Sign Up Open for Jazz Girls Day at NHS

On April 11, Grammy Educator of the Year nominated Bethany Robinson and Jazz Pianist Monika Herzig will present Jazz Girls Days 2023 at Noblesville High School. They are bringing in prominent musicians as role models and teachers, including Arts leader Cathy Morris, Drummer Chelsea Hughey and more.

Participation is free and only basic instrument proficiency is needed – students can sign up now at forms.gle/zBb1vVvXMMEY6EkYA or through Arts With a Purpose. Students may also come to the event without prior signup. Tax-deductible sponsorships are also welcome in support of the clinician costs – info at Arts With a Purpose.

With the rise of jazz education, we see more participation by female musicians but the increase has been at a much slower rate than expected and participation in many areas is still in the single digits. Several research studies have documented the drop-off in participation from secondary schools to colleges.

Reasons for the drop-off are mainly due to lack of role models. Other reported issues are instrument stigma, stereotyping, tokenism, and ineffective pedagogy. Jazz Girls Day was initiated in 2013 at Berkley High School by Sarah Cline as a day of clinics and mentoring for girls involved in jazz studies.

Jazz Girls Day is an event specifically designed to invite girls and young women into the world of jazz. It includes games, clinics, jam sessions, performances and panel discussions to help give girls a break from the male dominated jazz world they encounter on all other days. The whole point is to provide role models and a safe space so that girls can consider taking up jazz, and specifically, jazz improvisation.

For questions, inquiries or sponsorship info, contact Monika Herzig via email at mherzig@indiana.edu [undefined:mherzig@indiana.edu.