Click here for photos of Gail’s Students in Action!

For many years, Gail Dobson has taught young people the joy of singing jazz. Her students range from the very young to the young at heart, and each one receives special attention appropriate to his or her individual skill level.

In the last 10 years Gail has been a jazz vocal adjudicator/clinician for the Monterey, Folsom, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Campana, and R.A.V.E. Competitions, to name a few, and for many years led the young people’s vocal jazz program for the Stanford Jazz Workshop. For the last four years she has been the vocal teacher for the San Jose Jazz Society’s “Jazz Goes to College” Summer Jazz Program, and helped to coordinate the San Jose Jazz Society’s Youth Competition. She now heads her own school for young singers, “Gail Dobson’s Youth in Jazz” with students from age five and up. Teamed with her first rate jazz band, these young singers have appeared throughout the Bay Area, wowing audiences with their love and enthusiasm for music. On any given week Gail can be found sharing the joy of singing with at least 30 young people in her studio at the World of Music in Cupertino, Ca  408-252-8264, and the Jazz School in Berkeley Ca.

Since January 2002, Gail has been the featured vocalist/educator/clinician for the San Jose Jazz Society’s “Get Jazzed-Keep the Music Alive” jazz program. Teamed with a great group of musician/educators she performs and gives clinics throughout the San Jose County, going into the middle, high school, and elementary schools playing and talking about jazz, and bringing the message: Keep the Music Alive...Don’t Smoke!

In October 2000 Gail was invited to do vocal clinics at the Honokaa High School in conjunction with the Hamakua Music Festival, on the big island of Hawaii. One thing Gail realizes; there are wonderful young people singing and playing jazz throughout the world, and this is a universal and powerful language that unites us all.

In April 2000, Gail was the featured vocalist with the ITHACA COLLEGE JAZZ BIG BAND, under the direction of educator/guitarist STEVE BROWN, and also was invited to give jazz clinics to their vocal department. Concurrently with this visit she gave clinics to the music students of the Frederick Douglas Academy of Harlem who were invited to Ithaca to participate in the weekend’s activities. In January 2001, Gail was invited to the Academy to sing and do clinics, and was deeply touched by the school’s genuine love and dedication to their students.

Gail teaches at the World of Music in Cupertino, CA 408 252 8264 and at The Jazz School in Berkeley, CA

Stay tuned to this page for workshop announcements, student recitals and more! 

Vocal Jazz Performance for Young Musicians  

Gail Dobson (10 weeks)

This 10-week hands-on class for middle and high school students focuses on various performance techniques including correct use of the microphone, breathing, scat singing and performance anxiety as applied to students' favorite songs. New material is introduced as time permits. Students bring a song (any style) they love to sing to first class meeting, and are invited to share it with classmates. Singing acapella is embraced. Play along CD's are welcome, and will be provided by Gail. This class ends with a performance for family and friends.
Prerequisite: Bring your love of music to class!

 Workshop

“Milk, Cookies and Jazz”

Gail Dobson

     Sponsored by Music in Schools Today  

 http://www.mustcreate.org/global/global8_1_4.shtml
 

An interactive, hands-on workshop designed for young people ages 8 and up covering swing, vocal scat, and latin music styles. Students are introduced to a variety of percussion instruments and learn how to play them in a group setting. Students learn to scat sing over a 12-bar blues and other simple forms incorporating the call and response method. Workshop ends with milk and cookies for all!

http://www.mustcreate.org