Kelly Clingan Passes the Baton After a Decade of Leadership in the Girls Ellington Project

Seattle, Washington – After more than ten years of dedicated leadership, Kelly Clingan, the driving force behind Seattle JazzED’s Girls Ellington Project, is passing on the reins to a new generation of educators. Her tireless commitment to fostering a community and providing opportunities for young artists has left an indelible mark on the world of jazz education.

The Girls Ellington Project, founded in 2012, has been a beacon of inspiration, allowing girls and gender-diverse high school musicians to explore the timeless works of Duke Ellington and nurturing individual voices within the ensemble. Under Clingan’s guidance, this project has thrived and evolved, reflecting her unwavering dedication to collaboration and the spirit of inclusion.

Reflecting on her decision to step down, Kelly Clingan expressed, "It's time to pass the torch to the next generation of baddies. Kids today need something different, and I might not be the person to provide that. Duke Ellington, often regarded as the greatest American composer, believed in honoring individual voices within his ensemble. This spirit lives on in the Girls Ellington Project."

What sets the Girls Ellington Project apart is its commitment to community building and inclusivity. Unlike many jazz programs, there are no auditions, and the focus isn't solely on reaching prestigious festivals. Instead, students learn Ellington's music and have the option to record and submit to the historic Essentially Ellington competition based in New York City.

Families are actively involved in the recording sessions, offering students a unique opportunity to showcase their skills while building a sense of pride in their musical achievements. This collaborative approach extends to the classroom, where students follow the arc of learning and engage in special projects throughout the year.

Clingan's leadership has been instrumental in nurturing the Girls Ellington Project's growth and success. Recognizing the evolving needs of the program and the importance of multiple voices, she has decided to step back from the role of lead educator. However, she will remain an advisor and thought partner, providing invaluable insights and support to the program as it enters a new chapter. Joining the project as lead educators are local musicians and educators Katyrose Jordan, Audrey Stangland, Marissa Kall, and Abbey Blackwell.

Clingan will continue to serve Seattle JazzED as the Education Director, where she will focus on a more strategic vision, offering clinics throughout the region to further enrich the jazz education landscape. She remarked, "I'll always be here as a consultant for what's going on, but now, with four other dedicated educators, we can strengthen the sense of community and collaboration within the Girls Ellington Project, staying true to the JazzED way."

The legacy of Kelly Clingan in the Girls Ellington Project will endure, and her vision of empowering young musicians will continue to thrive under new leadership. As the project embraces the future with open arms, it remains committed to nurturing individual voices, fostering inclusivity, and building a strong community for girls and gender diverse musicians.

Girls Ellington Project is currently registering for the fall season. Rehearsals meet weekly on Tuesdays and take place at Seattle JazzED’s South Lake Union site at 380 Boren Ave starting October 3, 2023.

About the Girls Ellington Project

The Girls Ellington Project is an innovative jazz education program that builds community for young girls and gender diverse musicians as they explore the music of Duke Ellington and cultivate their individual voices. Founded in 2012, the project is dedicated to inclusivity, collaboration, and the development of future jazz leaders.

About Seattle JazzED

Seattle JazzED was founded in 2010 with one simple mission: to make sure every young person who comes through their doors gets an excellent music education. The goal? That every JazzED student experience the life-changing magic of teamwork, accountability, and confidence that comes from a dedicated education in jazz, a quintessentially Black-American art form.

Musicians are welcome to register for the Girls Ellington Project at www.seattlejazzed.org/girls-ellington-project.

Meet Your Instrument Day at School: Our Visit to Leschi Elementary

There’s nothing quite like the joy of discovering a new instrument or the thrill of playing it for the first time. In Seattle JazzED’s mission to instill joy and access to music education for young people, we have expanded program offerings to local schools and community sites. Leschi Elementary Schools is one of three partner Seattle Public Schools that will be hosting a yearlong afterschool music program, Foundations, free of cost to participating students.

On September 18, we brought “Meet Your Instrument Day” (MYID) to Leschi Elementary for its first on-site school visit, delivering the music and instruction directly to the school steps of 4th and 5th graders.  

Kelly Clingan, JazzED’s Education Director, Sharing Instructions to Leschi Elementary’s 4th Graders DURING Meet YOur Instrument Day.

A MYID Moment

The heart of MYID lies in the opportunity for students to discover their musical match.

One moment etched into our memory was watching a young student struggle to play the saxophone. At first, she had difficulty controlling her breath. But with an instructor’s guidance, she quickly got the hang of it and produced a brief melody. Her classmate snuck around behind her and exclaimed, “Dang, you’re good!” which undoubtedly boosted her confidence. When the time came to turn in their instrument passport and top three selections, the saxophone was her first choice.   

