Meet Jodi

"My sister would listen to jazz all the time on the record player, and then she got me started listening to it. Herb Alpert, he's why I play the trumpet. I ended up playing in an all-female jazz orchestra, Maiden Voyage, in the 80's, and then I have my own swing band. Jazz has impacted my life because without it, I wouldn't be me right now. I like teaching my students because it brings joy. It's fun and it's nice when something clicks and they get it and have fun with it. In all the years I've been teaching, they never had a jazz curriculum of any type. This method really does work, the kids use their ear more and they're not afraid to solo. Jazz Empowers really makes a point to enrich kids and let them see what music is all about. It gives them an outlet to express their feelings which maybe they've never had before."

Jodi Gladstone, Jazz Empowers Jazz Band Instructor - Los Angeles