JAZZ CAMP
I wish I could jam with other musicians...
I wish I could take my improv skills to the next level...
I wish I could play in a jazz combo...
I wish I could hang out with real jazz musicians from the Chicago jazz scene...
I wish...
Wish no longer.
Just sign up for our...
summer JAZZ CAMP - july 6 -10, 2026
...and your wishes will come true!!
The Institute for Jazz Studies at Bellas Artes School of Music is excited to announce our eighth annual summer jazz camp. This will be a summer jazz immersion experience for students age 12-18. Students will take a deep dive into jazz improvisation, theory, history and small group performance.
To see some examples of our student and faculty performances please visit our YouTube page.
The Details:
July 6-10, 2026 (Monday to Wed, 10am-2pm; Thursday and Friday 10am-3pm)
Instruction in jazz history and jazz theory
Instrumental masterclasses
Jazz essentials class
Daily combo rehearsals
Student Jam Session Thursday 2-3:00pm
Final Concert Friday 2-3:00pm
Welcoming students of drums, piano, guitar, bass, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, vibraphone, violin and more!
Students age 12-18
Outstanding faculty: Artie Black, Mark Nelson, Sean Rzewnicki, Sid Smith IV and Kevin Brown (See bios below)
Location: Cornerstone Christian Church, 312 Geneva Rd. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Price: $425 early bird pricing before June 1, 2026 then $450.
FREE T-Shirt Included
Registration:
Space may be limited to ensure optimal combo instrumentation.
Register early to request a spot!
For a registration packet contact kevin@baschoolofmusic.com
The Requisites:
No prior experience with jazz needed; however students should have 3 years of experience with their instrument, should be enrolled in private lessons with their instrument (open to non-BA students), or must have demonstrable proficiency and have an ability to read music, knows basic major/minor chords, and play scales; or IJS faculty approval. Specific proficiencies include:
Guitar: students should read notes in first position, be able to transition comfortably between basic chords and be able to play a pentatonic scale and a major scale.
Piano Method Levels: Faber 3+, Suzuki 3+, AIM 3+
Strings: Suzuki Book 3
Woodwinds: A few years experience in a band program at school, or instructor approval.
Please inquire if you are uncertain
Students will be placed in groups according to their level/experience in order to make sure all students have the most valuable experience.
Combos will be range from to 3-10 students
Space will be limited so we may not be able to guarantee a spot for every student. However we will make every effort to include as many students as possible. Our goal is to turn no one away.
Sample Daily Schedule:
Monday-Friday
10:00-10:30am - Jazz History
10:30-11:00am - Jazz Theory Level I and Jazz Theory Level II (grouped by experience)
11:00am-12:00pm- Instrumental Masterclasses
12:00-12:30pm - Lunch Break (students bring sack lunch)
12:30-1:00pm - Jazz Essentials
1pm-2pm - Jazz Combo Rehearsals
Thursday: 2pm-3:00pm Student Jam Session
Friday: 2pm-3:00pm Final Student Concert
Camp Syllabus:
JAZZ HISTORY - Each day we will look at a specific figure in jazz history and explore what styles/periods that musician relates to.
Monday- Early Jazz
Tuesday - Swing
Wednesday - Bebop
Thursday - Post-Bop
Friday - 21st Century Jazz
JAZZ THEORY I
Monday- The Circle of Fourths and the Major Scale
Tuesday- Chord Construction
Wednesday- Chord Scale Relationships
Thursday- Chord Extensions
Friday - Common Chord Progressions
JAZZ THEORY II
Monday - Minor ii-V’s
Tuesday - Melodic Minor Scale and its Modes
Wednesday - Whole Tone Scale
Thursday - Diminished Scale
Friday - Summary of Altered Dominants
INSTRUMENTAL MASTERCLASSES
Work on instrument specific technical exercises.
Explore improvisational techniques and approaches.
Study common piano and guitar voicings.
Discuss the best ways to create a walking bass line and explore technique on the bass.
