offers three programs to meet the needs of young musicians who are interested in expanding their minds and their musical abilities to build competencies that will serve them well, whether they choose to pursue careers in the music industry or in other fields
FAME Jazz Band Program
FAME Jazz Band Program
Summer Music Program
Summer Music Program
a week-long intensive program with four workshops spanning instrumental music, music technology, vocal music, and songwriting.
Music is Central
Music is Central
Supports school-based and after-school music programs by providing supplemental music instruction, academic tutoring, materials, supplies, instruments and opportunities to share a performance stage with the Fame Jazz Band and professional musicians.
FAME Jazz Band Program is a year-round, community-based program for young musicians which will facilitate improvement of their musicianship and showcase their talent while improving academic skills and preparing for college and career.
FAME Jazz Band Program
FAME Jazz Band
Musicians in Training
FAME Jazz Ensemble
More than just a band, the FAME Jazz Band Program (FJBP) was established in 2015 as a community-based, year-round initiative that improves students’ musicianship and appreciation for Jazz, providing opportunities for them to showcase talents, improve academic skills, and prepare for college and/or career success. The program includes the FAME Jazz Band (FJB), FAME Jazz Ensemble (FJE), and Musicians in Training (MIT). All participants are selected through a live audition.
The FJBP has been recognized by federal, state, and local elected officials, School Systems, National Association of Black County Officials, University of Maryland College Park, Berklee School of Music, and the University of the District of Columbia.
The FAME JAZZ BAND (FJB)
The FAME Jazz Band Program encompasses a large group of instrumental sections: a rhythm section—piano, drums, percussion, guitar, upright and electric bass; a brass section—trumpets, trombones; and a woodwind section—saxophones (altos, tenor, and baritone).
It offers up to 30 young musicians:
Academic and college preparatory tutoring
Weekly, individualized tutoring sessions are tailored to each student’s needs and focus on STEM courses and high school and college entrance exams. Sessions are offered during family-friendly weekday and weekend hours throughout the school year.
Music Theory
This engaging, hands-on class is conducted by professional musicians and college professors to help students understand and master the fundamental concepts (notation & rhythm, scales, intervals, chords, harmony) needed to build a solid base of musical knowledge. Group discussions, interactive tools, and personalized feedback help young musicians put these theories into practice every day.
Weekly Rehearsals
Students have the opportunity to practice and improve their musical craft within sectional groups and also to rehearse with the full band.
Live stage performances
Students have the opportunity to perform at major venues, festivals, and events including the Kennedy Center, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, as well as local venues.
Life Skills
Training sessions include study skills, organizational and time management, goal setting, financial literacy, and information technology.
Opportunities to serve as Ambassadors
Students represent FAME, Prince George’s County and the state of Maryland in their schools, as well as at local, regional, and national events.
Mentoring and Mentorship Opportunities
Students are mentored by members of the FAME team and serve as mentors to Musicians In Training students.
Welcome Tracey Cutler, FAME’s Interim Artistic Director of the FAME Jazz Band Program
FAME-Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education, is pleased to announce thatveteran saxophonist and educator Tracey Cutler has been named Interim Artistic Director ofthe FAME Jazz Band Program (FJBP). Mr. Cutler holds a bachelor’s degree in musiceducation from the University of the District of Columbia, and a master’s degree in SchoolAdministration and Supervision from Bowie State University. Tracey is in his 35th year ofteaching, having served as Director of Bands and the Creative and Performing ArtsCoordinator for Prince George’s County, MD, and he currently serves as Assistant ProfessorInstrumental Music and Applied Woodwinds at the University of the District of Columbia. Inaddition to his academic responsibilities, Tracey has recorded and performed nationallyand internationally with a host of artists including Stanley Turrentine, Jackie McLean,Yolanda Adams, Lalah Hathaway, Johnnie Gill, Spyro Gyra, Peabo Bryson, Pieces of ADream, and the late great Phyllis Hyman. He has recently been an instructor for FAME, andsays “As Interim Artistic Director, my vision is to nurture the next generation of extraordinaryjazz talent by thoughtfully evolving our curriculum and opportunities while preserving theartistic and educational excellence that has defined the FAME Foundation’s legacy”. TheFJBP inaugural Artistic Director is Nat Adderley, Jr., former Music Director for LutherVandross; and the Artistic Director Emeritus is Dr. Clarence Knight, Jr.
