Written by Shakari Briggs
Chris Allen hopes to inspire students through the art of music just like his sixth-grade teacher who introduced him to the world of jazz.
Jazz music echoed through the halls of the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum on Wednesday as students participated in the 2013 Summer Jazz Camp.
“I had an orchestra teacher that said, ‘Let me show you some chords on the piano,’ and I started to love it right away,” Allen said. “My sixth-grade teacher was really my biggest influence, which is why I’m here doing this for the students. It’s important to carry on what I got the experience to do.”
In an effort to support the next generation of jazz lovers and enthusiasts, the camp serves as a platform to enhance local music programs through musical curriculum, knowledge, skills and performance, according to Shreveport Summer Music Festival’s website.
“The idea is for them to understand different forms,” Allen said of jazz. “We started with the blues form, and we progressed to teaching them the different core progressions that are common in a lot of jazz chords. When they first came, they were a little bit clueless and nervous, but they are starting to really get comfortable with it.”
Although Emma Meeks has been a longtime fan of jazz, she said came to the camp to brush up on her skills with reading music and to support the arts. Her love for jazz stems from the artistic freedom it brings.
“I have been singing for 10 years,” Meeks, said adding Billie Holiday was an inspiration. You can interpret a melody any way you want, and it’s not wrong.”
Read more: http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130717/NEWS01/307170051?nclick_check=1
0 Comments:
Post a Comment