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jazz education Using Our Resources to Build a Better


Jazz Community Steve Sveum, WMEA State Chair, Jazz Education


Wow, what a great state music confer- ence in October! There were so many wonderful sessions and great opportu- nities to reconnect with old friends, for- mer students, stu- dent teachers and


former college professors. I was fortunate enough to preside at three wonderful cel- ebrations of our jazz community here in Wisconsin.


Some of Our State Resources on Display As I witnessed the Madison Mellophoni- um Jazz Orchestra assembling and warm- ing up prior to their Wednesday night concert, I couldn’t help but reflect on how so many in that band have impacted jazz and jazz education in our state. I couldn’t help but smile as I heard the warm tone of Bill Grahn, and thought about the many young jazz students he had inspired over the years. Rand Moore, always on the Madison jazz scene, brought this great band to life as well as the many great clin- ics that he has sponsored over the years, including those with Ed Thigpen and


Recognition for


Teachers With


25 Years of


Service 38


Tony Williams. I also reflected on how many in the band through their playing or teaching, have collectively had a posi- tive effect on the music scene in southern Wisconsin.


On Friday, I had the great pleasure of in- troducing the Shell Lake Arts Center 45th Anniversary Big Band. This band also in- cluded many fine musicians who have left an indelible mark on our state jazz scene. Greg Keel (former student of Bill Grahn and Bill Endle) led this ensemble. Greg, too, has run many jazz groups throughout the years as well as contracted for many shows and also taught thousands of saxo- phone players in our state. Other soon to be legendary players in the band included Bob Baca, great leader of the trumpet ar- mada and jazz program at UW-Eau Claire, and Steve Zenz, drums and a longtime fixture at jazz festivals throughout the state of Wisconsin and a person who has impacted many of us in our knowledge of drums and rhythm section playing.


Finally, Clayton Wachholz and the Cedarburg High School Jazz Ensemble performed with trumpet great Wayne Bergeron. The band provided a great vehicle for Mr. Bergeron and an inspir-


ing performance for the many jazz and trumpet enthusiasts in the audience.


Those I mentioned are only a few of the wonderful jazz resources that we have in our state. In every section of Wisconsin we have great college teachers/musicians, local professionals, old friends, former teachers and a host of others who play the instruments that we don’t, sing the parts we cannot or hold some kernel of knowl- edge that they can bring to our programs to inspire our students and us.


Parent Support – “How can I help?” Some may now be thinking, “Yeah, but how could I afford to bring these people to my school?” Well, that is where our parents come in. At this difficult eco- nomic time, our budgets barely support our programs, let alone these enriching experiences. Since we are in scramble mode, we don’t have time to do all it takes to make these extra experiences a reality. We need partners in our students’ educa- tion and parents are often very willing to help. In our school, we often resort to grant writing. I am not a gifted mathematician, and am not that great of a writer. We have a parent who is good at both. If I can


• Were you a first-year teacher in 1987 or prior to 1987? • Have you taught for 25 years (or more)?


• Have you been an MENC member for at least 10 of those years?


If the answer is yes to all of these questions and we haven’t previously honored you, then now is the time. WMEA is planning to recognize teachers with 25 or more years of service in Wisconsin State Music Conference materials and the September issue of Wisconsin School Musician.


Simply complete the 25 Years of Service form at www.wmeamusic.org/awards/25years.htm


Submissions must be received by May 11, 2012. January 2012


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