Sacramento Jazz Education Foundation

T.S. Eliot said, "There is only the trying; the rest is not our business."

The Sacramento Jazz Education is focused on giving children and young adults the opportunity to experience traditional jazz and make it a part of their life. A few of them will continue on to careers as professional musicians, others will become music teachers, and the rest will become engineers, doctors, or whatever. In every case, traditional jazz will be something they will take with them no matter what they do or become.

The SacJEF Education plan is based on a "cradle to college" concept. Our strategy is to reach out to children of all ages in the community and get them "hooked" on music. Then we try to get them "hooked" on traditional jazz and jazz improvisation, whether it's playing, listening, singing, or dancing. We do this by continuing and expanding our existing programs, reaching a larger portion of underserved children in our four-county region, and by partnering with other organizations with similar missions.

Growing and expanding programs means acquiring additional funding. Applications for grants, increased public donations, and careful administration are all key.

The SacJEF is managed by a board of individuals who share a passion for our mission, and who each offer expertise in their chosen field - social media/marketing, music instruction, fundraising, accounting, board administration, bequests and planned giving. With one paid staff member currently, most programs are administered by volunteers who are dedicated and enthusiastic. With sound, professional board management, our endowment fund investments provide a steady stream of income allowing us to plan for the future with confidence.

To date we have launched and supported six successful programs. But we are not yet reaching the youngest, or those with the greatest need. We will continue to increase visibility and community support, search and apply for grant funding, and reach out to a larger community of children. The Instrument Petting Zoo in local pre-k thru 2nd grade is next, followed by an Emerging Musician project aimed at young adults who need an extra boost to become professional musicians. We also plan to expand the Traditional Jazz Project to reach more schools and more teachers. Also in the works is a Teach the Teachers program for music instructors in learning how to teach improvisation.

So much to do!