For the past five years, RRM has partnered with Estes Park High School to provide jazz band students with supplemental training in the foundational concepts of jazz music. Typically, this has consisted of series of weekday workshops with RRM jazz faculty at EPHS, which are designed to help students move from playing pre-arranged repertoire to the true art of jazz–improvisation in solos and accompaniment–with skill-building focused on ear training, ensemble playing, and jazz theory. As bands director Kaylin Brennan stated, “These workshops are invaluable both to the students and myself. Since I don’t come from a jazz background it’s a great opportunity for the students to receive feedback from professional jazz musicians, and I’m able to learn how to be a more effective jazz band teacher.” Our coaching partnership at EPHS addresses the fact that mountain communities can be quite isolated, making access to private lessons and advanced training in music beyond the reach of all but the most privileged students–those with the resources to travel regularly to receive this instruction. By providing tuition-free supplemental teaching at the school, we hope to both enhance the level of instruction available in the community and remove financial barriers to top-notch music education.
For information about collaborating with RRM to boost the musical development of students in your local school, please contact Executive Director SoYoung Lee at soyoung@rockyridge.org. This work is made possible with the support of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, through the Boulder County Cultural Council.
