By:
Lexi Martin
Every year, Ripley
High School has a jazz band class, directed by Sherry Poole, and consisting of
bass guitar, trombone, saxophone, and piano. The jazz band is a regular class
that takes place during 7th period before the regular band class.
The jazz band class started at the beginning
of the new semester, but before the class started, the band would have after
school practices. In order to be in the jazz band, you have to take the class,
but you do not have to be in marching band.
There are 15 people in the band, four alto
saxophone players, two trombone players, two trumpet players, two tenor
saxophone players, three percussionists, one pianist, and one bassist.
“Jazz band has widened my skills with
rhythms and counting,” sophomore bass player Fellar Fay says.
Jazz band differs from marching band because
it requires less exercise and has two different instruments: bass and piano.
“Jazz band is a much more relaxed
environment than concert band is,” freshman alto saxophone player Ashley Knox
says.
Sometimes the band does themed jazz
performances. For instance, last year, the band had a Harry Potter themed show.
This year the band is playing a piece called “A Short History of Jazz” which
explains jazz music from the early 1920’s to contemporary big jazz bands. The
band is also playing a song called “Crunchy Frog,” which is a favorite for the
band and features several bass guitar solos. A third song they are playing is
“Brass Attack” and, much like its name, it features the brass section mostly.
“I like jazz band because sight reading is
much easier than marching band, with fewer and more focused people,” Knox
comments.
The jazz band has played at most of the variety
shows in the past and they are probably going to perform for us again. We look
forward to seeing more of the jazz band in the future and that they are going
to do.
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