Jazz St. Louis

Many St. Louisans know of Jazz St. Louis (formerly Jazz at the Bistro) as one of the best jazz venues in town, but not everyone knows that we also offer jazz education and community engagement programs for St. Louis youth of all ages.

Thanks to the generous support of donors like you, students participating in our education programs (JazzU, Jazz Academy, and Emerson Jazz for our Schools) can join us at no cost to their families. Private lessons, transportation, snacks/meals, master classes with visiting artists… all of this is FREE to our students!

Help us reach our goal of $10,000 by donating today!

JAZZU
JSL's flagship music training program, JazzU is an auditioned jazz combo program, open to middle and high school students, that provides authentic experiences in small group jazz performance and improvisation. Students engage with music on a deep level, learning self-reliance, discipline, creative approaches to problem-solving, teamwork, and cultural understanding.  

JAZZ ACADEMY
In strategic partnership with select area middle schools, Jazz Academy teaches music fundamentals through jazz, accelerating student development and empowering students to be leaders in their schools and band programs. Jazz Academy fosters a sense of community by creating a safe environment that encourages creative risk-taking and personal investment in jazz.

EMERSON JAZZ FOR OUR SCHOOLS/ARTIST RESIDENCIES
For grade school students, the Emerson Jazz for our Schools program invites young learners for a performance from national jazz artists followed by a Q&A session. These interactive experiences are lively and energizing, as students are encouraged to ask questions about music, the performers, their instruments, or anything else on their minds.

JSL's Artist Residency Program brings professional jazz artists and educators to St. Louis for an entire week. During that week, the artists travel throughout the metro area conducting masterclasses and clinics with groups of middle and high school musicians, performing for large groups of elementary students, and presenting concerts in the community.