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Jazz for a new generation
November 14, 2006
Jazz in Schools introduces grade-schoolers to the musical genre
November 14, 2006
By ANNA VITALE
Link to Columbia Missourian's Site
Field Elementary Schoo's gymnasium and about 280 students were a venue and an audience the MU jazz combo Friends O'Clyde hadn’t experienced before. A five-piece combo and live, improvisational music were new for much of the young audience, too.
The school assembly at Field on Monday afternoon marked the kickoff of the "We Always Swing" Jazz Series' Jazz in Schools program. The program, brainchild of Greg Aker and Jon Poses of the jazz series, will include three more events at Field this school year.
"The real goal of this program is to expose young students to jazz: the great American art form," Aker said.
The partnership among the MU musicians, Field, the jazz series and US Bank, which is funding Jazz in Schools, seemed to please the students. They responded with snaps, claps and cheers to Friends O'Clyde's opening number, "Night in Tunisia."
"We need to take a concerted effort in order to preserve this music," said Derek T. Smith, alto saxophonist for the combo. "Unless we get that spark with the music at a young age, it’s going to die."
Smith was introduced to jazz as a boy when he attended a concert by trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. He led the program by giving an abridged history of jazz, introducing instruments such as the tenor and alto saxophones, trombone and piano.
"Improvisation," he told the young audience. "What is it?"
A girl raised her hand. "Making your own music," she said.
Smith affirmed her answer and then moved into a demonstration of the similarities between jazz and hip-hop. It ended up being 10-year-old Danielle Collins’ favorite part of the program.
Rachel Galbreath, Field’s music teacher, said the music her students talk about most in class is “mainly hip-hop, rap ... and they say 'Shakira." Galbreath said she’d been talking with her students about jazz concepts such as improvisation, famous jazz musicians, and call and response.
"They love playing instruments and improvising," she said.
The jazz series hopes to expand youth experience with jazz music through Jazz in Schools.
"We’d obviously like to expand this in as many schools as possible," Aker said. "It's fantastic that we have the university here to work with."
A portion of this report first aired Monday during "News At 10" on KMIZ/Channel 17 ABC, Columbia.
12-23 1:58
12-17 2:12
Jazz Series Launches Annual Fund as dollar-for-dollar match for major NEA Jazz Masters Live
This is a special year for us. As recipients of a major grant from the National Endowment for the Arts – the Jazz Masters Live Initiative we are required to match the award dollar for dollar. The goal: $30,000 – and we need do reach it by February 18, 2008 – the day commissioned composer and Kansas City native Bob Brookmeyer returns to Missouri to conduct the world premier of his new work performed by the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, at the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts. This season your tax-deductible donation to the Jazz Series goes twice as far.
Make a tax-deductible pledge (PDF) do the Jazz Series and we will apply it toward matching the NEA grant special NEA grant – one of only 12 in the country that allowed us to commission new work, and present one of the best big bands in the world at the Missouri Theatre. As a way of saying “Thank You” we’re pleased do offer tickets to this one-of-a-kind event—and a the most recent CD from the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra CD – which is a part of University of Missouri’s Arts & Science Week.
Jazz Series Receives NEA Grant
“We Always Swing” Jazz Series snags prestigious NEA Jazz Masters Live grants…
Organization, one of only 12 presenters in the United States selected to receive $30,000 award paves the way for Missouri native and NEA Jazz Master Bob Brookmeyer to compose new work for the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. New York-based, 16-piece orchestra arrives in Columbia to perform world premiere February 18, 2009, at the Missouri Theatre with Brookmeyer as guest conductor. Also on hand: Dan Morgenstern, fellow NEA Jazz Master and Director of Rutgers Jazz Institute. The world renowned historian will serve as guest emcee and host a pair of forums: a one-on-one interview with Brookmeyer and an in-depth look into the chronology of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, which has been holding court at jazz’s most famous basement – The Village Vanguard – since 1965. Much-anticipated events serve as centerpiece for MU’s Arts & Science Week.
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