Through the collaboration of two local nonprofit organizations dedicated to music education, a simple idea has turned into a full-fledged, one-year program that has brought nine high school students together from all over the Phoenix area to learn how to play jazz in a broader context.
The ensemble, which first met early last month, practices every week at the same place that is the bedrock for some of the best jazz in Arizona, downtown Phoenix jazz club The Nash. Many players have performed at The Nash, including a number of touring artists and student musicians.
The students come from the Phoenix Conservatory of Music, which offers many different workshops and private lessons to people of any age and background. Five out of the nine students had already been involved in the Phoenix Conservatory of Music’s City Music Program, a free college preparatory program structured to train students between the fourth and 12th grades to advance musically.
The program is also associated with the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, which helps hundreds of students earn incredible scholarships for some of the most prestigious music colleges. In fact, the students in the program last year cumulatively earned a total of $450,000 in scholarships, said Regina Nixon, executive director of the Phoenix conservatory.
Will Goble, who plays upright bass, directs the program with piano player Ross Lewicki. Instead of practicing in an average school band classroom and learning within stricter limits, they are able to get a true feel of what goes into making jazz. The group is redefining what it means to learn jazz at a beginner level.
It’s not to say there’s anything wrong with learning in a conventional classroom setting — but it’s true that programs like this are uncommon, especially for students who are just starting out in jazz.
“Nothing compares to the experience of getting out and performing in front of people, and with more experienced musicians,” said Joel Goldenthal, the executive director of The Nash.
The main goal is to give them a chance to learn about the genre as whole in a noncompetitive way.
“Right now, it’s just about exposure,” Goble said. “We’re trying to zero in on some of the core elements of jazz.”
These nine students were chosen because they were genuinely interested in learning more about jazz.
“There may be ensembles that develop that are much more competitive … then we could add additional ensembles or take it in a new direction,” Goble said.
What’s most remarkable about this collaboration is that it’s putting jazz into a laid-back, genuine context that younger people can easily understand.
“It’s such a diverse culture, so if you look at the music that the kids listen to, it’s a lot of indie rock, it’s a lot of punk and hip-hop,” Nixon said.
As this program grows, it is likely that it will make jazz more and more relevant to the younger population in downtown Phoenix.
“When we find kids that are really interested in jazz, we want to make sure that they are getting the tools that they need in order to really learn about that art form and be successful,” Nixon said.
Contact the columnist at Oren.Simchy-Gross@asu.edu
