The fast-paced notes of a jazz tune can be heard down the halls of the Clef Club, as senior and junior ensembles practice their skills. Drums pounding, saxophones dragging low notes and trumpets blare out past titles, as well as new creations by students in the class.
The Clef Club isn’t just any old music organization. It is a center for children of any age to learn music and aspire to achieve the goal of becoming a renowned jazz musician.
A professional teacher plays for the students.
But it didn’t start as an educational center.
In fact, it was used in the early 20th century by legendary jazz artists like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Dinah Washington. Many came to the club to exchange creative thoughts on new pieces, as well as sharing the art through performance and practice. In the 1960s, it was taken over by a local union, Local No. 274, of African American musicians to be used as its current form of an educational center. The founders strove to find a place to play, away from the segregation of the area and judgment of other non-colored musicians. Today, anyone and everyone is welcome to play and learn at the Clef Club.
Students of the art vary in age from elementary school up through high school. “We take people of any level, any age,” said Lovett Hines, the club’s education director. “I think our youngest student in the program is three.”
Each student has the opportunity to perform solo work in the jazz orchestra that is offered, instructed by musicians who have had the real world experience so many students crave.
“One of the great things about the Philadelphia Clef Club is that we can expose our kids to those kinds of musicians, who are on the premises or in the area,” said Hines. “Our primary goal is to have those musicians work with our kids, so they have that first hand experience working with seasoned professionals.”
Many of the teachers in the club are returning students, returned for the love of the club. But others are simply there to help the youth. “[The teachers] are sufficiently trained in their craft in order to teach the children,” said Managing Director Shuna A. Miah Jr.. “We have about 20 teachers.”
A teacher instructs the students in a class.
Teachers teach the students any range of instruments, ranging from the piano to the bass, and anything in between, including trumpets, violins, xylophones, drums and even conga drums. But with such a variety, how could a student choose?
“We have students that come in, in some cases, that have no idea what they want to play,” said Hines. “But they just want to get involved in music.”
Students in the Clef Club can come from having zero experience to being wildly successful, like Jill Scott, John Coltrane, Grover Washington Jr., and more, all of whom have developed success in the world of jazz, and had their roots in the Clef Club.
At the Clef Club, students find music a passion, and not just a past time. Some come in to a rehearsal on a sunny Saturday afternoon. When they could be out hanging with friends or shopping at the mall, they play jazz. Their expressions show their love for the art as well–a concentration to the music on the stand sporadically spaced in front of them, and not laughter, distraction or fooling around.
Originally located in the heart of Center City on 13th Street, its current jazzy façade is at 738 S. Broad St., just south of Fitzwater Street. Recent renovations here have proved the building even more of a meeting place for the jazz community, as well as the community’s children.
“We have a brand new sound and light system,” said Miah. “We’re glad we’ve received enough money to do that kind of work. We’ve really beautified the place. Now we have curtains…[and] a movie screen that will come down. It’s a beautiful little setting there. ”
Students practice their instruments in the Senior Ensemble.
The club takes advantage of the new space by hosting events every weekend, sometimes bringing in notorious artists or returning students.
“Tonight, Charles Tolliver and his group are going to be here. These guys are really well known among jazz aficionados. In fact, they’re considered legendary.” Miah said proudly, explaining the performance on the night of Feb. 20. Select members of the group have family and roots in Philadelphia.
Although the club has not been able to afford advertising with any agencies, press releases to announce such headlining artists and word of mouth have proved the best method of passing the news along.
“We’re hoping to have a big media blitz, especially with the spring coming on,” said Miah. The media aren’t the only people spreading the good word, though.
“What has happened over the years is that our young people, who have been so enthused about what we’re doing, have passed it on to other young people and parents find out what we’re doing,” said Hines. “Luckily, over last several years, we’ve had a large influx of young people coming into the program.”
The club offers student engagement with any musical instrument available, as well as hosting events whenever possible to bring surrounding community youth to the colorful jazz culture.
For more information on the Clef Club of Philadelphia including events and classes, please visit its Web site at www.clefclub.org
The fast paced notes of a jazz tune can be heard down the halls of the Clef Club, as senior and junior ensembles practice their skills. Drums pounding, saxophones dragging low notes and trumpets blare out past titles, as well as new creations by students in the class.
