JazzCamp for Piger consists of four fun days during the summer holidays filled with improvisation and new friendships at 11 selected music schools across Denmark. The project was created to inspire more girls—including all children who identify as girls—from grades 3–9 to play a rhythmic instrument and take part in musical communities such as playing in a band. Places are in high demand, and registration is now open.

Safe learning environments through improvisation

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

Experience since 2014 shows that participants sharpen their listening skills, learn to compose, and develop ideas together—most bands create new music during the week, and many participants return year after year. The teachers are a mix of professional jazz musicians and local music school teachers. All are specialised in focusing on artistic expression and creativity rather than perfectionism and performance.

A contribution to better balance in 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 Danmark’s contributions to improving gender balance in the music scene.

When instruments are distributed at Danish music schools, boys most often choose guitar and drums, while girls tend to choose singing or classical violin. JazzCamp for Piger aims to give more girls the opportunity to play rhythmic instruments in a band and experience the joy of being part of local rhythmic music environments across Denmark.

This unequal distribution of instrument choices was documented, along with several other factors, in a new report from autumn 2025, which describes the consequences that instrument choice in particular has for girls’ opportunities for a career in music.

Register your child at a music school in your area

JazzCamp for Piger takes place at music schools across the country. Find one near you and register your child here:

• Aalborg: Aalborg Kulturskole
• Aarhus: Aarhus Musikskole
• Esbjerg: Kulturskolen Esbjerg
• Frederiksberg: Musikhøjskolen, Frederiksberg Musik- og Kulturskole (Smallegade)
• Holbæk: Holbæk Kulturskole
• Kolding: Kulturskolen Kolding
• København: Rytmisk Center (Vesterbrogade)
• Odense: Odense Musikskole
• Silkeborg: Den Kreative Skole i Silkeborg
• Vordingborg: Vordingborg Musikskole
• Ringsted: Ringsted Musik- og Kulturskole

Practical information

JazzCamp for Piger takes place during the first week of the school summer holidays: Monday 29 June – Thursday 2 July 2026.
Teaching takes place daily from 10:00–15:00, with a presentation on Thursday afternoon.

JazzCamp for Piger is an internationally recognised success

JazzCamp for Piger was founded in 2014 by Copenhagen Jazz Festival and Jazz Danmark and has since grown beyond Denmark’s borders. Jazz Danmark has continued the project in collaboration with Danish music schools and new international partners, enabling girls in Poland, Sweden, Finland, Turkey, England, Belgium, India, and Canada to improvise and compose in musical communities under the JazzCamp for Piger banner. This has been made possible through external funding from, among others, Nordisk Kulturfond, Gangstedfonden, and a range of local foundations and partners.

In 2022, The New York Times highlighted the project’s growing international significance with a full-page feature from JazzCamp for Piger in Copenhagen. Read it here.

During the Danish state visit to Poland in 2024, JazzCamp for Piger was attended by, among others, H.M. King Frederik 10. Read about it here.

Read about the project here.

JazzCamp for Piger 2026 is made possible with funding from Koda Kultur, Gangstedfonden, Spar Nord Fonden, and Statens Kunstfond, as well as co-financing from the 11 participating music schools.