Root, Jazz & American Music (RJAM)

The Roots Jazz American Music (RJAM) Program at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts seeks to cultivate well-rounded, holistic scholar-artists who are grounded in the foundational traditions of indigenous, folk, Jazz and American music. Our mission is to empower students to engage with the full spectrum of music, blending the core principles of root music, jazz, and classical practices to foster artistic growth, critical thinking, and cultural understanding. Through rigorous training and a commitment to excellence, we strive to develop musicians who transcend style and genre, recognizing that all music is interconnected. Guided by the belief that "I am because we are," our program values the growth of the individual in the context of community, encouraging discipline, integrity, and creativity as students push the boundaries of
music, both past and present.