When I was in elementary school, State Road always had assemblies and invited people to come perform for the students. During one assembly we walked down to the cafeteria and when I got down there I saw the High School Jazz Band. After listening to the sweet music I felt inspired and I wanted to learn how to play an instrument one day in the Jazz Band. In middle school I learned how to play the trumpet and wanted to become a good musician so I practiced and worked on my tonality. When I finally got to symphonic band in high school I was nervous because I knew I was one step closer to being in the Jazz Band. After a long two years of learning more about the teacher and the style he teaches in, I became used to how things flow in the class. I ended up trying out for the advanced band, Wind Ensemble, and made it into the class my sophomore year. I felt like I had achieved a lot and near the end of my sophomore year, tryouts for Jazz Band started. I was very nervous and I didn't want to try out at first because I did not think I was good enough to be with a group of the best musicians in the school. My band Director finally got me to try out and when I got into his office I felt extremely nervous but I still tried my hardest to perform everything as best as I could. After the tryout I …show more content…
did not know if I was in right away, but I knew I would have a while before the results were posted on the door of the bandroom. A month and a half goes by and I have still had no idea if I was in the Jazz Band or not until one day when I walked into school and I saw two pieces of paper posted up on the door.
These were the lists for all of the people that made it into Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band for the next year. I look down at the trumpet section and as I'm reading through the names I see what I've been wanting to see for the last month and a half, and that was my name on the list for Jazz Band. I was really happy and I wanted to tell my friends and family right away that all my hard work paid off. I got home that day and told my parents the good news, they were very proud of me for reaching this big
goal. Throughout this long journey of making my way into the Jazz Band the one thing that motivated me the most was that I knew I could make my family happy. Since they used to say to me back in sixth grade when we saw the Jazz Band perform at a concert, “Matthew, maybe that could be you one day”. After making it into the Jazz Band I have changed as a person based on the way I learn new things and the style I live my life in. If I had never followed this dream I would not have gotten to know a lot of cool people and I would not be as good as I am now with my instrument.
The first time I picked up an instrument was at the age of 7 when I was in third grade. You can call it fate, luck, or my destiny but I was one of the three students that was able to join my elementary orchestra. Of course like any kid, I was afraid if had the ability to do such a thing. I mean it’s not every day you’re recruiting into the arts. I kept asking myself “can I do this? Will I fit in this group?” in other words can I be part of the classical music culture? It wasn’t till my first school concert where I had my first solo of “My Heart Will Go On” the love theme from Titanic that I was able to express the countless hours put into a 15 second solo. After that experience I never questioned if I belonged to the culture. Instead I focused on the next story I would tell on stage with the music score in
One of the biggest decisions of my high school career came my sophomore year when I decided to try out for the role of drum major in my high school band. This decision was very tough to make due to the fact that I was a sophomore, and although I already had three years of experience under my belt as a band member at Northview High School, I knew that it would be very tough to earn the respect of my peers if I succeeded in becoming drum major. Out of the three years I had spent in the band, the biggest influence on my decision to try out came from my very first marching season, between August and December of 2012. From that year forward, after seeing many areas that the band could improve, watching how underclassmen and middle school band members
The two concerts that I chose to go see were Stanislaus State Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensembles & Combos Concert. These two concerts are both very similar yet different in their own ways. Each piece also has many attributes to contribute and it was fun being able to watch two very different genres.
Where I learned how to become a leader through the leadership ensemble within the marching band. Where in my senior and fourth year of marching competitively, I became the Drum Major, and earned the Best Drum Major Award at the Roxbury Marching Band Classic Competition. From marching band I progressed into jazz music, where I became the lead alto saxophonist in the top jazz band at my school during my junior and senior year. I was also one of three saxophonists in the top band at my school. I picked up the clarinet, the flute, and the soprano saxophone on my way through high school, and have played all three as well in my performing ensembles. I played in the pit orchestra of the theater production of “All Shook Up”, and was the principal saxophonist at my high school. Too be short, I am very involved in all things music in the past and currently. Band and music have been a place for me to rely on, something that brings me joy when sad. Allows me to express myself through sounds and through instruments. It is truly a talent and a hobby that I hope to continue through college and through life because of the joy it brought me and creative outlet it was throughout my
On Friday, April 14, I decided to go to BlueWhale jazz club in Little Tokyo, Downtown LA, which had a Jazz concert under the title “Anthony Fund featuring George Garzone”. I decided to google who is Anthony Fung who was a brilliant young drummer who was the same age as me, 23, I was very intrigued to attend. when I arrived at the Jazz Club the place was surprisingly packed. Me and my friends who I dragged along had to stand up for a while. the band has not yet started, there was only the drummer entertaining the audience. it seemed that Fung plays there often and he is quite popular. I scanned the audience to see what kind of people are there. It was my first time to attend a jazz concert, and since the beginning
In the 1920s, through the streets of New Orleans, a familiar sound could be heard escaping from the walls of the night clubs. The sultry saxophone solos and the strange scatting selections filled the air. The style was new and spontaneous. This new genre incorporated the styles from gospel hymns, blues, and ragtime, yet was completely different in its own way. The sound, with its new techniques that gave it a raw uniqueness, was able to capture America's curiousness, and make many fall head over heels for the new infectious sound. It drew in people from any age, race, and social status. This new genre was called jazz, and it became so popular that an era was named after it. Jazz is a blend of African American spiritual folk songs and faster upbeat Ragtime that uses a variety of beats and rhythms along with improvisations to captivate its audiences. Jazz music originated from the African American culture, but spread quickly through the rest of America as the African Americans migrated north for new work (Great Neck Publishing). Jazz music was considered so unique because it allowed musicians the ability to express individuality and their own interpretations through the use of inflection, changing rhythms, and openness for improvisation during solos.