Drummers will learn about: Comping, playing with brushes, building drum solos and common Latin Rhythms.
Work on Jam Session tunes!
Jazz Essentials - Learn what every musician needs to know to participate in a jazz jam session or a jazz gig.
Building a Tune List
Intentional Listening
How to Sit in at a Jazz Jam Session
Transcription
How to Get a Gig
DAILY COMBO REHEARSALS - One hour of group rehearsal daily
Put new theory, history and instrumental principles to work in a group setting.
Learn the dynamics of playing in a group.
Get experience and coaching in improvisation.
Prepare tunes for a final concert.
STUDENT JAZZ JAM SESSION - Thursday 2pm-3:00pm
Registered students will receive a list of jazz tunes to start preparing to participate in our student jazz jam session (Register ASAP for the greatest amount of prep time!)
Students will be asked to start or expand their repertoire of jazz tunes
Students will learn what it means to sit in at a jazz jam session.
FINAL STUDENT CONCERT - 2pm-3pm
Student combos will present the pieces they prepared and rehearsed during the week.
Students will get to hear the work of the other students
This will be a culminating celebration of all that the students study and experience during the week
Artie Black
Melodic Instruments Masterclass, Jazz Essentials, Combo
Artie Black is a saxophonist, composer, and educator based in Chicago. Originally from Butler, Pennsylvania, he was first inspired to pursue a career in music through lessons with Dr. Terry Steele, professor of saxophone at Slippery Rock University. Artie graduated with a degree in music education from Messiah College in 2010.
After graduating from Messiah, he continued his studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, earning a Master's degree in Jazz Studies in 2012. At Indiana, Artie studied saxophone with Tom Walsh and worked as an Associate Instructor with legendary jazz educator David Baker.
Artie moved to Chicago in 2012, where he quickly established himself as an important part of the creative music scene. He has appeared at the Hyde Park Jazz Festival and as a part of the Next Gen Jazz Series, and has played as a leader and sideman at The Green Mill, Andy's Jazz Club, Constellation, and dozens of other Chicago venues. Recent highlights include a weeklong tour and recording with his group Living Bridge, and a series of performances and workshops with Steve Coleman's Five Elements.
In addition to his passion for performance, Artie is fascinated by the learning and teaching process. He maintains a busy schedule of private saxophone instruction, and also joined the faculty of Wheaton College as an adjunct professor in Spring 2014. His goal as a teacher is to inspire his students to find joy through learning for themselves.
Mark Nelson
Jazz Theory II, Jazz Piano Masterclasses, Jazz Essentials, Combo.
Mark Nelson is a Chicago-based pianist and keyboardist, synth programmer and audio engineer.
He tours/performs with Mannheim Steamroller, Shawn Maxwell, his jazz trio, the Buddy Rich Alumni Band, the Latin jazz-fusion ensemble Contrabanda, Johnny Blas’s Afro Libre, The Joshua Jern Orchestra, Somewhere Sunny, CariJazz, and the contemporary classical chamber music Nine Worlds Ensemble.
He is drawn to exploring a wide variety of music styles and forms, including jazz, original rock projects, classical works, contemporary gospel, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian styles, choral repertoire, and musical theater.
Mark Nelson has been a guest clinician and performer with several entities, including the Chicago, Bolingbrook, Seneca and Elkhart Jazz Festivals, the Chicago Latin Jazz Festival, and numerous school clinics, concerts and festivals, including the IMEA All-State Music Convention. He earned a degree in Jazz Studies: Piano from North Central College.
Sean Rzewnicki
Jazz History, Jazz Bass Masterclasses, Jazz Essentials, Combo
Sean Rzewnicki is bassist, composer and educator from Chicago, Illinois. He has experience performing in a variety of settings from jazz & classical to rock & funk; giving him a deep bag to pull from when teaching or in the studio. Sean enjoys teaching and works to develop a unique program for the needs and desires for individual students and groups.
