On the evenings of April 4 and 5, the majority of the Roberts-Dubbs Auditorium was dim, but the stage was alive with music. A quaint cafe was set up on stage, complete with snacks, tables and, most importantly, a band.
Sophomore Zak Russell stood with his bow tie, rainbow suspenders, and trombone and soloed to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s “Pure Imagination,” arranged and conducted by junior Kepler Mears, who plays trumpet in the Jazz Band. Jazz Band played everything from The Wizard of Oz to rock.
All of the tunes had one thing in common: they were chosen or arranged by the students.
The soloists did not play notes off a sheet. They improvised, one of the skills emphasized in jazz. While the Jazz Band does not strictly play “straight-up jazz,” as music teacher Carolyn Castellano calls it, it does perform pieces that leave room for improvisation. This gives students a significant amount of freedom in their playing.
According to senior Ziv Scully, who plays clarinet and baritone saxophone in the Jazz Band, Carolyn’s free style in the classroom empowers students to create unique music.
“She’s most of the time pretty hands-off actually, kind of like the facilitator of a discussion. She guides the band in the right directions and keeps us in line and gives us some exercises to do, but in terms of arranging the pieces she makes suggestions just like anybody else in the band would,” he said. “She gives us a lot of power and freedom and responsibility.”
Castellano confirmed that the freedom she gives her students is intended to motivate them.
“I give them freedom to do pieces that they want to do,” she said. “You give them ideas and let them run with it. That’s what inspired me and inspires them.”
After the first concert, Kepler expressed satisfaction with the band’s performance.
“It makes a lot more sense to perform because it’s something we’ve done on our own,” he said. “Being part of the creative process is a motivator for me.”
“If you give people freedom that they can own, they’re going to be successful and want to do their best,” Castellano said. “So it’s not just me, it’s their music and what they want to put into it. That’s hopefully what makes it successful or enjoyable to listen to.”
Ben Gladstone can be contacted at [email protected].
