Students treated to concert with return of Jazz in Schools

What does jazz music have to do with teaching students about communication?
Students in Wetaskiwin and region will learn first hand the correlation between the two with a special presentation by jazz drummer and Wetaskiwin’s own, Karl Schwonik.


Schwonik, along with fellow members of the Wetaskiwin Jazz Society, will attend 12 schools in the Wetaskiwin, Camrose, and Ponoka regions, giving a 40-minute long presentation with their own brand of edu-tainment.


“It can be a lot of fun, especially when the students get into it, which they almost always are,” Schwonik said in an interview with the Wetaskiwin Times.


The group starts off the session by playing a familiar piece of music for the class. They then talk about how their theme for the presentation, this year it’s communication, is important not only in music, but in the children’s every day lives.


“There’s always an educational component to it,” explained Schwonik. “This year it’s communication. Communication not just as musicians, but as people.”


To test their communication skills, there will be a short quiz for the students at the end of the presentation. A few lucky listeners will receive copies of the groups CD. A few volunteers will even get a chance to play with Schwonik and the rest of the band.


The accomplished drummer said the presentation is all about engaging the students and teaching them at the same time.


“You try to get them to laugh and put up their hands and ask questions,” he said.
The Jazz in Schools program will be stopping in Wetaskiwin Feb. 23 at Centennial, Parkdale and Norwood schools.


This is the fourth year Schwonik has done Jazz in Schools, the second year with the Wetaskiwin Jazz Society.

“We wanted to find a way to do more outreach in the community, besides just the Jazz Camps once a year,” he explained. “Besides just the high school students, we’re reaching more students in a short amount of time.”

Jazz in Schools will also visit Falun Elementary School and Lakedell Elementary School on Feb. 21.


For more information about Jazz in Schools or the Wetaskiwin Jazz Society, you can visit their website atwww.wetaskiwinjazz.com


Jazz concert
While in Wetaskiwin, Schwonik, and the Karl Schwonik Quartet, will hold a special concert Feb. 21 at the Grace Lutheran Church.


Last year’s Jazz Camp scholarship recipients, Brad and Curtis Mokry, as well as the Wetaskiwin Composite High School jazz combo and music director, Paul Sweet, will join the group on stage.


The concert is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 each or $25 for families.
– TIMES STAFF


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