Dana Berry

Introduction/Rationale

Finding literature appropriate to junior high jazz students can be a
frustrating experience. Music that is within the physical abilities of the younger
students is often uninteresting and/ or lacks challenge. Quality junior high jazz
band music must interest the child, teach concepts, give exposure to different
styles and allow for opportunities to improvise.
This project is intended to introduce three useful jazz selections into the
repertoire for junior high age students. They are specifically fitted to the junior
high ensemble in several ways. All are in common keys. The range for the brass
players is within parameters realistic to a young performer. The highest pitch for
trumpets never exceeds written A. Trombones stay below written F. Rhythms
are not exceptionally difficult. Each piece is of a different style. All three pieces
are intended to be useful tools to teach the styles they represent. Through
learning the pieces, junior-high age students will gain valuable musicianship
skills and build upon their fluency of the jazz style.
Two of the pieces, Blue Seven and Solar Flair serve as platforms to
develop improvisation. These pieces are written with solo sections that can be
repeated as often as desired to give players a chance to playa solo. They include
worksheets to orient the players to the chord progressions of the solo chorus and
give them ideas for improvised solos.
The.se three junior high age jazz band pieces were written between July
2002 and April 2003 using Finale software. They were performed in front of a
live audience by the Thomas Middle School Jazz Ensemble in Arlington Heights,
Illinois on Monday, May 19, 2003. The band consisted of students in grades 6
through 8.… (mehr)