The Clef Club isn’t just any old music centered organization.It is a center for children of any age to learn music, and aspire to achieve the goal of becoming a renowned jazz musician.
But it didn’t start as an educational center.
In fact, it was used in the early 20th century by legendary jazz artists like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Dinah Washington. Many came to the club to exchange creative thoughts on new pieces, as well as sharing the art through performance and practice.In the 1960s, it was taken over by a local union, Local #274, of African American musicians to be used as its current form of an educational center. The founders strived to find a place to play, away from the segregation of the area and judgment of other non-colored musicians. Today, anyone and everyone is welcome to play and learn at the Clef Club.
Students of the art vary in age from elementary school up through high school. “We take people of any level, any age,” said Lovett Hines, the club’s Education Director. “I think our youngest student in the program is three.”
Each student has the opportunity to perform solo work in the jazz orchestra that is offered, instructed by musicians who have had the real world experience so many students crave.
“One of the great things about the Philadelphia Clef Club is that we can expose our kids to those kinds of musicians, who are on the premises or in the area,” said Hines. “Our primary goal is to have those musicians work with our kids, so they have that first hand experience working with seasoned professionals.”
Many of the teachers in the club are returning students, returned for the love of the club.But others are simply there to help the youth. “[The teachers] are sufficiently trained in their craft in order to teach the children,” said Managing Director Shuna A. Miah Jr.. “We have about 20 teachers.”
Teachers teach the students any range of instruments, ranging from the piano to the bass, and anything in between, including trumpets, violins, xylophones, drums, and even conga drums. But with such a variety, how could a student choose?
“We have students that come in, in some cases, that have no idea what they want to play,” said Hines. “But they just want to get involved in music.”
Students in the Clef Club can come from having zero experience to being wildly successful, like Jill Scott, John Coltrane, and Grover Washington Jr., and more, all of which have developed success in the world of jazz, and had their roots in the Clef Club.
At the Clef Club, students find music a passion, and not just a past time. Some come in to a rehearsal on a sunny Saturday afternoon. When they could be out hanging with friends, or shopping at the mall, they play jazz. Their expressions show their love for the art as well – concentration on the music on the stand sporadically spaced in front of them, and not laughter, distraction, or fooling around.
Originally located in the heart of Center City, on 13th Street, its current jazzy façade is on South Broad Street, just south of Fitzwater Street. Recent renovations here have proved the building even more of a meeting place for the jazz community, as well as the community’s children.
“We have a brand new sound and light system,” said Miah. “We’re glad we’ve received enough money to do that kind of work. We’ve really beautified the place. Now we have curtains…[and] a movie screen that will come down. It’s a beautiful little setting there. ”
The club takes advantage of the new space by hosting events every weekend, sometimes bringing in notorious artists or returning students.
“Tonight, Charles Tolliver and his group are going to be here. These guys are really well known among jazz aficionados. In fact, they’re considered legendary.” Miah said proudly, explaining the performance on the night of February 20, 2010.Select members of the group have family and roots in Philadelphia.
Although the Club has not been able to afford advertising with any agencies, press releases to announce such headlining artists and word of mouth have proved the best method of passing the news along.
“We’re hoping to have a big media blitz, especially with the spring coming on,” said Miah. The media aren’t the only people spreading the good word, though.
“What has happened over the years is that our young people, who have been so enthused about what we’re doing, have passed it on to other young people and parents find out what we’re doing,” said Hines. “Luckily, over last several years, we’ve had a large influx of young people coming into the program.”
The Club offers student engagement with any musical instrument available, as well as hosting events whenever possible to bring surrounding community youth to the colorful jazz culture.
1 Comment
Wow what a fantastic centre and resource for anyone in the area. I live in Australia and to get that kind of tuition as a ‘walk in’ is unheard of. No wonder the Americans are the best Jazz Musicians around. You guys know how to cultivate music 🙂
Wow what a fantastic centre and resource for anyone in the area. I live in Australia and to get that kind of tuition as a ‘walk in’ is unheard of. No wonder the Americans are the best Jazz Musicians around. You guys know how to cultivate music 🙂