Jazz In The Pines Student Clinic

Audition Requirements: 

Students who attended Jazz in the Pines Student Clinic in 2022 do not have to re-audition to attend in 2023. You will be automatically accepted and will be contacted to confirm your attendance through CampInTouch after you complete your application. We ask that all other students submit an audition video.

Video files (30-60 seconds each): mp4, MOV formats

• Video 1: Ensemble playing
  Student playing written jazz literature with school ensemble (rehearsal or performance)
• Video 2: Improvisation
  Student improvising on F or Bb blues in a swing style; 2-3 choruses
  Backing tracks are permitted.
• Video 3: (Optional)
  Student may submit a third video displaying additional ensemble and/or improvisational skills (should be different repertoire from the first two videos)

Applicants may be asked to demonstrate knowledge of scales and chords.

Audition Instructions: 

1. Complete an online Camper application. Make sure to submit the application.  
2. Once you have completed the Camper Application, your application will be reviewed within 5 days by a member of the Enrollment team. At this time, you will be charged the $50 application fee and receive an email with a link to the Submittable audition application for you to submit your audition. 
3. Complete the Submittable application and provide an email address for your teacher recommendation form within Submittable. 

We are use the platform Submittable to receive all auditions for the Summer Program (a universal  platform utilized for exhibitions, contests and even university and job applications).  It is very easy to use. You will be prompted to setup a free Submittable account with your email.  This account can be used for any future open calls you apply to at Idyllwild Arts and beyond!

Honors Music Discounts

Music students who participate in regional, state and national honor groups qualify for a discount of $1,200 for a two-week program and $600 for a one-week music program. After April 15, the Honor Discount is reduced to $800 for a two-week program and $400 for a one-week program so get your auditions in early! Additional financial aid based on financial need is available.

Enrollment Process for Honor Discount:

• Fill out the online application using the Register Now button on our website. 
• In the application, we ask if your child is in an honor group or band. 
  • Please fill in the Honor band questions when prompted in the application. 
• You will not see the deduction for the Honor Music discount when you get to the payment page  – as this is a discount, it must be manually applied by a member of the registration team. 
• When you submit your application, your card will not be charged immediately, as music students’ applications need to be reviewed for:
  • Instrument availability
  • Audition requirements (if applicable for the program)
  • Honor Music Group verification – we ask that you provide verification that your child is part of the Honor group you listed in the application. 
• Once we receive the application, we will review it within a week and:
  • Send you email instructions for verifying Honor group participation
  • Send you email instructions for completing the audition
• After the audition is reviewed and your child is accepted, we will manually enroll your child and apply the Honor Discount.

To verify your child’s participation in an Honor Ensemble:

1. Log on to your CampInTouch account (parent’s account*).
2. Click on the yellow pencil icon to go to the Forms & Documents page. 
3. You will then need to complete the following forms:

• Honor Music Group Verification Form**:
  Upload a document in PDF format verifying your membership in an All-State or Honor ensemble using the Upload Honor Music Group Verification by clicking in the arrow on the right-hand side of the form. (Examples of verification include a concert program, acceptance letter, or participation certificate.)

*Forms & Documents are only available on the parent’s CampInTouch account, not the camper’s account.

** Detailed instructions for uploading PDF documents are available on your CampInTouch account.

If you have any questions, we would be happy to help! Contact the Summer Registration Office by email at summer@idyllwildarts.org or by phone at (951) 468-7265.

Plan to bring your own folding music stand and equipment marked with your name. Rhythm section players should bring instruments unless flying in and transportation is not possible. Idyllwild Arts cannot provide individual instruments or personal equipment.

Jazz Instrumental Intensive Required Attire

• Casual dress for all concerts
• Collared shirt or blouse (short sleeve is fine)
• Long slacks or dresses/skirts below the knee

A typical day starts off with a morning of classes, taught by acclaimed jazz performers and educators. At 9:00, younger students attend classes in music theory; more advanced students attend classes in arranging and composing, which culminates in performances of student work. At 10:00, students attend master classes on their specific instruments, where specific playing techniques are discussed in detail. At 11:00, students stay with their instrument groupings, but shift emphasis to Jazz Improvisation; under the guidance of their instructors, students play improvised solos every day.

After lunch, the emphasis shifts to ensemble rehearsals, with the faculty becoming directors; big band and combo (small ensemble rehearsals) occur throughout the afternoon. Students are placed in ensembles according to their ability and experience (determined by an audition on the first day of camp).

The instrument listing is for the purposes of a student’s primary assignment in a big band; there is flexibility as to what a student would play in a master class or combo.

*The instrument breakdown listed above is a projection of the intended enrollment for the program – actual final enrollment may vary slightly from this at the conductor’s discretion.

Tom Hynes (Auxiliary Jazz Chair/Guitar) is an educator, guitarist and composer. Tom is a full time Professor of Music at Azusa Pacific University, and also serves on the faculties of Idyllwild Arts Academy and St. Catherine’s Academy. Credits include Hubert Laws, Liza Minelli, Kim Richmond Concert Jazz Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, and the US Department of State. He has composed music for the Smithsonian Institute and the Orange County Museum of Art. Jazz recordings include The Sun Shop and Tom Hynes and Marshall Hawkins: Live at The Fret House.

