Welcome to Jitterbugs: Jazz for Kids – a family program to learn about jazz while having fun!

Jitterbugs: Jazz for Kids is a music program in Tarrytown for preschoolers. Programs run for eight weeks in spring and fall.

During Jazz Forum Arts’ free outdoor Summer Concert season, we also host Jitterbugs Jam sessions, free for families to attend.

Program Testimonials from Families

We think Jitterbugs is a great jazz program for kids. But don’t take our word for it!

Watch some of the families tell you what they thought about the program and how the classes have impacted their children.

“Anyone with a child that is interested in music, this is the place to start”
– Jerrilyn

“Neal is very talented, so we’re learning a lot and having a lot of fun”
– Chris

“Since we started, our son has really blossomed in his love for music”
– Jen

Get Tickets for Jitterbugs

Classes are held at a real jazz club: The Jazz Forum in Tarrytown!

The Jazz Forum brings jazz to a new generation of children and their families. Jitterbugs: Jazz For Kids is based on playful interactive activities, encouraging the children to participate and learn about jazz.

During several of the sessions each season, we invite guest artists to join our educator to widen your child’s horizon of what jazz is and can be. The Jitterbugs program dives into various jazz themes, including the history of the music, important musicians, instruments and different jazz eras of the past. Let’s play, sing and learn together!

Scholarships available! Please sign up using this form if you want to inquire about scholarship tickets for your kids.

The Jitterbugs 2024 Fall Program

Program runs Mar 8, 15, 22, 29; Apr 5, 12, 26; May 3 at 9 & 10:30 am.

We are closed on Apr 19 for the holidays, and there will be no class.

Program runs for 8 weeks on Saturdays. One Program Ticket gives access to the full program of six classes.

During the program we will explore different aspects of jazz music, with singing, dancing, playing instruments and many other interactive activities!

Note: This is not a kid drop-off program. Parents are expected to join and participate during the classes to make the experience as rewarding as possible.

Program Overview

For preschoolers (18mos-4yrs)
Six Saturdays, 10 & 11:30 am
One program ticket per child
Class attendance of caretakers is obligatory
Two guest artists to join
Award-winning quality: Watch the video!

Scholarships

Scholarships are available!

Please fill out our form and we will get back to you.

Club Information

Address
1 Dixon Lane
10591 Tarrytown, NY

Parking
Available on the CVS parking lot adjacent to the club.

Contact
[email protected]
(914) 631-1000

Join Our Outdoor Jitterbugs jam

Jitterbugs hosts free Summer Concert events for kids, eight Wednesdays at the Dobbs Ferry Waterfront Park.

As part of our annual Summer Concerts series, families with kids of all ages can enjoy our free Jitterbugs Jam in Dobbs Ferry.

The Jitterbugs Jam begins at 5:30 PM (prior to concerts) each Wednesday for eight weeks.

Educational Method & Philosophy

At Jitterbugs: Jazz for Kids, we take children’s education seriously and work hard to ensure that all kids, regardless of background or experience, feel welcome to our music program.

Our goal is to create self-motivated, creative learners. Through the means of positive psychology we can create a high-gain, low-risk environment for learning through play. We recognize and celebrate that every child has their own unique needs for learning and many ways to express themselves creatively.

My education and experiences have led me to believe that positive psychology is the key to learning and retention.

– Neal Spitzer, Jitterbugs: Jazz for Kids Educator

Core to Neal’s own teaching principles is the philosophy of experiential learning. The process of I do (teacher models how to play), We do (collaborative playing), and You do (students play independently) is the foundation for creating his lesson plans. We learn by playing music together.

At Jitterbugs: Jazz for Kids, all of this is done through movement and music. From the moment your child walks into the Jazz Forum, they are “in the band!”

Winner of The ArtsWestchester 2021 Education Award

Jitterbugs is proudly recognized by ArtsWestchester!

Jazz Forum Arts’ Jitterbugs program explores the culture, history, and sounds of Jazz and Jazz music.

We help kids understand important musical concepts and learn about innovative artists who paved the way for jazz to flourish and develop as a unique art form to this day.

Meet the Educator

Neal Spitzer’s education includes a BS in Biology from Brandeis University (1990), a MFA from The New School for Jazz Performance (1993) and a Masters in Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College (2005). At Teachers College, Neal studied Curriculum & Training, concentrating on Early Childhood Education.

Neal has been teaching for almost three decades including 18 years as The Band Director at Washington Irving Elementary School in Tarrytown, NY. In addition to running the Instrumental Band Program for 130 students, he taught General Music to children with special needs (8-1-2 classification). Neal is presently the General Music Teacher at The Round Hill Nursery School in Greenwich, CT (Ages 18 months – 5 years).

Prior to his tenure in Tarrytown, Neal was the General Music Teacher at PS16 in the Bronx and at The Woodstock Day School. He was a teaching artist for the Learning through Expanded Arts Program (LEAP) between these two school residencies. Through Project Arts and many other grants, he trained over 150 classroom teachers in 20 elementary schools on how to integrate music and drama into their existing curriculum.