KCCK Jazz Band Camp
KCCK-FM and Kirkwood Community College offer summer jazz band camp for middle school students each July. The purpose of the camp is to:
- Introduce students to playing jazz, both in ensemble and combo configurations
- Enhance their middle school band experience and prepare them for high school jazz band.
- Give students the opportunity to learn from, and play alongside jazz teachers and educators, as well as professional musicians from the community.
Sessions are offered for brass, woodwinds, and rhythm section, in Theory, Improvisation, Big Band, Combo, sectionals, jazz listening and private lessons.
The camp is held at Kirkwood Community College, one of the nation's leading community colleges. Kirkwood instrumental and vocal jazz groups have been invited to perform at the North Sea Jazz Festival, International Association of Jazz Educators Conference and other prestigious jazz festivals around the United States.
Students will be under appropriate adult supervision by teachers and staff at all times.
Co-Directors:
Dennis McPartland
Dennis has traveled and played across the Midwest and around the world, both solo and as a part of the Daugherty McPartland Group. Dennis received his MA in percussion performance at the University of Iowa, and is an adjunct faculty member at Kirkwood Community College and Indian Hills Community College. Dennis has played professionally in Los Angeles, toured Mexico, and was appointed a Cultural Ambassador for the state of Iowa to tour Russia in 1991.
Al Naylor
Al holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa. Al is the director of the I-380 Express, a professional big band which featured for many years on the Variety Telethon. He has also played with Orquesta Alto Maiz, the Moe Band and many others. His work in the Iowa horn rock band, The Pages, earned him an induction into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has performed with the Cedar Rapids Symphony, Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Nelson Riddle Orchestra and with dozens of jazz greats including Clark Terry, Sonny Stitt, Bill Frisell and Steve Turre.
Other staff includes area high school and college directors and teachers. Professional musicians from the community will assist in combo work and provide "real-world" playing experience for the students.
Registration opens in March. For more information, contact KCCK-FM, 319.398.5446 or email .