Marshall Hawkins was fortunate to know from an early age that he was meant to be a musician. Born in 1939 in the now “infamous” Anacostia district in Washington, D.C., Marshall’s home was always full of music. His mother had a love of the classics, and Bach, Verde, and Puccini were his early companions, along with Nat Cole, Charlie Parker and Jimmy Lunceford.

In 1964, Marshall decided to pick up the bass – and the rest is history. His first professional performance was with Betty Gray, the great Blues singer and pianist. In his mid-20s, Shirley Horn, the amazing Jazz vocalist, chose Marshall as her bassist – her youngest ever. He played with Shirley for almost five years, and then another life-changing opportunity presented itself.

In the late 60s, Marshall joined the Miles Davis quintet (with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Tony Williams) and toured throughout the United States. In 1971, Marshall organized the Marshall Hawkins Quintet and played in the Washington D.C. area until the late 70s when another opportunity appeared. Eddie Jefferson (the innovator of “vocalese”) invited Marshall to come to California to be his bassist. From this gig, Marshall was chosen to tour internationally with saxophonist Richie Cole. In the 90s, Marshall’s musical collaborators included Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Pharaoh Sanders, the Manhattan Transfer, and other Jazz greats.

In 1978, Marshall moved to Idyllwild, California, home of the internationally famous high school for the arts. In 1986, he founded the Jazz program at the Idyllwild Arts Academy, serving as the head of the Jazz Department until his retirement. The Idyllwild Arts Jazz program has earned top honors the prestigious Berklee School of Music High School Jazz Festival. In addition to teaching Jazz as an art form, Marshall has mentored hundreds of talented young people who he still consider to be “his kids.”

Being well aware of the numbers of talented young people who cannot afford to attend a private high school for the arts, Marshall saw the need to raise scholarship funds for deserving young musicians. In 1994, Marshall co-founded the enormously successful Jazz in the Pines Festival and served as its Music Director for over 20 years.
Marshall is deeply committed to teaching and exposing school children to the uniquely American art form of Jazz. In 2002, he organized the Seahawk Modern Jazz Orchestra (MOJO) and brings unforgettable Jazz and educational programs to elementary and secondary schools. This orchestra also gives Marshall’s former students an opportunity to play with an amazing group of musicians and guest artists.

Saxophonist Paul Carman has been playing jazz “his way” around Los Angeles for over 35 years. He is a veteran of the Frank Zappa Band of the late 1980’s (in Frank’s own words, “The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life.”) He toured with Zappa and recorded on the aforementioned CD plus “Make a Jazz Noise Here”, “Broadway the Hardway”, and several other Zappa compilations. Other artists Paul has played and recorded with include Kei Akagi, Vinny Golia, Bruce Fowler, Larry Koonse, Chad Wackerman, Kim Richmond, Brad Dutz, as well as the usual list of show band types (ie. Dick Dale and the Del Tones).

Paul has led many of his own original jazz groups over the years including “Mother Tongue”, “E.S.P.”, “Triorbits”, “Flying V”, and his current band “Fourbits”. He is a also member of the Los Angeles avant collective “WEDU”, a collaboration with trombonist Joey Sellers and saxophonist Matt Zebley. An accomplished composer he has released 4 critically acclaimed CD’s under his name and has composed and recorded music for several independent films.

Paul is very passionate and committed to jazz education. He has taught jazz, jazz history, saxophone, and computer music applications at USC, UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Saddleback Collage, and several high schools around the country. He is the developer of the acclaimed jazz teaching tool “CD Metronome” used in virtually every jazz school in the world. Paul also maintains a private teaching practice where he mentors young students into the jazz world. Paul is currently professor of jazz studies and saxophone teacher at Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild, California where he resides with his family.

Clayton E. Powell, Jr., (Drummer/Keyboardist) has been an international performer, recording artist, composer, arranger and music educator for the last 25 years, having performed and taught in over 20 countries on 5 continents. Clayton has performed or taught with artists such as: Alan Paul of the Manhattan Transfer, The Marshall Hawkins Trio and Quintet (legendary Jazz bassist for Miles Davis, Tony Williams, Frank Sinatra, Roberta Flack, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard and founder of the Jazz in The Pines festival at Idyllwild, CA), recording artist and Les Paul autobiographer, Robby Lawrence, Idyllwild Master Chorale, Grammy nominated Jazz Vocalist Sherry Williams, Emmy Award nominee Film and Television composer, John Rodby, and Count Basie Band Vocalist John Flemming, to name a few. He is also producer/composer at the internationally acclaimed Shaddow Ryderz Group. Clayton currently is a faculty member at the Idyllwild Arts Academy international boarding arts high school in Idyllwild, CA. He teaches drums, Jazz piano, arranging, composition, Jazz theory, Jazz improvisation, and MIDI programming. He is director and founder of the “Free Music Lessons” program in San Jacinto, CA, which gives free music lessons to all ages and researches how music lessons can help Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and PTSD patients. He is a board member of Redemption Radio & Shelter Studioz (RRSSOZ), San Jacinto, CA. Clayton’s most recent recording project was a double CD 20-tune Christmas Project for Christmas 2016, for which he arranged, played drums, and programmed all of the instruments. This project was in regular rotation on radio in recent Christmas seasons. When not touring, Clayton is based in San Diego and Los Angeles Counties and surrounding areas, and is a member of the Tony LaVoz Band.