MUSICIANS IN TRAINING (MIT)
Launched in 2019, MIT teaches an entry-level group of young musicians the basic concepts, styles and the fundamentals of jazz and improvisation. Students perform in recitals and participate in FAME’s annual summer concert.
MIT students participate in the following activities described above:
Academic Tutoring
Weekly Rehearsals
Music Theory
Mentoring
Life Skills Training
THE FAME JAZZ ENSEMBLE (FJE)
The FAME JAZZ ENSEMBLE (FJE) is a small group of four to nine experienced young musicians who represent FAME through performances of jazz standards and R&B with an emphasis on solo performance and improvisation.
Participants are selected based on past experience with Jazz, maturity level, and the instrumentation required for the ensemble. Practices are challenging, with formidable performance and travel schedules to various events.
Want the FAME Jazz Band or Ensemble to Play at Your Event?
Consider jazzing up your next event with music performed by experienced FAME Jazz Band Program musicians. Whether you need a duet, trio, quartet, or a full band, we have recommendations for you. Contact Us
FAME JAZZ BAND CDs
A Jazzy Holiday
On “A Jazzy Holiday,” current participants and graduates of the FAME Jazz Band Program come together to create a collection of holiday favorites in traditional and contemporary jazz stylings. Produced by FAME Jazz Band graduates, Julian Wilson and Langston Hughes II, “A Jazzy Holiday” offers an eclectic blend of 10 holiday songs from “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” featuring Joshua Groves on trumpet to “Feliz Navidad” featuring Cydni Brown on saxophone.
While most of the songs in this set are instrumentals featuring impressive solo work from an array of extremely talented young musicians, two songs, “Christmas Time Is Here” and “Someday at Christmas” feature the captivating vocal talents of co-producer Julian Wilson. Standards such as “Carol of the Bells,” “O Christmas Tree” featuring Kenji Yokote on piano, and “This Christmas” featuring Brandon Seaforth on trombone are given fresh and exciting treatments sure to delight listeners. “O Holy Night” and “Mary Did You Know” feature the extraordinary saxophone talents of co-producer Langston Hughes II, while “Big Band Holiday” is a lively ensemble piece of a medley of holiday favorites. Simply speaking, “A Jazzy Holiday” is a “must have” addition to everyone’s collection of holiday music.
Our CD’s are available for download from all major music streaming platforms, including:
Yesterday is Today
Released in July 2019, Yesterday is Today is the work of 18 talented student musicians from the FAME Jazz Band made up of saxophone, brass and rhythm players. The recording is composed of traditional and contemporary jazz including standards, showtunes and R&B songs with a jazz treatment.
Our CD’s are available for download from all major music streaming platforms, including:
Summer Music Program
The Summer Music Program has four sessions – each is an intensive weeklong program with three workshops spanning instrumental music, music technology, vocal music, and songwriting. Through fun music workshops that incorporate STEM learning, students create original music compositions with the use of contemporary tools, understand the basics of audio recording and manipulating digital audio, strengthen vocals, and improve musical performance of instructor identified repertoire.
FAME supports school-day and after-school music programs by providing supplemental music instructors, materials, supplies, instruments and opportunities to share a performance stage with the Fame Jazz Band and professional musicians.
Music is Central
Music is Central is a school-based program through which FAME supports school-day and after-school music programs with supplemental music instructors, academic tutoring, materials, supplies, instruments and opportunities to share a performance stage with the Fame Jazz Band and professional musicians. Additionally, FAME provides scholarships to public school music instructors to purchase items for their classrooms or address student needs.
Music & Academic Partners Include:
Andrew Jackson Academy
Benjamin Foulois Creative and Performing Arts
Dr. Henry Wise High School
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Edward Felegy Elementary School
Hyattsville Middle School
Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria
United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP)
Wilson Baker Collective
To inquire about support for your music program, Contact Us.