Empowering & Mentoring
Female Youth in Jazz
She Can Swing
Let's collaborate!
“A program like She Can Swing would be really beneficial because you’re going to get that one on one support, you’re going to feel like a community”
“The biggest thing that I see of this kind of program is that it is building a community at our school”
-Angela Pence (Hamilton International Middle School band & choir Director)
-Zachariah MacIntyre (Lincoln High School band Director)
SHE CAN SWING is a free summer jazz program based in Seattle, WA that promotes female representation in jazz by giving students a supportive, fun, and educational space to engage in jazz & improvisation within a strong female led community. It is run in a combo format (rhythm section + a few horn players), where students will learn to play over jazz standards and how to improvise. They will also learn about various female jazz artists, and will even have the opportunity to receive direct training from local female guest artists!
schedule
Guest Artists:
2024
9am-10:30am
Abbey Blackwell
(July 19 & 26)
Kate Olson &
Audrey Stangland
(August 23 & 29)
Fri July 12
Fri July 19
Fri July 26
Fri August 16
Fri August 23
Thur August 29
For some personal insights on female underrepresentation in jazz + more from the perspective of Lincoln High School & Hamilton Middle School students and teachers, check out this video!
who
SCS is a program for middle school instrumentalists (including rising Freshmen) who support the mission of promoting female representation in jazz, and are excited to play and learn! SCS welcomes students of all levels of jazz and improv experience, from those that have never played jazz music to more experienced students that play in their school jazz program. We recommend students have at least 1 year of playing experience on their instrument, and must be able to read music.
SCS is 100% female led. Students will have the opportunity to learn and hear from local female guest jazz artists in the Seattle jazz scene. There will be adult supervision at all times.
about me
Led and founded by
Siya Mori (she/her)
LHS class of 2026
My name is Siya, and I use she/her pronouns. I play tenor sax in the top jazz band and concert band at Lincoln High School. Outside of school I lead a jazz combo of other Lincoln jazz students and I am the social media manager for Lincoln Bands. I am so excited about SCS this year!
As a female in jazz, the gender gap in most big-band settings can quickly become clear. This can be anything from the lack of female representation in most professional bands, to the invisibility of the female instrumentalist “greats” throughout jazz history. In my own experience, I’ve always been one of the few females in any jazz program I’ve participated in.
I started SCS with the goal to give students an opportunity to play and learn with a community that welcomes females in a way that’s both fun and educational. What I hope they realize is that even if they feel uncomfortable or outnumbered in a predominantly male space, they can be trailblazers for others who feel the same way, and they should continue doing what they love.
faq’s
How much does it cost?
ITS FREE!
Do you have to come to all of the sessions?
No, come when you can!
What level of playing experience is needed?
At least 1 year of playing your instrument is recommended. Students must be able to read music.
Will there be adult supervision?
Yes, Mr. MacIntyre or a different adult will be in the building at all times. There will also be some guest female jazz artists that will help teach!
join us!
Interested? Fill out this form. Sign up with some friends!
There are no auditions required.
