Fair Grove Jazz Combo students began meeting in September of this year to improve upon their musical abilities.
The Jazz Combo Band is a group of ten students, grades 9-12, that meet every Tuesday and Thursday during Fair Grove Schools’ advisory hour for approximately 30 minutes. Current members include Wyatt Barber (9) (tenor saxophone), Keith Nolan (10) (bari saxophone), Lee Van Cleave (10) (trombone), Gavin Brock (10) (guitar), Waylon Wright (10) (guitar), Collin Emery (11) (alto saxophone), Ivy Wehmeyer (12) (bass), Ayden Teaster (12) (alto saxophone), Mackenzie Cavin (12) (trumpet), and Brandon Kandlbinder (12) (drum set).
Jazz Combo meets to work specifically on improving the ability for students to improvise in music. To do this, students learn how a song is structured musically. “We primarily focus on learning how the music theory of a piece works, and then learn how to improve over it in a solo,” said Fair Grove Band Director Natalie Palomo.
“Good improvisation requires a good understanding of the makeup of how music actually works,” stated Palomo who, along with Barber, expressed that practicing improvisation develops and improves a players’ general musical skills.
One way that the Jazz Combo works to learn how to improvise well is by viewing professional jazz musicians or performances. Last year the students watched the Missouri Jazz Orchestra and the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. This year they’ve viewed the Headhunters, a professional band known for blending jazz, funk, and rock styles in their music. The students also watch local performances such as jazz band concerts held at Missouri State University.
Watching jazz live provides the players with inspiration and new ideas to use in solos. “Sometimes you hear someone do something that you’d never think of yourself, and you can riff on that to develop more of your own style,” said Palomo.
Improvisation isn’t just about the music itself. It encompasses and strengthens self-esteem. “We learn a lot about how music works, but the most important thing is to be confident. Playing a solo requires it and Combo helps build up your confidence,” stated Emery.
Improvisation also contributes to character. “It requires more creativity, courage, and knowledge about music theory to make a solo sound good,” Emery said.
Being a part of Jazz Combo also benefits students on a social level. “It gives kids a chance to bond with a small group of people who enjoy at least one other thing they do,” stated Palomo.
Palomo often looks for opportunities for the Jazz Combo Band to watch jazz artists so that there is plenty of inspiration to work with and use during their own concerts. However, the Jazz Combo has not yet performed this year, but the group typically plays at the Senior Citizens Lunch on November 17th and at the Winter Band Concert on December 14th (an event in which the 6th Grade through High School bands play Christmas music at the High School Gymnasium). In Spring they occasionally play at several local businesses such as Monroe House Boutique.
