A Parents Overview of
Here
is a look at an average year-in-the-life of a Jazz Band student at
Jazz Band I is a class
taught by Scott Brown during the regular school day. Jazz Band I is typically a standard jazz band of saxophones,
trombones, trumpets, and rhythm section (drummer, bass, piano, and guitar) plus
additional qualified students who may double up on various parts. Given the
exceptional performance level of Jazz Band I, it is rare - but not impossible -
for freshmen to qualify for this band.
Jazz Bands II and III are after-school activities taught by Stuart MacDonald.
Other than during football season, when many jazz students participate in
Marching Band practice after school, JB II meets three times per week and JB
III meets twice per week. It is important for the growth and success of the
bands and for the progression of the students for all band members to attend
band practices on a regular basis. JB II and III students who are also involved
in school sports are encouraged to work out a reasonable compromise with
coaches for after-school time. Most coaches are understanding and supportive of
the school music programs. Jazz Band II and III students, other than bass,
guitar, and piano players, are also required to be enrolled in Cadet or
Symphonic Band class in addition to after-school jazz. Bass players are
encouraged to enroll in an orchestra class.
Your
child will likely need to increase their level of practicing, and commit to
performing music at the highest level at concerts and jazz festivals. Summer
jazz camps and workshops are highly recommended, along with ongoing private
instruction. Your child will miss school to attend jazz festivals and other
performances. He/she will need to make up missed assignments and tests and keep
school work current and in good standing. Your child will also be a
representative of the school at various events and must possess exemplary
behavior.
Parents are asked to support their students activities through
positive reinforcement, volunteering, and fundraising. There are fundraising activities all year
long (bake sales at concerts, etc.) but the biggest fundraiser is the Big Band Dance & Auction in March
(sometimes early April), which benefits all of the jazz bands and Vocal Jazz.
Parents are requested to procure $400 or more in donations for the auction,
invite friends and family, and help with running this event.
Parents are expected to become actively involved in the Jazz Boosters, which is a volunteer
organization that supports the jazz programs and organizes many jazz events and
activities. A lot of information is disseminated by email and/or is available
on the Roosevelt Jazz web site, but monthly
booster meetings are the best place to hear from the directors, keep
abreast of band events and learn about the program. Volunteering is essential to the success of the program, whether it
is chaperoning a trip to a jazz festival, helping with a fundraiser, or helping
to lead by taking on a booster office such as Secretary, Treasurer, or Chair.
If parents are unsure of time commitments for various tasks, the Booster Chair
is happy to answer questions.
Jazz
Band II and III girls typically wear nice dresses (often $150 or more,
including shoes) and boys wear dress shirts and slacks (often $100 or more,
including shoes). Performance clothing has traditionally been black in the past
but that is subject to change. Jazz Band I girls wear nice black dresses and
boys wear tuxedos ($150 and up).
All
three bands travel to jazz festivals and, despite fundraisers, parents pay for
a substantial portion of the expenses. Jazz Band II and III typically have annual dues of approximately $500,
largely to cover the directors salary since this is an after-school program,
plus additional assessments of $400-$600 for trips depending on the success of
fundraising.
Jazz
Band I typically has annual dues of $450, primarily to cover travel expenses,
but may also have a travel assessment if the band qualifies for the Essentially
Ellington competition (approximately $1200 per student), depending on the
success of fundraising. In addition, Jazz Band I usually goes on a summer tour
every other year (2012, 2014, etc.) and, as these trips are often to
In addition to dues and trip assessments (and private
lessons, instrument repairs, etc.), students will need spending money for food
and incidentals while on trips of around $25-50
per day, depending on the nature of the trip and whether some meals are
included.
Since not every family can afford all of these expenses,
parents can request scholarship help
from the Roosevelt Jazz Boosters via a confidential meeting with the group
Treasurer. Non-needs-based scholarships are also typically funded by the Jazz
Boosters to help pay for summer jazz workshops and camps.
TYPICAL JAZZ CALENDAR
First Tuesday of each month
(except September) - Jazz Booster Meeting, 7:30 PM in the Band
Room
Early September Jazz Band
Auditions
Mid-September First Jazz Booster
Meeting, Tuesday, 7:30PM
Mid-October Jazz Band I to the Triple
Door for Earshot Jazz Festival (evening)
Late October Jazz Band II to
Early November Jazz Band I to Sand
Point Country Club Dinner-Dance (evening)
Mid-November Vocal Jazz to the
Olympic College Jazz Festival (Saturday)
Mid-November Jazz Band III to Mill
Creek Jazz Festival (Saturday)
Early December Jazz Band I performs
the Jazz Nutcracker (multiple performances)
Mid-December Jazz Night at Roosevelt
(evening, all jazz groups)
Mid-December Jazz Band I to Sunset
Club for dinner-dance (evening)
Mid-January Jazz Band I records
audition for Essentially Ellington competition
Late-January Jazz Band I and II to
Early February Jazz Band III to
Viking Jazz Festival (Poulsbo, Friday)
Early February Jazz Band I and Vocal
Jazz to
Late February All groups to Lionel
Hampton Jazz Festival in
Mid-March Jazz Band I to Hot Java,
Cool Jazz at the
Late March Big Band Dance &
Auction, all groups perform (Saturday evening)
Late March or early April Big Band
Dance & Auction
Late April All groups to Reno Jazz
Festival (travel by air, leave Friday, return Sunday)
Mid-May If they qualify, Jazz Band I
to Essentially Ellington in
Early June All groups to The Triple Door
(evening)
Mid-June Jazz Bands II & III,
Vocal Jazz Final Concert
Mid-June Jazz Band I Final Concert
and party
Note: This calendar does not show
regular band and orchestra concerts, drama musicals, marching band performances
and parades, and other events that may include