Swinging Saturdays
A free music program for students in Greater New Haven — no experience required!
Saturdays, Jan 16 – Mar 13 & Mar 20 – May 22 • 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Educational Center for the Arts (ECA), 55 Audubon Street, New Haven
Open to students ages 11–17 • Space available
100% Free — Tuition, Lessons, Lunch & Field Trips
How It Works
Swinging Saturdays runs two tracks across two 9-week sessions. Students may register for one or both sessions — choose the track that fits you best.
Track 1: Instrumental Performance
For students with some playing experience.
- Private lessons — all for free, like everything in the program!
- Ensemble training
- Visits from well-known musicians
- Ear training — to get and keep you on pitch
- Sight-reading — so you can play any tune
- Songwriting — write lyrics and melodies, with a chance to record your songs
- Grand Finale: perform in the ECA theater, backed by a professional band, for an audience of friends, family and the public!
Track 2: Recording Science & Music Production
No experience required.
- Digital recording setup, microphone types and placement
- Recording vocals, saxophone, brass, and other live instruments
- MIDI & drum programming
- Audio editing, reverb and delay
- Music producing and beat-making
- Lyric writing and vocal production for your own recordings
- Introduction to film scoring, building toward a short-film score you’ll produce and premiere
Both tracks collaborate all season: Track 1 musicians perform in Track 2’s live recording sessions, and together they compose, record, and mix an original short-film score, premiered at the final showcase.
What You’ll Experience
Shared by both tracks:
- Jazz & Music History: from New Orleans to bebop, fusion, and Latin jazz
- Guest Artist Workshops: working musicians perform, teach technique, and share their career path
- Dance: swing and Latin movement with the Matthew Westerby Dance Company
Meet the Faculty
Led by Vita West Muir (Executive/Artistic Director), Don Braden (Music Director), and Albert Rivera (Director of Operations), our teaching and guest artists include GRAMMY winners, college faculty, and touring musicians such as:
Nicole Zuraitis, Jimmy Greene, Zaccai Curtis, Luques Curtis, Kris Allen, Julian Shore, Andrew Hadro, Dave Ballou, Jen Allen, Marcos Torres, Matt Wilson, Paul Bollenback, Richie Barshay, Troy Roberts, Wayne Escoffery, and Alejandra Williams.
Many of these artists are Litchfield Jazz Camp faculty members — and some are former Litchfield Jazz Campers themselves!
Field Trips & Performances
- Yale School of Music: campus tour and performances
- Litchfield Jazz Camp Talent Search: watch students your age compete for Litchfield Jazz Camp scholarships, playing with a professional backup band for a live audience
- Weekly Performances: guest artists join our house band every Saturday for the last block of the day — family and friends are welcome to attend
- Grand Finale: students perform for a live audience and premiere their recordings, compositions, and film score
Presented by Litchfield Performing Arts, Inc. (501(c)(3)), in partnership with ACES Educational Center for the Arts, New Haven Public Schools, and Yale University, with support from the CT State Department of Education’s Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships.
- SessionsJan 16 – Mar 13 & Mar 20 – May 22
- WhenSaturdays, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- WhoAges 11–17, no experience required
- LocationEducational Center for the Arts (ECA)
55 Audubon Street, New Haven - PriceFree
Questions?
860-361-6285