Catchin' the Blue Trane: From Blues to Coltrane and Beyond
My students need to have access to efficient and effective play-along educational resources and the correct tools to learn authentic jazz improvisation and techniques.
$560 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
SOLO! A daunting task for even a seasoned musician. Improvising a well constructed solo takes a knowledge of theory, but doing is learning. Play along albums give the student the opportunity to learn improv by doing. Success is promoted by these recordings and method books.
We are a Title I school in California.
Over 75% of our students receive assistance in lunch programs. Most of my students cannot afford their own horns much less private lessons; I am not only their band director I am their private teacher. They have an amazing thirst for music theory, improvisation, and composition curricula and I provide that through lunch time lessons with the "Rock-It Science" club. The band has grown from 29 members to 80 members in three years. They have a profound passion for music. The band meets one hour and 40 minutes before first period to rehearse, they thrive on after school and night rehearsals; they cannot get enough! During the Spring Musical they put in fifteen hour days, do their homework and return the next day eager for more. They research every musician I mention and search out transcriptions on the Internet. The question I hear most is,"Can you teach me how to solo like that?" I want to offer my band the most effective resources available.
My Project
Ever sung with the radio? It is a lot of fun "rocking out" in the privacy and security of your car...right? Playing with great musicians inspires young musicians. The Aebersold series features the highest quality musicians and repertoire and has been the industry standard for decades. I know from personal experience that my students will greatly benefit from the opportunity to improvise with the solid rhythm sections provided by the Aebersold Series . These resources can be used both in the classroom and privately. This is very important because the student is more likely to "push the envelope" in a private practice session at home. Add to that the access to the Jazz Industry Standard for trumpet players, the Harmon Mute, and a novice jazz student can very quickly feel like they are Miles at the Blue Note! Educational materials like these inspire young musicians to practice, hone, and refine their craft. Remember music is what words cannot say.
Music is the sole reason some students come to school.
Music teaches responsibility, time management, and discipline; I know of many students "saved by the band." I am fortunate to have the most eager and talented students that I have ever encountered in my band presently. Promoting a "real world" experience of learning how to "jam" with other musicians is the best gift we could give them.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Sierer and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