Sean has earned his AA degree from Musicians Institute (2011) studying with Putter Smith and Michael Menelle. In 2020 Sean earned his Bachelors in Jazz Studies from California State University, Northridge; studying with renown educator Gary Pratt. Sean also studied classical bass with Dr. David Young at the Colburn School of Music in LA. Currently, Sean is completing his Masters Degree at Northern Illinois University, studying with Marlene Rosenburg.
Sean performed with a variety of groups while living in Los Angeles including: Phat Cat Swinger, The Battle of the Big Bands, The Opera by the Glass Orchestra, The Christian McBride Big Band, CSUN Jazz A Band and the LAPD Jazz Orchestra & Concert Bands. He has recorded and toured with rock bands Elodie & The Free Notion, The Evening Guests, Toy District and Stumpwaller. Additionally, he has maintained residencies at the famous Hollywood Piano Bar, Harvard & Stone, Disney California Adventure & the Hotel Constance in Pasadena.
In 2020, Sean moved with his wife to Seoul, South Korea. In addition to studying the Korean language and working as an actor, he performed at Club Evan’s and Burn in Hal Jazz Clubs as wells as playing the Daegu International Jazz Festival. Sean returned to Illinois in the fall 2021 and can now be found performing with the NIU Jazz Orchestra, NIU Jazztet & Jade Moon Jazz band.
When not engaged in his studies or career as performer and educator, Sean can be found biking, reading & enjoying live music throughout Chicago-land.
Kevin Brown
Jazz Theory I, Combo, Jazz Guitar Masterclasses
Canadian-born guitarist Kevin Brown is an experienced educator, performer, and composer in the Chicago area. He holds a B.M. in guitar performance from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music and a M.M. in Jazz Composition from DePaul University.
Some of his primary instructors have included Peter Ulrich, Willie Wiebe, Larry Roy, and Stephen Ramsdell with additional lessons and masterclasses with Scott Hesse, Mike Allemana, Steve Coleman, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Rez Abassi, John Patitucci, and many others.
He has performed with musicians such as Bobby Watson, Jimmy Greene, Benny Golson, Jon Irabagon, and Marquis Hill and has appeared in some of Chicago's top venues for jazz including the Green Mill and the Jazz Showcase. Kevin has performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival, The Chi-Town Jazz Festival, Jazz Up Glen Ellyn and the Iowa City Jazz Festival.
Kevin Brown serves as Guest Lecturer for Jazz Guitar at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, he is an adjunct faculty member at Olivet Nazarene University and he is an affiliate faculty member at Trinity Christian College where he directs the jazz ensemble and teaches private lessons in guitar and composition. In addition to teaching jazz guitar and combos at Bellas Artes he also serves as director for the Institute for Jazz Studies.
Mason Lampa
Jazz Drumset Masterclasses , Combo, Jazz Essentials
Mason was born in New Orleans and raised in Elmhurst, Illinois, just west of Chicago. Music has been a lifelong passion—his father, a former DCI performer and music educator, gave him his first drum set at age six, and by fourteen Mason was performing professionally across the Chicago suburbs.
A 2024 graduate of DePaul University with a degree in Jazz Studies/Music Performance, Mason studied under master drummer Dana Hall and has shared the stage with notable artists such as Scott Hesse, Dennis Carroll, Chris Foreman, Reggie Thomas, Lee Rothenberg, Dan Trudell, Sharel Cassity, Drew Gasparini, Chris Madsen, and many others.
Currently, Mason performs regularly with DC and the Love, an exciting new ensemble led by world-class bassist Dennis Carroll. He has performed at famous Chicago Venues such as The Jazz Showcase, The Green Mill, and Winters Jazz Club.
He has also performed with notable groups such as The Chicago Jazz Orchestra and Soul Message. As an educator, Mason serves as Percussion Coordinator for District 205 in Elmhurst, leading the drumline, percussion ensembles, and jazz groups at York Community High School. He also teaches private lessons, jazz combos, and theory at Bellas Artes School of Music in Wheaton, IL.
