The New Orleans Trad Jazz Camp puts an interesting spin on the great American tradition of summer camps. Unlike most camps, where kids are the educational focus, The Trad Jazz Camp is designed for adults who want to learn how to play traditional jazz in the music’s birthplace. Each summer, the camp puts on two one-week sessions, and amateur musicians come from all over the world, including Italy and Australia, to attend. Lucky for those who’ve always dreamed of playing their hearts out in a second line, it’s not too late to register for this summer’s second session, which begins July 28 and ends August 3.

NOTJC founders, Banu Gibson and Leslie Cooper

Over this week-long session, campers will take individual lessons and take part in group classes. Afternoons are spent in group ensembles, where the campers learn the ins and outs of trad and prepare for their final performances at the end of the week. There are performances by the camp’s star-studded faculty, which includes local masters like Gerald French, Connie Jones, Matt Perrine and Leah Chase.

In 2009, Banu Gibson, Leslie Cooper and Anita Hemeter founded the New Orleans Trad Jazz Camp to create a unique experience where amateur musicians could learn to play trad in its birthplace. Since its founding, the camp’s mission has been to teach and perpetuate traditional jazz while exposing the music to as wide an audience as possible.

Tuition for the July 28 session is $1750.  For more information, please visit their website here.

New Orleans Trad Jazz Camp 2013, Second Session

Date: Sunday, July 28 – Sunday, August 3

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Daily

Venue: Bourbon Orleans Hotel

717 Orleans St.

Neighborhood: French Quarter

Tuition:  $1,750

More Info: http://www.neworleanstradjazzcamp.com/