JazzCamp for Girls is 4 fun days during the summer holidays with improvisation and new friendships at 11 selected music schools in Denmark. The project is designed to inspire more girls, including all children identifying as such, grades 3rd-9th to play a rhythmic instrument and engage in musical communities, such as playing in a band. Spots are in high demand, and registration is open at jcfp.dk.

Safe Learning Environments Through Improvisation

JazzCamp for Girls creates safe musical and creative learning environments for girls through improvisation and community. During the week, participants learn to improvise in a band and create new compositions in collaboration with others.

The experience since 2014 has shown that participants sharpen their listening skills and realize that they themselves possess creativity and can develop new ideas together with others. Most bands create new music during the week, and many participants return the following year. There are 2 instructors in each city, each leading a band, and the teaching staff consists of a mix of performing jazz musicians and local music teachers. All instructors specialize in focusing on artistic expression and creativity rather than perfectionism and performance.

Contributing to a Better Balance on the Music Scene

In addition to being a fun and educational way to spend the first week of the summer holidays, the project is one of Jazz Denmark’s contributions to improving gender balance in the music scene.

When?

First week of the summer holidays. Monday, June 30 – Thursday, July 3. Daily from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Where?

JazzCamp for Girls 2025 will take place in collaboration with local music schools across the country:

Aalborg Culture School
Musikhøjskolen Frederiksberg
Holbæk Culture School
Culture School Kolding
Vordingborg Municipality Music School
The Creative School in Silkeborg
Odense Music School
Aarhus Music School
Rhythmic Center in Copenhagen
Kulturskolen Esbjerg
Mariagerfjord/Rebild

JazzCamp for Girls is an internationally recognized success

JazzCamp for Girls was founded in 2014 by the Copenhagen Jazz Festival and Jazz Denmark and has since expanded beyond Denmark’s borders. Jazz Denmark has continued the project in collaboration with Danish music schools and new international partners, allowing girls in Poland, Sweden, Finland, Turkey, England, Belgium, India, and Canada to also have the opportunity to improvise and compose in musical communities at JazzCamp for Girls. This has been made possible with generous support from the Nordic Culture Fund.

In 2022, The New York Times emphasized the growing international significance with a full-page report from JazzCamp for Girls in Copenhagen. Read it here.

During the Danish state visit to Poland in 2024, JazzCamp for Girls was attended by, among others, His Majesty King Frederik X, as well as a larger group of officials, cultural representatives, and business leaders from both Poland and Denmark.