website: http://jazzschool.org/

Our family highly recommends the Jazzschool Girls' Jazz and Blues Camp which takes place at the Berkeley Jazzschool in August (this year 8/6-8/10). Our youngest daughter, a jazz pianist, has gone for the last two years. She really enjoys the camaraderie of the girls and the supportive, encouraging environment created by the co-directors and the professional women musicians, all from the Montclair Womens Big Band, who teach and play alongside the girls. The Girls Jazz and Blues camp allows girls to really take risks improvising as they are given the tools and lots of encouragement all along the way. My daughter also attends the Jazzschool summer camp but is usually one of the only girls at that camp. We HIGHLY recommend the Jazzschool Girls Jazz and Blues camp for any girl just beginning to express interest in jazz to girls highly experienced in jazz. Open to instrumentalists and vocalists grade 6 - 12. Lynn

Re: East Bay equivalent to Blue Bear School of Music?
For students who can afford it, I also recommend the Jazzschool in Berkeley. They're the deluxe version of the East Bay Center. Top-notch musicians and teachers, great programs, but prices on the higher side.

Re: Where can teen play with other jazz musicians?
Try the Jazz School in downtown Berkeley for classes, workshops, and bands. It's terrific. High school jazz programs (in Berkeley, Albany and El Cerrito) exist but may be hard to get into. Good luck

Re: Summer Music Camps
I think the JazzSchool in downtown Berkeley has a good summer music program for junior-high and high-school-aged kids. They have a website, too, at www.jazzschool.com. Everyone I know who's taken classes there (including myself) has loved it. They have some really great musicians teaching. Good luck! Jane