Berklee College of Music, Jazz Aspen Snowmass team up on music education
On Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 5-7 p.m., Berklee College of Music/Berklee City Music and Jazz Aspen Snowmass will host a workshop for middle and high school students focused on pursuing a college education and careers in music and the music industry.
The workshop will be held at Glenwood Springs High School and co-hosted by JAS, a member of the Berklee City Music Network — an association of 46 organizations across the United States, Canada, and Latin America that leverages the power of contemporary music to empower young people from underserved communities.
The workshop will be facilitated by Arin Canbolat, Berklee Associate Dean for Education Outreach; Natara Gray, Berklee Assistant Dean of Admissions, Diversity, and Inclusion Recruitment; Kaimy Masse, Berklee Associate Professor; and Chris Bank, JAS In-Schools Director.
“What we’ve noticed with these workshops is how appreciative students and parents are for information delivered in a meaningful way, so that they feel confident as they take the next step of their educational journey,” Canbolat said.
The workshop will feature breakout sessions for students, parents, and guardians and will provide materials, interactive guidance, Q&A, and an opportunity to record musical pieces — including spoken word and hip-hop — to be in their audition packages. Also, each participant will have a mock college audition and interview.
“JAS is so excited to partner with Berklee City Music in bringing this unique experience to local student artists,” said JAS Senior Vice President Andrea Beard. “The hands-on guidance they will receive from the Berklee College of Music faculty and staff is an extremely special opportunity that should assist them greatly as they begin applying for college.”
Through this partnership, JAS has been able to send 12 valley students to the prestigious Berklee Five-Week Music Performance Intensive, the world’s most comprehensive summer music performance program. JAS covers student travel, lodging, and incidentals, while Berklee covers tuition. Many of these students have gone on to attend Berklee School of Music, including one who received a four-year scholarship from Berklee City Music. In total, Berklee City Music has provided JAS students with over $228,000 in scholarship funds.
