The ERHS Jazz Band is a performing ensemble. Perhaps more importantly, it is a class in which students can be creative and develop true independent musicianship. (See “Why Jazz is the Most Supreme Music in the Universe” by Jeremy Cotton.) We do perform from standard arrangements for big band; more often, however, what we play will be our own composition, improvisation, arrangement, or transcription. Style, improvisation, aural skills, and knowledge of music theory are emphasized in this course and are essential to individual and group success. We most frequently play music from “lead sheets” (melody and chords only), and commonly transcribe music from recordings or a model player.

During the 2006-07 year, we brought some 7th and 8th graders into the high school ensemble to the benefit of all. This is the current plan for 2007-08, but is open to change.

We are currently accepting students on all instruments; this policy may have to be rethought if we end up with a jazz band primarily comprised of flutes and oboes. (No offense intended to flute and oboe players. They are lovely instruments.) While we are taking all instruments—even those not normally seen in a big band—Jazz Band is an auditioned ensemble and we have limited space.

Improvisation Practice

I have created MIDI files so that you can practice improvisation at home. They may be played or downloaded by clicking on the song name. Check out the MIDI player below, and the MIDI file collections at the bottom of the page.

• Blues in Bb - Rock
• Blues in Bb - Swing
• Blues in C - Rock
• Blues in C - Swing
• Blues in Eb - Rock
• Blues in Eb - Swing

The MIDI player that you probably have on your computer does not make full use of MIDI's possibilities, but www.vanbasco.com offers a FREE MIDI player that is incredibly useful to musicians. This player allows to change the tempo, alter the pitch (that means you can change the key of the entire piece of music), mute or bring out individual instruments to practice with, and shows you exactly what notes are being played on a keyboard.

There are tens of thousands of MIDI files available for free download off of the web. Some excellent starting places are: 

www.worldjazz.ch/playright.htm (Jazz, with a few rock songs thrown in-- 311 Excellent files)

http://www.geocities.com/bourbonstreet/1114/justjaz2.htm (Just Jazz Web)

http://www.classicalarchives.com/midi.html (Classical MIDI Archives-- Thousands of files)

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Garage/2991/ (Hermit's MIDI Retreat-- Lots of rock)

Note: MIDI (Musically Intelligent Digital Interface) is a valuable tool for musicians. Unlike mp3's, .wav's, and other sound files, MIDI files (.mid) are not condensed files of actual sound; rather, they are files of information that are interpreted by your computer. The file tells your computer what instrument sound  to play, how loud, how fast or long, and in what style. Depending on the quality of your MIDI player and sound card, the file will sound slightly or very different than on someone else's computer. The notes will remain the same, but the tone quality will be altered.