5th Block’s “Got that Swing!”

Lakeside High School is committed to meeting student learning needs. Sometimes, this means a fresh approach. For our student musicians, a new “Fifth Block” was created to accommodate students who wanted to play in both the Symphonic Band and the Jazz Band, as well as explore other elective courses.

For the entire 2007 - 2008 school year, Mr. Dan Nord, Lakeside’s band teacher, will teach Jazz Band during Fifth Block, meeting every afternoon for 45 minutes. Twenty student musicians have selected this option. It is a young group of musicians, 65% freshmen and sophomores. As such, Mr. Nord reminded them that they have great potential, but will have to work hard as they will compete with bands who are mainly comprised of juniors and seniors.

This hard work is has already begun. As the students practiced selections, Mr. Nord addressed the band in general, each section, and individual students. When the trumpet section wasn’t sounding quite right, Mr. Nord had the musicians remove their mouth pieces to “buzz” them; this is blowing air though just the piece to clean it. The trumpets (there are five) should sound as one, and this will help produce the desired sound. With the saxophones, timing of short and long notes was practiced first as individual musicians, and then as a section. Timing of notes and how breathing affects the sound of the notes was emphasized to the entire band. Throughout, music vocabulary was used to instruct just how the notes should be played.

With this class, these talented young men and women benefit from a creative solution to a scheduling dilemma. Mr. Nord’s willingness to accommodate students in a Fifth Block speaks to his dedication to provide optimum learning opportunities. At Lakeside High School, “all that Jazz” is about “swinging” student learning. Doo-Wah!