatest. 


Their moving notes inspire us.


“OMG! Thank you so much~I literally cried when I received a package I was not waiting for.

I can't believe you guys. JAZZ HOUSE KiDS is the real deal. My son opened the package and was just amazed, beaming with happiness and pride. I appreciate everything you have done for us. He would not be where he is today without you.” —JAZZ HOUSE parent


“I'm not sure how or if you all knew that I lost my job a few weeks ago due to Covid-19. We are so touched and grateful for your support. We love this organization so much, and feel that our daughter is beyond lucky to be part of it. We are watching her grow musically right before our eyes. Jazz House has stoked her passion for music and is doing so much to inform the person she is becoming.” — JAZZ HOUSE parent


—————————


GIVE TO THE JAZZ HOUSE KIDS COVID-19 EMERGENCY FUND

The coronavirus pandemic has curtailed both our operations and our annual fundraising calendar. Please make a gift to our emergency fund so we can continue to program and teach, and to ensure our economic viability in the future.  Because of the pandemic, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS has postponed two of our major annual fundraisers—the spring gala and the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL—placing our revenue streams in jeopardy.


Your donations of any size are greatly appreciated and are being matched dollar-for-dollar by the Herb Alpert Foundation! Your donations will help us:


•Send more care packages to families in need. 


•Continue to pay our talented instructors. 100 percent of them are professional musicians who have lost income they normally receive from gigs and recording sessions. 


•Provide compensation for our hardworking, gifted staff, who are helping us provide educational and emotional support to our students and community; providing technical assistance and marketing support for the Hang @ Home series; and training our instructors as they adjust to this new teaching mode.


We are grateful for your support. Thank you for helping us nurture the next generation of jazz players!