2021 Certified Apprentice Teacher (CAT) Program

The Institute for Creative Music (IfCM) is looking for musicians ages 18+ to join our new teaching certification apprenticeship at the 2021 IfCM Jazz and Creative Music Camp (June 6-10 in Fayetteville, AR). 

We want to work with instrumentalists and vocalists who are serious about playing and teaching jazz and creative music in ways that get students of all ages, experience levels, and backgrounds actively involved in creating and understanding the music. The IfCM offers summer camps and year-round classes that are organized by musical experience and interest but mixed-age, and we believe that working in a multi-generational environment benefits everyone. 

University of Arkansas students in the classroom with IfCM Co-Director Chris Teal

University of Arkansas students in the classroom with IfCM Co-Director Chris Teal

As an IfCM Certified Apprentice Teacher (CAT), you’ll participate in the entire camp experience and spend lots of time actively playing and training to learn, teach, and perform with a deep understanding and internalization of the music with a focus on learning and playing by ear. This certification program is not about who can sight-read the best or play scales the fastest; we want to learn (by ear) a group of core principles focused on selected jazz repertoire and improvisation techniques that you’ll put into practice with students at the camp.

Additionally, if you are an Arkansas Teacher the camp is approved for 30 hours of Professional Development.

Important dates:

March 15, 2021: Applications open

April 26, 2021: Applications due

April 30, 2021: Applicants notified

May 7, 2021: Applicants confirmed

June 6: Teaching Apprentice prep workshop in Fayetteville, Arkansas

June 7-11, 2021: IfCM Jazz and Creative Music Camp

July: Teaching Apprentice virtual wrap-up session

August: Application open for certified Teaching Apprentices to assist with fall programming/internships

Specific requirements:

  • All instruments and voice-types are welcome.

  • This is an inclusive teaching and learning space. We are committed to diversity in jazz education and all are welcome.

  • All applicants should have fluid control of your primary instrument/voice. 

  • You should have some experience listening to and playing jazz and a willingness to learn to improvise, play by ear, and know a core repertoire of jazz songs and common forms from memory.

  • Be willing to sing to demonstrate material (if an instrumentalist).

  • Be comfortable talking to, listening to, and answering questions in front of a group of strangers.

  • Work with a wide range of ages and abilities in-person and in virtual learning formats.

  • Be ready and willing to listen, play, interact, and try new concepts as a “beginning learner” to play with a variety of students.

  • Be available to be in Fayetteville, AR from June 6th-11th for the IfCM Jazz and Creative Music Camp .

  • Submit the application form (including performance sample—see requirements at the bottom of this page) by April 26th.  Applicants will be notified by April 30th and successful applicants will be asked to confirm attendance by May 7th.

  • All events shall require social distancing and face covering and will comply with all applicable COVID-19 directives of the ADH, state of Arkansas and U of A. Visit https://health.uark.edu/coronavirus/returning-to-campus/index.php for more information.

What happens if I’m accepted to the program?

  1. Register for the camp at camp website and select the “certified teaching assistant” option. Pay registration fees and pass a complete a background check (cost covered by your registration).

  2. Arrange transit and lodging to Fayetteville, AR. We have rooms and meal plans available at the fantastic UA dorms (rates TBA).

  3. Read the provided teaching research materials and complete the video training course selected from Creative Jazz Fundamentals course curriculum.

  4. Meet virtually with IfCM Directors and Teaching Artists (Chris Teal, Nick Finzer, and Doug Stone primarily) to discuss pedagogical philosophy, teaching structure, and student assessment/feedback.

  5. Participate in the pre-camp training session in Fayetteville on June 6th.

  6. Participate in all assigned camp sessions during the week of June 7-11 (the camp runs 9am-4pm).

  7. Take observation notes and submit to IfCM Directors on a daily basis.

  8. Perform with IfCM Teaching Artists for two evening concerts/jam sessions during the week.

  9. Participate in a daily debriefing with IfCM Directors/Teaching Artists to discuss observations and questions from the day.

  10. Complete an observation assessment and submit to the IfCM Directors following the completion of camp.

Successful applicants to the program will pay $800 for the teaching certification. Scholarships may be available to waive part or all of this fee so please indicate you are interested in scholarship funding in the application or by emailing program director Chris Teal (chris@ifcmusic.org). Travel to Fayetteville and lodging while in Fayetteville are not included in the program but we will have housing and meal options available in the dorms near the site of the camp. All successful applicants will receive long-term access to the Creative Jazz Fundamentals jazz learning/teaching curriculum for their own teaching use.

What will I be able to do with this certification?

  • This process will teach you the learning sequence for several jazz tunes, improvisational methods, and the performance/modeling components that are essential to get students to sound better.

  • In the short-term, we want to hire assistants to teach with our Teaching Artists during our workshop sessions in the fall, spring, and summer.  

  • Longer-term, we’d love you to teach your own workshops, incorporate the IfCM teaching methods and materials in other part- and full-time teaching jobs and have our Teaching Artists be available for assistance in strengthening the larger jazz and education communities.

Application form: