Creating a nurturing environment to increase equity and inclusion in jazz

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Problem

‍Fewer young women were continuing through jazz programs from middle school to high school, and even fewer to professional careers.

Reasons

Not enough role models, bias, limited opportunities, and harassment.

Solution

‍Launched JazzGirls Day, a one-day program led by female jazz artists, to address the gender gap by eliminating barriers and friction points.

Results

• 2023: 82 attendees
• 48% Increase: Female enrollment in related summer programs rose from 20% to 37%.
• Doubled Interest: Over 160 young musicians enrolled in JazzGirls Day 2024.

My Role

• Conducted research to identify barriers for female participation.
• Developed JazzGirls Day and recruited female leaders.
• Analyzed program outcomes.

Instructional Design Lens

JazzGirls Day was designed as a learning experience, not just an event: a single day had to function as a low-stakes on-ramp into a field where young women had told us, through research, that they didn't feel welcome.

• Designed the curriculum around visible role models — every session was led by a working female jazz artist, so representation was built into the learning design itself, not layered on as messaging.
• Structured the day to directly address the specific barriers identified in research — lack of role models, bias, limited opportunities, harassment — rather than running a generic "girls in jazz" program.
• Measured success the way a learning program should: not just same-day attendance, but downstream enrollment in longer summer programs — the real signal that the day built confidence and belonging, not just a good afternoon.

‍Impact‍

JazzGirls Day increased female enrollment to historically high numbers and sparked excitement for jazz among young women in the community. 

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