Saturday Family Jazz Sessions

Junior jazz aficionados spend Saturday mornings singing, playing, and preparing for a lifetime of music appreciation. Strathmore’s fun, creative, kid-friendly series features world music percussionist Tom Teasley, renowned jazz singer Rochelle Rice, and multi-instrumentalist Seth Kibel. Included this year are several blues-themed sessions as part of our season-long exploration of the blues, Shades of Blues.

Recommended for ages 3–8.

All sessions take place Saturdays at 11am in the Mansion.

All attendees, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult. Accompanying adults must also have a ticket.

JAZZ FROM AFRICA
with Tom Teasley
Feb 18
Explore the journey that exotic instruments, such as the djembe drum, and traditional rhythms, like clave and gahu, took from Africa to South America to the United States.

JAZZ FROM THE MIDDLE EAST
with Tom Teasley
March 4
This musical morning introduces kids to traditional Middle Eastern instruments like the frame drum, doumbek, and riqq, plus Middle Eastern dance rhythms including malfouf, baladi, and maqsum.

JAZZ FROM INDIA
with Tom Teasley
March 18
The music of India has inspired musicians from John Coltrane to The Beatles. This interactive event combines Indian rhythms with beatbox in a celebration of world jazz.

MA RAINEY: MOTHER OF THE BLUES
with Rochelle Rice
April 1
Music, history, and fun come together when kids learn about blues superstar Gertrude “Ma” Pridgett Rainey, plus the foundations of singing, vocabulary, and form essential to the blues.

BESSIE SMITH: EMPRESS OF THE BLUES
with Rochelle Rice
April 22
Known for her powerful voice, Smith’s lyrics were rich with classic blues themes of love and hardship. Learn how songs tell stories by delving into blues repertoire.

ETHEL WATERS: DOWN IN THE WATER
with Rochelle Rice
May 6
Baltimore-born blues and jazz singer Waters provides the inspiration for this session in which Rice leads the creation of a crowd-sourced, kid-composed blues song.

IMPROVISATION: MAKIN’ IT UP AS YOU GO ALONG
with Seth Kibel
May 20
Spontaneous composition allows jazz musicians to express their individuality. Learn to perform unique improvisations using percussion, courtesy of Kibel and company.

AIN’T GOT NOTHIN’ BUT THE BLUES
with Seth Kibel
June 3
Learn the origins of blues and its role in music genres from jazz to country. Then, create and belt out your own original blues ditty.

ELLA FITZGERALD: THE FIRST LADY OF SONG
with Seth Kibel
June 17
Celebrate the centennial of the birth of Ella Fitzgerald, the inspirational vocalist and bandleader who achieved fame with her three-and-a-half-octave voice.