Read the Mobile Jazz Lab™ Report
Curious what happens when creative risk meets community? Our Mobile Jazz Lab™ Final Report for Battelle sets out to explore just that. The final report dives into the data, stories, and lessons learned from this bold experiment in STEAM innovation.
About the Jazz Lab™ Mobile Pilot
Powered by the Battelle Central Ohio STEM Grant
Jazz Lab™ Mobile is a one-of-a-kind experience that uses live jazz to unlock curiosity and connect young minds to science, technology, and creativity. We meet students right where they are—bringing a mobile, four-week STEAM program directly into communities, schools, and youth spaces.
Designed for ages 7–14, every session invites hands-on exploration: sound waves and instrument design, rhythm and circuitry, VR immersion, and DIY builds. At the center of it all? A live jazz trio —who doesn't just perform, but teach, question, and co-create alongside students. Joined by a certified music therapist who brings a whole-child lens to every session, Jazz Lab™ goes beyond hands-on to nurture social, emotional, and cognitive growth.
Jazz Is a Mindset— We use jazz not just as music, but as a way of thinking. Improvisation. Collaboration. Adaptability. Pattern recognition. These aren’t just jazz skills—they’re essential STEM habits of mind.
Every session is grounded in live music—not background noise, but central to the learning.
Led by a jazz trio and certified music therapist—connecting sound to science, emotion, and exploration in real time.
Rooted in cultural relevance and joy—not just content, but context.
Blends disciplines, builds skills—integrating music, science, tech, and social-emotional learning.
Jazz Lab™ Sessions
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Week One
SOUND SCIENCE
Every Jazz Lab™ engagement begins and ends with live music, setting the stage for an exciting learning experience! In this first session, our Jazz Lab Techs (JLTs) dive into sound science—exploring vibration, pitch, frequency, resonance, and timbre through a guided look at instrument anatomy. This is followed by hands-on STEM activities, culminating in a fun, movement-based activity where they organize sounds and rhythms together.
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Week Two
WAVE FORMS & SYNTHESIZERS
After a brief recap of Session One, JLTs are introduced to waveforms and synthesized sounds in this engaging, interactive session. Our Jazz Lab™ Sound Engineer explains fundamental electronic concepts like ADSR, envelopes, oscillators, and filters. The JLTs then break into groups to explore patterns on Roland S-1 synthesizers and share their creations with the group.
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Week Three
VIRTUAL REALITY
In this session, students bridge the physical and virtual worlds of sound. In partnership with COSI VR Education, Jazz Lab™ Techs rotate through various stations—exploring VR artifacts, experiencing a curated virtual jazz jam session featuring professional musicians, and experimenting with instruments and music-making on a cosmic stage.
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Week Four
3D INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY (Under Redesign)
In the final session, students unleash their inner engineers! Each JLT receives a Jazz Lab™ Portable Innovation Lab (PIL) powered by Battelle—a unique STEM product co-created by A Tribe for Jazz and the PAST Foundation. Guided by educators, JLTs construct and customize their own instruments using 3D-printed materials. This hands-on activity fosters problem-solving, teamwork, creativity, and resilience, marking the culmination of their journey.
“A Tribe for Jazz is taking an innovative approach to recruiting historically underrepresented groups to the STEM talent pool, while inspiring younger generations’ interest in the cultural phenomenon that is jazz music.”
— U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty
Take a Closer Look
Powered by Partnership
Jazz Lab™ Mobile runs on collaboration. With support from Battelle, Columbus Recreation and Parks, COSI, and the PAST Foundation, we connect schools, artists, engineers, and community leaders to deliver bold, equitable STEAM learning.
In the News
What People Are Saying
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The Mobile Jazz Lab Pilot Program is an incredible program teaching life skills like empathy and collaboration through jazz music, and COSI was honored to add to this cutting-edge programming. It was a joy watching students light up playing digital instruments in mixed reality alongside their peers and live jazz musicians, being immersed in 180-degree musical content, and engaging VR artifacts dating back to the 1800s; many of them started out reserved but this program brought them out their comfort zones, inspired them to explore and engage STEM.”
Tres Carter, Director, Creative Engagement, Center of Science and Industry (COSI)
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I had the chance to attend two sessions of the Mobile Jazz Lab™ at Yorktown Middle School late last year, and the energy in the room was unforgettable. Whether students were building 3D instruments or exploring the science of sound, you could see them making real-time connections—between music and STEM, culture and creativity. It was a vivid reminder of how powerful hands-on learning can be when it’s rooted in joy and curiosity.