Music has always been one of things I excelled in. In elementary school it was required to be in music but second in 5th grade you have the option to be in band. I was in band for 6 years before I stopped and I went to 5 honor bands. I played tenor saxophone and was 2nd chair all six years. Jazz band was something we had in middle school and high school. We had 2 jazz bands in middle school. Jazz one was for 8th graders and jazz two was 7th grade. I played in both. My first year I played tenor 1 and 2 and the second year I played baritone saxophone. My 9th grade year I played only tenor one. We didn’t have to audition but the students who plays that instrument normally would have first say in who gets 1st, 2nd and sometimes 3rd part. That
The history of Jazz music is one that is tied to enslavement, and prejudices. It Is impossible to separate the development of Jazz music from the racial oppression that occurred in the United States as they are inextricably connected. Slavery was a part of our country’s development that is shameful and yet, lead to some of the greatest musical advances of the twentieth century.
The day I had been practicing so much for was finally here. I didn't know what to think, I was more prepared than other people but still didn't think I would make the line. As I walked into tryouts the first day, I was confident , but at the same time, I knew I was nervous inside. I was one of the 3 freshman trying out. There were other people there who were on drumline the previous years. They looked like nothing was wrong to them and this tryout was pretty much a casual rehersal for them. All though , all thing all of them thought that we freshmen were terrible. We started
The first jazz was played in the early 20th century. The work chants and folk
Jazz has a rich history that predates all the way to the mid 1800s. It is a form of music that originated from African Americans. Jazz was tied to the experiences African Americans suffered in America. Having nothing, enslaved African Americans entertained themselves through singing. As a result, jazz incorporates their songs, among other styles such as blues, to create a defining genre. Over the years, many prominent individuals added unique aspects to jazz, such as improvisation. Among these individuals is the famous Louis Armstrong.
Mel is in a band with his friends. They have had it since they were little kids. As he grew up his talent unleashed and now he wants to get better. There is an all-city jazz band that he can join. If he joins he will have to leave his friends band. The question is which one will he choose talent or loyalty.
Jazz is a music genre that is very rich in culture which is why I decided to attend a Jazz concert. This was my first Jazz event I had ever been to. I went to see the band The Chairman and the Board. This was a blues swing band. Having been to other concerts, I was expecting something similar as far as atmosphere and crowd. I was proved very wrong as this concert defied all my expectations and was in a whole different field as far as life entertainment goes. The first thing I noticed right off the bat was the audience. The age range of this audience was mainly 40-70. I definitely felt like the odd man out when I was there. It did get me thinking though, why was this audience so much older? I looked into the era of when most of those people
The summer of 2015 I spent at the S.T.E.P (Science and Technology entry Program) at the University of Rochester. This program is designed to aid minority students into medical fields: this program introduces youth to medical positions, the college application process, and hands on learning (IV placement, blood pressure, etc.). The final project involved interviewing a current doctor, about their journey to a medical occupation. I was selected to present my project in front of family, and guests, and received a scholarship for the Mini Medical School program. At the end of the summer I went to Bristol Hills Music Camp, which I have attended since the 9th grade. I have played violin since fourth grade, and that summer was selected to play in
I got really happy. It felt like all of my wishes blossomed into the fabric of reality. Other friends started asking me questions about my selection and my answer was “E”. Later, I found that the selection was not published yet and the news was just a prank. I was heart-broken by my friend’s treachery which made me look like a salt miner-undermining the truth among my