Summer Music Camps for Ayiana

Hello Friends, Family, and Supporters:  Our 13 year old daughter, Ayiana T. Davis, has been studying the piano formally for 6 years and is now blossoming into a remarkable jazz musician right before our eyes.  Ayiana’s rapid musical success is due to the love and support she receives from friends and family in addition to all her hard work and dedication studying and practicing on her instrument.  During a typical week, Ayiana practices up to 2 hours daily, takes two 60 minute private lessons, one music theory class and one hour of ensemble classes at the Levine School of Music in the Washington DC metro area where she has earned the distinction of being the first Jazz Pianist to be accepted into the school's prestigious Honors program. 


For most serious young jazz musicians like Ayiana, summertime is the time for summer jazz camps.  Many young instrumentalists, similar to Ayiana, with set goals of attending top-ranked performing arts high schools and universities will attend three to four jazz camps around the country to further develop their musical skills. 

Ayiana attended her first jazz camp at the age of 10:  The Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop in Louisville, Kentucky. 


The past two summers she has attended Jazz House Kids Summer camp in Montclair, NJ. 

This summer, Ayiana has the amazing opportunity to attend three different summer jazz camps geared to talented young jazz musicians and we are asking for your support to help our family cover camp related fees along with travel and lodging expenses to make this a reality.  Any donation would help for this  opportunity for Ayiana to be immersed in music education amongst other talented children her age that also have the passion of playing Jazz.  Donations over $20 will be rewarded with a signed CD of live recordings featuring Ayiana on Piano.  With your help, we will be sending Ayiana to the camps listed below.

Thank you, and God Bless!

Kenneth & Karina Davis


Central PA Jazz Camp (June 17-19) Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Hosted by Messiah College's Music Department Chairman, Dr. William Stowman, the 14th annual three day resident/commuter Central PA Jazz Camp is for students ages 10 to 21.  Classes, performances and rehearsals will be held in the new High Center at Messiah College and feature studies in jazz history, master classes, theory, composition, arranging, jam sessions, ear training, and much more.  Ayiana is eager for the opportunity to study piano with the 2007 Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition winner Ms. Helen Sung who is seen in this video and will be one of the piano instructors at this camp. 


Seattle JazzED (July 6-17th) Seattle, Washington

This unique two week summer program combines intensive improvisation and performance training with community outreach to young people who have minimal access to music education. 

Week 1
Students will work within intensive large ensemble courses focused on developing improv skills, sectional ethics and musical knowledge around a broad base of Jazz-related sub-genres: Blues, Straight-Ahead, Be-Bop, Funk, Fusion, Soul, Salsa, Samba, Afro-Beat, Reggae and more. Elements of historical and current music fusion will be explored through chart reading, improvising and learning by ear.

Week 2
Students will put their newly acquired skills to practice by presenting JazzED music education workshops for students from other youth programs in Seattle. During these workshops, JazzED students will gain invaluable experience in public speaking, performing and community diplomacy by sharing their music, their instruments and their unique perspectives as an ambassador for jazz music.  Listen to JazzED students talk about the impact jazz has had on their lives.


 Jazz House Kids Summer Workshop (August 3-15) Montclair, NJ/ New York City

Jazz House Summer Workshop: Every summer, 100+ students from New Jersey and beyond gather in Montclair for an intense and exhilarating two-week immersion in jazz training, playing, and listening! The Workshop culminates with performances at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, and at our annual Montclair Jazz Festival.  The Jazz House Summer Workshop, (JHSW) provides the ingredients for students to become well-rounded musicians and the keys to the art of jazz performance as seen is this video.