About Valley Jazz Institute, Inc.

The Valley  Jazz Institute, Inc.  (VJI) is a fully immersive jazz education program, teaching confidence and creativity through jazz education and providing exciting on-stage experiences for our students of all ages. VJI programs provide annual jazz education scholarships, awards, and live performance opportunities for students and other young people in Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, the Fox Valley and surrounding communities. The VJI programs encourage both school participation and practice at home. We provide parents and guardians with a partner to support their child’s overall development through an understanding of musical performance, theory, and discipline – all while facilitating the sharing of quality time together. 

    Every parent wants to help their child learn, grow with confidence, and be successful in life. Our vision is to provide each student with the very best support network for outstanding personal growth; to bring students, families, and entire communities closer together through a jazz education grounded in empowering real life experiences.  We’re committed to giving our students a first class jazz education that teaches more than technical skills – we’re teaching valuable skills for life. Our teachers are mentors – professional musicians who are passionate about what they do, and committed to sharing their experience with eager, young musicians. Together, we’re dedicated to building a jazz community where our students create relationships with one another and develop real confidence in themselves.

    The Valley  Jazz Institute, Inc.’s flagship program is Students’ Jam!  - a jazz JAM SESSION geared towards the opportunity of sharing musical ideas in a real world performance situation.  Area middle school and high school players,  as well as other local musicians of all ages,  are invited to join the members of the WAMI award winning Jazz Orgy (all educators as well as players) and a number  of regional jazz educators/performers for an evening of improvised music. 

The Valley Jazz Institute, Inc. operates according to these key principles:

FUN

The key to real learning is the desire to participate, and having a great time while doing it.

EDUCATION  

A musical and creative education is crucial to the development and nurturing of important life skills. We teach concrete musical and life skills that empower our student musicians.

INSPIRATION

Our instructors are real-world professional  musicians  and mentors to their students. They model our values through the actions they take and the experiences they share.

COMMUNITY-BUILDING

We focus on community-building to provide a strong support base for each student, and an experience that is both fully engaging and rewarding.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Students learn to lead in a teacher guided environment that builds trust and confidence.

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Each student has control over their own musical experience and destiny.