Carl Holtman, President, Whitehall-Bexley Rotary Club
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It truly was inspiring to see the students so engaged and the live band setting the stage for their creativity. The way they infused their personalities into the music was a powerful reminder of the importance of fostering such talent. This experience definitely reinforces the importance of providing platforms for youth to express themselves. Looking forward to seeing how we can continue to support this initiative!
Dr. Nathan Harris, Founder, See Brilliance
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It’s been a pleasure partnering with A Tribe for Jazz—their creative STEAM programming, inspiring youth engagement, and effortless coordination make them a standout partner with Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s Center without Walls program. By bringing the program directly to each location, it removes barriers to access and makes high-quality programming easily available to our communities. This model not only enhances participation but also simplifies logistics—making it a programming dream for any partner.
Antonio Combs, Jr. Columbus Recreation and Parks
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Many of the Jazz Lab students played music or had prior experience playing music, and live band helped to connect them to the class topics in a personal way. Other students with no musical experience typically were interested in seeing the instruments and hearing the band play, and the response to Jazz Music which was previously foreign to them was overwhelmingly positive.
George Delancey, Bassist
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This project has been one of the most exciting and creatively energizing projects that I’ve had the privilege of helping manage and coordinate. Not only has the Mobile Jazz Lab project had a great impact on the students, but it has also made a significant difference in the thoughts of all the adults who have collaborated with the lab or gained knowledge about it. The knowledge and experiences our team acquired while prototyping the guitar have been invaluable.
Brianna Agomessou, Portable Innovation Labs Coordinator, PAST Foundation
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Creating Jazz Lab™ Mobile
A TRIBE FOR JAZZ
Collaboration is at the heart of Jazz Lab™ Mobile, guiding every step of its development. We lived out this core value through our partnerships with educators, organizations, and the community. Together, we’ve created a unique program that inspires young minds to think both creatively and critically while fostering authentic engagement around new ideas. We invite you to take a closer look at our journey bringing this wonderful educational program to life.
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Behind the Scenes at the Blu Note Jazz Cafe with COSI
Amene Alshaer goes behind the scenes with Tres Carter, VP of Creative Engagement, to show the creation of the Jazz Lab VR Experience with COSI (Center of Science and Industry).
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Jazz Lab™ Pilot Statement of Innovation
AIMSMART CONSULTING
Research shows that jazz music plays a vital role in fostering creative thinking and problem-solving in everyday life. Studies also highlight the cognitive and developmental benefits of music, especially when integrated with STEM education.
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"What Jazz Music Can Do for the Brain"
Read the article at Psychology Today
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"Afterschool STEM To Improve STEM Equity Issues"
Read the article at STEM Next Opportunity Fund
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"Music and STEM Combine to Create Perfect Harmony"
Read the article at Hardrock, South Dakota Mines
Jazz Lab™ Mobile Pilot News
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Pilot program in city schools explores jazz, STEM education connection
The Columbus Dispatch
Both STEM education and involvement in the arts support the social and emotional learning needs of students equipping them with skills such as collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving.
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Virtual reality inspires youth through music and STEM
Spectrum News
Arts and the sciences don’t always go hand-in-hand, but one after-school program is merging the two to inspire the next generation of innovators.
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A Tribe for Jazz and COSI Break New Ground with Mobile Jazz Lab Pilot Program
PR Undergeround
A Tribe for Jazz and COSI Partner to Launch Jazz Lab™ Mobile Pilot Program, Fusing Jazz Music, STEM, and VR for an Innovative Student Learning Experience.
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Mobile Jazz Lab™ Program to Revolutionize After-School Learning for Columbus Students
PR Underground
Hands-on Learning Experience Integrates Jazz, Science, and Technology Through Innovative Sessions on Sound Physics, Virtual Reality, and Portable Innovation Labs
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A Tribe for Jazz Launches Innovative Educational Pilot through Mobile Jazz Lab Program
PR Underground
One-of-a-kind pilot program combines Jazz and STEM for after-school students in Columbus City Schools, with support from the Battelle Central Ohio STEM Grant.
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A Tribe for Jazz Awarded Battelle Central Ohio STEM Grant for Groundbreaking Jazz Lab Mobile Pilot
PR Underground
Innovating Education: Integrating Jazz with STEM in Partnership with Columbus Recreation and Parks, COSI, and the PAST Foundation
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Battelle Sets New Funding Record with 2024 STEM Education Grants for Innovative Central Ohio Programs
Battelle
As a leading nonprofit philanthropic organization, Battelle dedicates a significant portion of its resources to STEM initiatives to equip students with the necessary skills to become future leaders and innovators.
Become a Jazz Lab™ Volunteer
Join us in bringing the magic of Jazz Lab™ to life! We’re looking for passionate individuals like you to help inspire the next generation!
