About Us
Got jazz in your soul and an instrument in the closet but no time in your schedule?
Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps might be just what you're looking for.
Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps are designed for adult players (21 and over) looking to spend a week in a total-immersion jazz playing experience. Ability doesn't matter and we'll make sure you have a great time regardless of your skill level.
Camps Feature:
- instrument and vocal master classes led by monster musician/educators
- small-combo playing, large-ensemble playing, theory and improv classes
- special-topics sessions
- intimate meet-the-artist sessions
You've heard of baseball fantasy camps, where amateurs train with Major League teams, sometimes sharing a tin of chewing tobacco with their favorite pro players.
Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps work the same way--without the tobacco.
They offer a week-long opportunity for adult jazz musicians (21 and older) to learn a lot, play a lot, and rub shoulders with professional jazz musicians whom they've only heard on CDs or admired from the balcony.
Our goal is to create an atmosphere of fun, instruction, and enjoyment of jazz and its practitioners.
A Brief History
Tritone was founded in 1998 by two innovative music educators and an amateur bassist who understood how powerful a focused camp experience can be. It is now run by that bassist, along with an astounding faculty that keeps campers returning year after year.
Fred Sturm was a trombonist, composer, arranger, and a highly respected and influential educator. He was Director of Jazz and Contemporary Music at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI and former Director of Jazz and Improvisational Music at the renowned Eastman School of Music. He passed away from cancer in 2014.
Lifelong teacher, administrator and monster player Jim Doser regretfully resigned from Tritone in 2015 when he accepted the prestigious position of Director of the Eastman School of Music’s Institute for Music Leadership. In his new position, he no longer has summers free to focus on Tritone.
Tritone is now operated by Bob DeRosa, a full-time marketing communications professional and part time bassist (if 111 paid gigs in 2015 can be called part time). He started playing bass in 1993 at age 42 and attended a week-long jazz camp for three consecutive summers to accelerate his progress. Bob now runs all aspects of Tritone Music, Inc., but still takes greatest pride in being Director of Camper Satisfaction, ensuring that all campers learn a lot and have a great time. He's always happy to answer any questions you may have about the camp, not only because he loves talking about Tritone, but also because talking to you beats working any day.