Jazz Lab 2023 lnformation Page

Contact Info

  • Tim Lienhard, Executive Director:
    509-990-3341, info@jazzlabmusic.org

  • Henrique Eisenmann, Artistic Director:
    718-909-2288, heisenmann@juilliard.edu

  • Brianna Ettun Perez, Head of Housing:
    (Primary Daytime Contact) 617-396-7904

  • Paige Matheson, Walnut Hill, Head RA:
    (For Evening Lockouts) 774-286-9513

  • Walnut Hill Health Center:
    508-650-5030

  • Walnut Hill Administrator on Duty:
    774-286-9513

  • Walnut Hill Campus Security:
    508-397-5759

Walnut Hill School for the Arts
12 Highland Street, Natick, MA 01760

Campus Map with Important Locations (Click Here)

Important Locations:

  • Main Entrance to Campus: Where check-in will take place (see map)

  • Highland Hall (Building 2): Where auditions will take place

  • Bishop Hall (Building 11): Our dorms where students are housing during the week

  • Byrnes Performance Studio (Building 18): Location for all Concerts/Performances

  • Campus Center/Dining Hall (Building 16): Location for all meals during Jazz Lab

General Schedule

Sunday, June 25:
Check-in will run from 12-2pm in the circle at the entrance to campus (see map). Dinner will be the first meal during the program, so students/families should plan to eat lunch before checking in. Feel free to arrive anytime in the check-in window, no need to rush.

12-2pm: Check-in, Main Entrance to Campus (see attached map)
2-4pm: Auditions (Highland Hall, Building 2), students will receive their audition time with welcome materials at check-in
4pm: Jazz Lab Welcome Meeting for Students in Amelia Hall (Highland Hall, Building 2)
4:15-5pm: Welcome and Campus Tour
5-6pm: Dinner in Dining Hall (Building 16)
6-7pm: Body Percussion with Henrique Eisenmann, Amelia Hall (Highland Hall, Building 2)
7:30pm: Faculty Welcome Concert, Byrnes Performance Studio (Building 18)

Concert Schedule for the Week - Remember, all parents, friends, families and guests are welcome at any of the concerts below:

Sunday, June 25: 7:30pm, Faculty Welcome Concert, Byrnes Performance Studio (Building 18)
Monday, June 26: No Concert 
Tuesday, June 27: 8pm, Michael Thomas and the Jazz Collective, Byrnes Performance Studio (Building 18)
Wednesday, June 28: Farayi Malek, Universal Symphony, Byrnes Performance Studio (Building 18)
Thursday, June 29: Lihi Haruvi, Tribute to Vi Redd, Byrnes Performance Studio (Building 18)
Friday, June 30: Ehud Ettun and the Global Alliance Band, Byrnes Performance Studio (Building 18)



Weekday Schedule
Monday-Friday, June 26-June 30

8-9am: Breakfast - drop-off window for day students
9am: Morning Check-in, Amelia Hall (Highland Hall, Building 2) 
9:15-10:15am: Instrumental Warm-up
10:30am-12pm: Small Ensemble Rehearsal
12-1pm: Lunch
1:15-2:15pm: Elective Class (Production, Principles of Improvisation, Songwriting/Composition, Advanced Improv)
2:30-3:30pm: Masterclass
3:30-4:30pm: Collaboration Hub
4:30-6pm: Private Lessons
5-6pm: Dinner
6-7:45pm: Free Time/Jam Sessions
8pm: Evening Concerts (pick-up for day students around 9pm daily)


Saturday, July 1:
8am: Dorm Check-Out*
9-10am: Student Meeting and Soundcheck, Amelia Hall (Highland Hall, Building 2)
10am-12pm: Final Student Concert
12pm: Jazz Lab Concludes

*We will use Amelia Hall to store luggage and instruments where they can be picked up after the final concert.

What to Pack Reminders

Musical Instruments and Equipment
All instrumentalists are expected to bring their own equipment. We will provide a secure location to leave instruments during breaks and evening hours. We have limited amplifiers, so we encourage those who are able to bring their own for use during instrumental masterclass to do so.

  • Drummers can bring their drum sets and hardware if they wish. We will have a limited number of drum sets available for participants. All drummers should bring their own Cymbals (including hi-hat and universal clutch) and snare drum.  Please take care to label all cymbals on the underside and on cymbal bag to prevent loss.

  • Electric guitarists/bassists should bring their own instruments, patch chords and strings. It is encouraged to bring an amplifier if possible.

  • Vocalists should bring their own microphones and XLR cables.

Jazz Lab 2023 and Walnut Hill School for the Arts are not responsible for any instrument and/or accessories that may be lost or stolen while in use at Jazz Lab. Students are urged to be careful with their own equipment.

For Students in Housing
Walnut Hill does not provide linens or towels - Make sure to bring your own sheets, pillow, and towel(s) for the week. We will not have extras available on campus. The beds are extra-long twins (80 inches), so flat sheets will work just fine, or larger sheets to cover the mattress. There are washer/dryers available in the dorm building if you'd like to do laundry during the program. Also, plan to pack any necessary toiletries - soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.

Clothing and accessories
Jazz Lab is a casual environment. Students will be allowed to dress in summer wear including shorts, t-shirts and flip flops. Jazz Lab will not tolerate distracting or inappropriate clothing for any reason – including shirts that do not fully cover the midriff. Students should wear a pair of long pants (jeans or slacks) for the final concert. The Jazz Lab t-shirt (provided) will be worn during the final performance. Take a look at the weather for the week and plan accordingly. Currently, the 10-day forecast shows rain showers during the program, so consider packing an umbrella.

Students are also encouraged to use their technology, laptops, phones, recording devices, to be used as tools in the music creation process. Please feel free to bring any technology to record, document, and archive what you learn during the week.

Select Your Elective

Select Your Elective (Click Here to Complete the Form)

2023 COURSES: 

  1. Creative Music Production (Henrique Eisenmann and Pete Moffett): this course explores some of the basics of music production on a computer, including how to set up a home studio, how to record yourself on a computer, create unique beats, sophisticated arrangements using different effects and sounds. (bringing your own laptop/tablet is recommended for this class if possible). 

  2. Composition and Songwriting (Wendy Eisenberg and Ehud Ettun): this course offers several creative exercises and models to write new unique music and lyrics, drawing inspiration from different genres across the world, as well as techniques from contemporary music and poetry. 

  3. Advanced Improvisation (Michael Thomas): this course dives into some of the most cutting edge modern improvisation techniques, including how to different lines, patterns, note groupings, extensions, reharmonization, to be used with your current jazz vocabulary. 

  4. Jazz Theory / Principles of Improvisation (Dave Zoffer): this course offers all you need to know in order to feel comfortable entering the world of improvisation: which scales to use, how to swing, how to play a blues, understanding chord tensions, form, etc. (recommended for those with little improvisation experience)