TD Jazz for Teens Program at NJPAC

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) celebrates 28 years of offering thousands of high schoolers from Newark and beyond music lessons and performance experiences through its popular TD Jazz for Teens program.

TD Jazz for Teens is a comprehensive and sequential jazz education program that provides teens ages 13 to 18 access to top-notch musical training and study with world-class working artists, opportunities for artistic exchange within the community, and college and career exploration. This school year offers classes in jazz history, theory/composition, technique, ensembles, music business, production, and more.

Prospective college students are guided through the application process. Students are given many performance opportunities as members of the James Moody Jazz Orchestra and/or George Wein Scholars Ensemble (performing at the Newport Jazz Festival). All students record their own compositions together in a studio setting. Field trips to Rutgers University-Newark’s remarkable Institute of Jazz Studies, the largest archive of jazz-related materials in the world, are regular treats for students.

The 2025-26 school year is about to begin and is accepting students for both the Fall 2025 (September 27 to December 13) and Spring 2026 (January 24 to May 16) semesters. Teens need to register by September 29.

The cost is $700 per semester or $1,200 for the full year. Scholarships and/or financial aid are available.