It is one thing to meet week after week with a teacher/coach and learn all about a particular instrument. It is an entirely different thing to put all of that knowledge into practice...in front of an audience. Let's set aside all the mental preparation, nerves, putting together just the right set of music, etc. and think about  just getting a gig to begin with. Even if you are playing for tips, it is not as easy as you might think. We try to walk our students through as much of what "the real world" feels like for musicians "out there" as much as we can, understanding that even that, is something they won't always have once they leave our teaching space. It is up to them to absorb as much as they can and hopefully put it to use in whatever aspect of their lives it becomes advantageous knowledge to have. That's the beauty about music and the process of learning an instrument - you are developing good working habits that are good to have for arts sake and for life's sake.

This Friday, our JAM U Bands, Heatstroke and Lunes, are heading downtown to perform for the Heritage Festivals BBQ & Brews Festival. You can find out all about it on our school's website: JAM University. On Saturday, one of our youngest, Avery Watley, will be doing a solo set around 11:30 A.M. We are so proud of all our students! They put in the work, invest and sacrifice both in time and money, and represent us amazingly every time they perform in and out of our  community. If you make it to Historic Downtown Yuma this weekend, and we hope you do, please stop by and have a listen! Also, let us know which BBQ stands are your favorites so we can visit after we are done. :)

Our JAM U Bands have a couple of performances coming up. First up, they're headed to the iconic Lutes Casino in Downtown Yuma - "Where the Elite Meet!" Saturday, September 21st, from 7-9 P.M. Family friendly environment so bring the whole gang! 221 S Main Street, Yuma.

We've also been invited to perform at the Play It Forward event by the Arizona's Children Association on October 27th, 2019 at the Yuma Country Club. This is a family-friendly concert and we are excited to be included in the lineup which will also include  The Twits, Wildflowers (Fatih & Grace), and more! For more information and to purchase your tickets, please visit: Play It Forward.

Our first ever Senior Night Concert was so much fun! Our seniors made us very proud. You can check out video from the night here: JAM U Senior Night 2019. From that lineup, Alexandra Olin and Leilani Lopez will be joining us for one more Village Jazz Series performance on May 2nd. We love sharing the stage with these awesome young singers! Join us! 6:00 P.M. FREE

Throughout that week we will be recording our JAM U Bands at La Casita Studio and will compile them to share via a web stream on May 3rd. You can catch that on our JAM University Facebook page from the comfort of your own home, also at 6:00 P.M.

GWYNN has been gigging' around town. Have you seen them?! They are working hard earning their way to Nashville for a recording session this summer. We believe they'll be at the Garden Cafe this coming Sunday (11:00-1:00). If you happen to catch them, please do drop a tip in their bucket. They also have super cute t-shirts they may sell to you if you ask nicely. :)

Last but not least, we are working on our summer concert and the tentative date is set for July 25th & 26th. Definitely more info to come. That's all for now!

Hi there! We are super excited for Gwynn, band made up of talented sisters (and JAM U students) Mia, Kylie and Lila, who will be performing at the first ever Yuma's motorcycle "Show 'N' Shine" this coming weekend, October 26th. Gates open at Desert Sun Stadium at 10:00 A.M. Gwynn will hit the stage around 6:30 P.M. with Tab Wilcox Sr. on bass guitar, Tab Wilcox Jr. on drums and Jason Arviso on guitar. 

It is important to us to bring our students along to some of our gigs. There is nothing like "real world" experience to help a young artist evolve into who they are going to become. With the Gwynn Sisters, the possibilities are endless. Not only are they talented, sweet, hard working, beautiful girls, they are their own band! They performed with us a Julieanna's a couple of weeks ago. Today, we are streaming their mini concert from our La Casita Studio. They are working on building a strong country music set and we think you'll discover this is a pretty darn good start. You can tune in on Facebook's JAM U Live. The band is completed by fellow JAM U students Tab Wilcox on electric guitar and Isa Patchen on the kit. Being summer, their bass player is out of town. Jason Arviso, director, is filling in.

If you miss the live stream, don't forget you can go check out the video at any time! And, you can catch the Gwynn Sisters in person at the Yuma Landing on August 24th at 7:00 P.M.

Tonight, Summer Jazz Nights @Julieanna's will feature Jason & Elle with special guests JAM U students Alexandra Olin and Maddie Waters. Each of these girls are beautifully talented and excellent role models for their peers in music and beyond.

Maddie has previously performed at Julieanna's and always sings with a sweetness that quickly wins over any audience.  She is a Junior at Gila Ridge High School and is a member of their performing choir as well as the Hawkapellas, which is a competition group. She is also very active in other clubs, including but not limited to 4H and student council. At JAM U, she is a student of guitar and voice and we couldn't be prouder of the strong, talented young woman she is becoming right in front of our eyes (and ears!).

Alexandra is also ultra talented and passionate in many areas of her life - an active member in her community through her choir at Cibola High, National Honor Society, and in support of education taking to the streets for the Red For Ed movement. This will be Alexandra's first time at Julieanna's, but performed with Jason & Elle at The Village Jazz Series earlier in the year and absolutely wowed the knowledgable audience with her beautiful renditions of popular songs turned jazzy. After a trip to Europe this summer, she will begin her senior year of high school. Also a student of guitar and voice, we will sure miss her around here when she heads off to college. The future is bright!

And of course, Jason & Elle will be there to perform the songs that have made them favorites in our local jazz community. It will be a beautiful evening of fine dining and music in one of the most unique, sophisticated restaurants Yuma has to offer. We hope you can join us!

Julianna's Patio Cafe is located at 1951 W 25th Street. Yuma, Arizona. Call (928) 317-1961 for reservations.

For more info on Jazz at Julieanna's visit Summer Jazz Nights @Julieanna's.

We had such a great time last week during our Voice Studio Showcase! Although it was a concert featuring some of our voice students, the band on stage was also made up of JAM U students.

We will be updating our "Shows" calendar here pretty soon to include a few live stream events that will be coming at you from our JAM U bands in the month of July. Already in the calendar are a couple of gigs at local restaurant/bar, The Yuma Landing. If you live in the area, come check these kids out!

Visit Shows for more info on performances by Jason & Elle/their JAM U Students.

JAM University bands under the direction of Jason & Elle to perform at Historic Yuma Theatre downtown on Thursday evening, June 15th, at 6:30 P.M. We love giving our students the opportunity to perform and do so throughout the year in the form of small showcases, community and private events, and most recently via Live Streaming shows. This one however, is a big one!

Concert will feature the vast majority of our JAM U students, ages ranging from 7-20 years old. It'll be a fun event, with bands made up entirely of young musicians on every instrument you'll see on stage - guitar, bass guitar, keys, drums, ukulele, voice. Our parents have helped us cover the fees to be able to offer the experience of performing on such a special venue in our community and with that, we welcome one and all to come enjoy the music! The set list will include a variety of tunes from past to current hits. If you have yet to make it out to one of our shows, don't miss this one! We hope you join us and invite your friends and family. For sure bring the kids!

To our parents, thank you! We quite frankly couldn't do it without you. We are beyond excited for you to see/hear what your kids have been working on. We are already proud of them and know you will be blown away by all their hard work. Can't wait!

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