Jazz in Schools
About the Program
Jazz in Schools, initiated by the Los Angeles Jazz Society in 1988, offers free, age-appropriate jazz performances to LAUSD elementary schools during February, Black History Month. The program introduces young students to jazz and recognizes the cultural contributions of African Americans to this uniquely American art form. The concerts are held across all 15 City Council districts, reaching over 20,000 children annually.
Engaging, Educational Performances
Designed by a Jazz Hall of Fame artist, the program engages students with interactive performances featuring LA’s finest jazz musicians. Students learn about jazz history—including Latin jazz and women in jazz—musical instruments, improvisation, and the genre’s influence on pop music, all while clapping, marching, and dancing along.
Classroom Resources for Teachers
Each school receives a Pre-Concert Preparation Package with a PowerPoint teaching outline and a Post-Concert Reinforcement Package with a jazz quiz and discussion questions. Teachers and students can also enjoy our curated Jazz in Schools Spotify playlist, extending the learning beyond February.
Program Reach and Funding
Our concerts are made possible by government and foundation grants. Depending on funding, we bring performances to 30 to 45 schools annually, selected based on the length of time since their last concert. With over 500 elementary schools in LAUSD, it may take a decade or more to return to a given school.
Sponsor a Concert
Want to bring jazz to your school sooner? If a school, business, or individual wishes to underwrite a concert, we will be happy to arrange a privately sponsored concert during the month of February. All donations to the Los Angeles Jazz Society are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged as such.
Contact Us
For additional information, please contact:
Rita Zwern, Director, Jazz in Schools
📞 (818) 566-7982
📧 ritazwern@gmail.com
Special Thanks
With gratitude to Dr. Thom Mason for creating the Pre-Concert Preparation Package and to Dessa Drake, LAUSD elementary school teacher, for developing the complementary PowerPoint. We also thank the Los Angeles Unified School District for distributing materials and resources to participating schools.
Spotify Playlist
The following is a terrific example of songs that our students may enjoy. And, should check back periodically as it will be updated throughout the year.
To open the Spotify Playlist: Click Here
– Click below to watch a video on Jazz in Schools –
PRE-CONCERT EDUCATIONAL POWERPOINT: VIMEO (30 MINUTES)
PRE-CONCERT EDUCATIONAL POWERPOINT:
Slide Presentation (30 Minutes)
Link to Google Drive: CLICK HERE
JAZZ GROUP LEADERS
Jazz in Schools employs three jazz combos of five musicians. All of the musicians are among the finest and most experienced jazz musician/educators in Los Angeles.
Group leaders
RYAN CROSS: Ryan Cross is a name that is synonymous with professionalism and musical excellence. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Ryan moved to Los Angeles, California when he received a full scholarship to attend the University of Southern California where he studied under John Clayton. He graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. He has appeared and recorded on over 100 TV shows and movies to date, including Glee, Friends, ER, The West Wing, Studio 60, Cold Case, Along Came Polly and Poseidon. He has also graced the recording studio and stage with Beyoncé, Rihanna, Stevie Wonder, Arturo Sandoval, Jill Scott, John Legend, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan. Ryan produces live shows weekly at the world renown The Peppermint Club, Blind Dragon and The Sofitel Hotel where he features the world’s top jazz musicians and vocalists. For several years, he has maintained a strong relationship with the The Los Angeles Jazz Society and has gone out to many schools in the Los Angeles’ Unified School District to spark the interest of children to play music. Most recently, Ryan won a Grammy Award with his participation on Beyoncé’s album Lemonade.
CHARLES OWENS: Known as a consummate musician’s musician, Charles Owens has worked with Gerald Wilson, Miles Davis Duke Ellington and Buddy rich among others. He is a master woodwind musician who maintains professional proficiency on tenor, alto, soprano and baritone saxophones, clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon and English horn. His skilled musicianship and rare ability to produce original sounds on all of these instruments places him in demand as a jazz artist of international repute. Owens is well-known as a teacher who is busy as a faculty member of UC Irvine. He says his greatest passion is teaching young people.
RANDALL WILLIS: Saxophonist, composer, producer, music educator and Owner of Reidell Records. Randall has been involved in Jazz, R & B, Hip Hop and several other genres of music for a little over three decades.
Randall’s break into the jazz world came when he joined the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, thus began his wonderful musical journey of performance, teaching, composition, producing, and sideman with a host of bands and artists.
Here are just a few: Baritone sax with Trombonist Jimmy Cleveland’s Ensemble; Co-lead the critically acclaimed B Sharp Jazz Quartet; Ray Charles; The Temptations and the Four Tops; Christian McBride; David Cherry’s Music For Improvisors Ensemble; The Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited Directed by legendary guitarist Kenny Burrell with Dr. Bobby Rodriguez and Charlie Harris (UCLA); Writing for Freestyle Fellowship; Bus Driver; and the Underground Railroad.
In addition, Randall taught band at the infamous Thomas Jefferson High School and other institutions for LAUSD-Los Angeles Unified School District and takes the occasional private student.
Randall has participated in the Jazz in Schools Program for several years and became a Group Leader in 2024.