Education &Advocacyā
"Your sound is you, and what you really feel inside"
- Cee Tee
Justin Kauflin, a recipient of the Kennedy Center VSA award, is an advocate for disability awareness, merging this commitment with jazz education through performances, clinics, student jam sessions, and community screenings of the renowned documentary "Keep On Keep' On," which showcases his deep friendship with jazz legend Clark Terry. This bond also introduced Justin to Clark's first student, Quincy Jones. As a U.S. Department of State Jazz Ambassador—an honor previously bestowed upon Quincy Jones—Justin spreads jazz education, mentorship and awareness in classrooms across the globe.
FROM EDUCATORS & STUDENTS
What happens when
the music enters the room?
Justin's clinics and masterclasses aren't about technique alone - they're about what music asks of us. Educators and students consistently describe something that goes beyond instruction: a shift in how young musicians hear themselves and what they believe is possible.
"It was clear from the start that Justin had goals to accomplish within the session, offering performance and dialogue that he believed would be most effective with university-aged students - and he targeted perfectly. They made our band room seem like the center of the jazz universe in those 90 minutes.
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ANTONIO GARCIA
Director, VCU Jazz
"Justin did a fabulous job with the students and I couldn't have been more pleased with the master class. He is a natural teacher - with his honesty, sensitivity, temperament and ability to inspire. They appreciated the thoughtful comments and practical advice, and felt SO inspired after the clinic."
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LIZ BARNES
Governor's School for the Arts, Director, Jazz Dept.
"Trinity students often have the benefit of witnessing music-making at the highest level by visiting professional musicians like Kauflin. It's valuable that students get to interact with the artists so that they realize that they are regular people. An artist like Justin, who is only a few years older than the studetns - has a particular resonance"
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TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
IB Music Director
Bring Justin to
your students
Available for jazz clinics, master classes, school residencies and community screenings of Keep On Keepin' On. Justin works with students at all levels - from high school programs to university ensembles.
Accessibility
Resources
Justin Kauflin became completely blind by age 11 due to proliferative exudative retinopathy. With support from Virginia Beach public schools and the DBVI, he excelled academically, graduating summa cum laude while mastering braille and mobility skills. At William Paterson University, he accessed brailled music scores through the National Library Service and used technology like Dancing Dots and Sibelius for composition. A Kennedy Center VSA award recipient, he advocated for disability awareness while serving as a Jazz Ambassador abroad. The Americans with Disability Act has improved independent travel and dining experiences, while advancements in assistive technology, including Native Instrument's Komplete Kontrol, have enhanced creative opportunities for visually impaired musicians and producers.
If you think you're having a rough day and can't escape whatever hole life has dug for you, Kauflin's worldview should give you a little perspective... His ringtone is 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' for God's sake"
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Resource Links
SEEING AI - A visual assistant for the blind, utilizing AI to audibly narrate the world. Free
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BE MY EYES - Be My Eyes is a free app that connects users to volunteers and companies worldwide.
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THE SEEING EYE GUIDE DOGS - Harnessing Freedom Video
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NATIVE INSTRUMENTS - Accessibility guide for Komplete Kontrol software users.
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VA DEPT. BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED - (DBVI) provides services and resources for employment, education & independence.
DANCING DOT TECHNOLOGY - Serves visually-impaired musicians & their educators through technology and training.
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AVID MUSIC NOTATION - Sibelius Tutorial for screen reader users. Assistive Music Technology Lab at Berklee College.
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NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE FOR THE BLIND - (NLS) offers a catalog of large-print & brailled scores and books.
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NLS CONVERSATION WITH JUSTIN - Video
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AUDIBLE BOOKS - Stories brought to life by captivating voices.
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HR PARATRANSIT - Hampton Roads transportation solutions that are reliable, safe, efficient, and sustainable.
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RAYBAN META GLASSES - AI glasses that blend cutting-edge technology with iconic style.āā