Feeling the flow of jazz
Area ensemble teaches students a common language in music
Upbeat, invigorating sounds echoed through the halls at the Eastern Washington University Music Building, as local high school musicians rehearsed Tadd Dameron’s jazz classic “Lady Bird.” They swayed and tapped their toes – they were jamming. They came together from different area schools and have learned to speak the common language of jazz, through the Spokane All City Jazz Ensembles program.
“What’s that interval?” director Rob Tapper drilled them Sunday. “Minor third,” they all replied. At a fast pace, he repeatedly asked more intervals. With skillful ear training, they answered correctly every time, nearly without hesitation.
Tapper said his purpose is “to give the kids what band directors don’t have time to do, like improvisation. In bigger bands the kids can get lost, but in a small group like this, there is more one on one. Helping the kids, teaching them the value of independence, these are the things they can take with them wherever they go.”
Understanding music with both mind and heart is what Tapper teaches. He tries to provide enrichment opportunities, not only to build musical skills, but also confidence, maturity and self-esteem.
One such opportunity was the chance to perform with Marcus Printup, of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Printup tours annually worldwide with the orchestra. He has an interest in teaching youth and did just that at the Showalter Auditorium in Cheney earlier this year. Printup, along with quartet members Brian McCann, Don Goodwin and Dru Heller, performed in a special concert with SAJE.
“The kids really enjoyed this opportunity. The chance to perform with Marcus Printup was great for them,” said Audrey Burr, program board member. “Even in their nervousness you could see how thrilled they were. So not only is he a great musician, but he has a special ability to work with kids. You could see this camaraderie in the work they did together.” One student of the SAJE, Keith Tatham, while fighting a personal battle with cancer, had his own opportunity to inspire, when he had the chance to personally meet Wynton Marsallis, Printup and the band in a specially arranged meeting. Tatham enjoyed the thrill of a dream becoming reality, playing his trumpet with such company, bridging the mind and heart in music.
Students become involved in SAJE through recommendations and approval from their school’s band director. Every year SAJE sends out information to area high school and middle school band directors about the program. The directors decide which students to recommend. The SAJE team groups them by instrument and calls the parents for permission. Students also hear about the program through involvement in the Jazz Dialogue Summer Camps program at EWU, a popular annual event since 2001.
SAJE is in its sixth year under the direction of Tapper, director of jazz activities and trombone instructor at EWU. In the SAJE Program, there are four middle school groups and five high school groups.