Jazz Education & Outreach
"Your sound is you and what you really feel inside"
CLARK TERRY
Film has become another way Justin brings awareness to important causes — from jazz mentorship in Keep On Keepin' On to teen suicide prevention in My Sister Liv -- from water conservation in Reflection – A Walk with Water to disability resiliency in Full Circle. [Explore his film work →]
JAZZ AMBASSADORSHIP
Justin Kauflin brings a rare combination of world-class performance experience and deeply personal storytelling to every educational setting he visits. As a faculty member at the Governor's School for the Arts in Virginia and a U.S. Department of State Jazz Ambassador — a title once held by his mentor Quincy Jones — Justin has led clinics, master classes, and residencies for students from high school through university level across the United States and around the world.
His connection to jazz's living tradition is direct and extraordinary. At William Paterson University, Justin studied under great jazz pianists James Williams, Mulgrew Miller and Harold Mabern, and the legendary trumpeter Clark Terry, whose first student was a young Quincy Jones. That lineage — Terry to Jones to Kauflin — shapes everything he brings into the classroom: a deep respect for mentorship, an emphasis on listening, and the belief that jazz is ultimately about human connection.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
My approach rests on three pillars: Disciplined Craft, Authentic Voice, and Resilient Spirit.
Disciplined Craft: Rigorous technical and harmonic training — voicings, comping, reharmonization, transcription — frees the creative mind. As Quincy Jones noted: "you gotta practice, you gotta put the left-brain work in."
Authentic Voice: Technical skill matters only when placed in service of personal expression. I encourage students to draw on their own experiences as the raw material for musical storytelling — producing original voices, not imitators.
Resilient Spirit: Having lost my sight at age 11 and built a career on the world stage, I understand that the greatest obstacles can become the greatest teachers. I bring that perspective into every session, helping students reframe challenges as opportunities for growth.
WHAT JUSTIN OFFERS
JAZZ WORKSHOPS & MASTER CLASSES
Interactive sessions on jazz improvisation, jazz vocabulary, ear training, technique, and performance practice - tailored to your ensembles levels and goals
KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON SCREENING
Community and school screenings of the Tribeca award-winning, Oscar short-listed documentary -- followed by a Q&A and jazz workshops with Justin
STUDENT JAM SESSIONS
Hands-on playing experience with Justin alongside your students, putting the lessons into immediate practice
SCHOOL RESIDENCIES
Multi-day visits that go deeper - combining coaching, performance, and conversation about life as a working jazz musician.
JAZZ CONCERT SERIES
Justin curates and produces a jazz concert series at The Governor's School for the Arts - free of charge. GSA Jazz Nights >
DISABILITY AWARENESS & ACCESSIBILITY
Justin lost his sight at the age of eleven but went on to graduate summa cum laude, tour with Quincy Jones, and score a documentary that was shortlisted for an Oscar. As a Kennedy Center VSA International Young Soloist Award, he advocates for accessible music technology for blind and visually impaired musicians and producers, including Native Instruments' Komplete Kontrol and Microsoft's Seeing AI.
RESOURCE LINKS
Seeing AI - A visual assistant for the blind, utilizing AI to audibly narrate the world. Free
Be My Eyes - free app that connects users to volunteers and companies worldwide.
The Seeing Eye - Harnessing Freedom Video
Native Instruments - Accessibility guide for Komplete Kontrol software users.
VA Dept. Blind & Visually Impaired - (DBVI) provides services and resources for employment, education & independence.
Dancing Dots Technology - Technology and training for blind musicians.
AVID Music Notation - Sibelius Tutorial for screen reader users.
National Library Service- (NLS) offers a catalog of large-print & brailled scores and books.
NLS Conversation with Justin - Video
Audible Books - Stories brought to life by captivating voices.
HR Paratransit - Hampton Roads transportation solutions
RayBan Meta Glasses - AI glasses that blend cutting-edge technology with iconic style.
TESTIMONIALS
"They made our band room seem like the center of the jazz universe in those 90 minutes." -ANTONIO GARCIA,Director, VCU Jazz
"Justin is a natural teacher - with his honesty, sensitivity, temperament and ability to inspire." -LIZ BARNES, Director, GSA Jazz
"An artist like Justin, who is only a few years older than the students - has a particular resonance" -TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL,IB Music Director
SCHEDULING & AVAILABILITY
Justin is based in Norfolk, Virginia and available for educational engagements throughout the academic year, with the most flexibility for travel and extended residencies during summer and school holiday breaks.
To check availability, please inquire at least 6-8 weeks in advance. To inquire about clinics or residencies, contact Justin directly at justin.kauflin@gmail.com or reach out through the Contact page.