This school is full of very talented musicians, many of whom belong to the MVMS band, chorus, or orchestra. These are classes that have grades like English and math, for example , but some people like to play music and not have to worry about having a good report card at the same time. There is a group for those people, the ones who want to play outside of school, and grow their musical skill. This group is called the jazz band, and it is awesome.
The jazz band is entirely extracurricular, and it plays--you guessed it-- jazz music. Jazz music is a genre that originated back when slavery was legal. Many slaves would sing songs from their homeland. Over the years, the music morphed into something new, mixing with American styles. This eventually turned into jazz music, becoming very popular. Playing jazz involves lots of improvisation. A jazz song usually begins with a written tune, but then turns to a solo section where one person plays an improvised tune.
Leading the MVMS Jazz Band is teacher Cayce Carnahan, who also teaches all of the band, guitar, and percussion classes. All 14 years he has been here at Mill Valley Middle School, he has been running the jazz band and the yearly changing cast. I, being a member of the band myself, have enjoyed all of the experiences that I have been given. We experience good music, field trips, new friends, and much more from our participation.
Of course, being a member of the Jazz Band takes a lot of commitment. Three days a week, the students meet, and spend 30 minutes of their time rehearsing. On Mondays and Wednesdays, it’s after school, and on Thursdays, it’s at lunch. The students have to practice extra at home, too. Usually, there are about three extra songs to practice on top of the normal band songs. Still, it’s nothing compared to the 1-6 hours our teacher spends every day practicing, plus all teaching all of his classes. This time and dedication, though, is all part of being good at bringing music to life.
Being a part of this band is showcasing true effort, and it really pays off. Playing and listening to music are both very rewarding things, and it’s really relaxing to know that it doesn’t always have to come with a grade.
--Owen Reese, SENIOR STAFF WRITER