Meeting Students Where They Learn

In partnership with music educators at Seattle Public Schools, JazzED is providing additional touch points for learning and infusing more opportunities for music making by bringing additional instruments and instruction to the afterschool space.

Young Musicians Take Charge

MYID encourages students to have agency over their music journey. Rather than being assigned an instrument, they get to choose one that resonates with them. This freedom of choice is a powerful tool in their education experience.  

Sparking Curiosity

JazzED educators showcase and guide students through experiencing eight instruments: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, violin, guitar, and bass. The students’ curiosity was infectious, reminding us of why our mission matters and why this MYID is especially exciting for us!

MYID is a way for students and instructors to see moments of curiosity and magic through music.

What’s Next?  

We’re excited to continue music education afterschool at Leschi Elementary, with programming starting the first week in October. This week, we'll continue our efforts by introducing more MYIDs to Bailey Gatzert Elementary and South Shore Pk-8 as we prepare our students for the start of our Foundations program.

To learn more about our Music in Schools program, click here.

Thanks to a community of generous donors and community members, Seattle JazzED is able to offer free loaner instruments and sliding scale tuition to all participating students. 

Learning the Foundations with JazzED

This past summer, we hosted our week-long Summer Jazz Foundations Camp designed for beginning musicians in 4th-8th grade. As summer mornings transitioned into warm afternoons, our students learned the basics of instrumental music, culminating in a jazz showcase at the end of the week.  

Here’s what some families had to say about the Summer Foundations Camp: 

“Our son who’s playing the saxophone was really stoked to get up every morning and come here. He played trombone all year in his elementary school band, and they had a concert at the end that didn’t sound nearly as good as today, and it’s only been one week!”  

“My daughter picked up the saxophone and right off the bat, during Meet Your Instrument Day, the teachers were so sincere and attentive to each child. That followed through to camp. They learned so much in such a short amount of time and we’re very excited to continue with this program. Thank you!” 

“First and foremost, thank you for the program. Jenny really enjoyed it. She played the trumpet in middle school, but this time she played drums for the first time. She grew a lot in a week. It’s unbelievable.” 

Foundations is entering another year here at Seattle JazzED and we’re still enrolling students! Keep reading to learn more about what you can expect in our Foundations program this year.  

Why Foundations?

Foundational Skills

Foundations is perfect for beginning music students who have an interest in learning an instrument. This program serves 4th to 8th graders and teaches 10 different instruments including the flute, clarinet, sax, trumpet, trombone, guitar, bass, drums, violin, and cello.  Students will learn side-by-side with other new musicians and sit knee-to-knee with seasoned teaching artists. 

Creativity, Collaboration, and Connection

At its core, jazz is about creativity and collaboration. It’s an avenue for expression, a space to collaborate with bandmates, and an opportunity to take risks and try out new ideas.

Following the footsteps of early jazz players, students learn to play by ear. They’ll develop “big ears” to connect and respond to music that surrounds them as well as the music they can create from their imagination. As students progress through Foundations, they will build social connections within the classroom and beyond as they work with fellow musicians through the shared language of music.  

Immerse in the Culture and History of Jazz

Foundations is more than learning how to play. Our educators also dive into the history and culture of jazz, deepening the appreciation for the art form and ensuring a more comprehensive education. Our commitment to having an inclusive and diverse curriculum ensures that students not only learn how to play music but can appreciate its roots and evolution.    

Fun!

We asked one of our Foundations teachers, Katyrose Jordan, why students should enroll in Foundations.  

The response: Why not? It’s gonna be fun!  

While we’re really into jazz, it’s not 100% straight-up jazz. Students can explore the rhythms, melodies, and improvisational aspects of jazz while discovering their own unique musical voices.  

Meet the Teachers

Katyrose Jordan is our Foundations Lead Teacher and Booking Manager at JazzED. As both performer and teacher, Katyrose is ambitious, dedicated, and community-oriented. She wants to use her background and unique skill set to empower and enrich students’ lives socially, intellectually, and creatively through the transformative power of music.  

BJ Montoya is our Foundations Lead Teacher and Curriculum Manager here at JazzED. His passion for teaching came from a family history of teachers and musicians. His teaching emphasizes social playing and creative expression through the many languages and dialects music has to offer.  

We are committed to this program being financially accessible for ALL families and offer sliding scale tuition. To learn more, click here.