An Exciting Week for ASB Band

When we took our jobs here at ASB, I envisioned a week at work like the one I had this week. Two out-in-the-community performances and a week reading new music with the bands using constructivist techniques learned at UST with lots of students working in small groups solving musical problems.

In beginning band class for high schoolers the seven students have been working on solos using SmartMusic and their tablet PCs. Each student chose a piece to work on for a month independently. We had a nice mix of tunes from "Jingle Bell Rock" to "The Imperial March" from Star Wars. The other half of the project was preparing a piece of chamber music in trios using the outstanding series by Kjos, Festival Ensembles. These final projects represent a semesters worth of work learning the fundamental skills on their instruments. Instead of the tradition in-class recital, we chose to perform the recital at the orphanage that Rachel and I, along with many other ASB staffers, have been volunteering at. So, tonight, the seven students plus Rachel, Glenda and I, were at the orphanage providing live music for kids who had never had that experience. I was in awe at my students as they interacted with the kids, speaking Hindi, demonstrating the ever-popular trombone slide, and playing around. The kids at the orphanage sat quietly, clapped enthusiastically, and smiled in wonderment at the music. It was the best final exam I'll ever grade.

Last night, our jazz band performed at the opening benefit dinner for 400 people for Namaste America, a US Consulate initiated NGO with the intent on organizing cultural interactions between the U.S. and India. The event featured some of the best Indian classical dancers in the country to represent India and ... you guessed it ... the ASB Jazz Band to represent American culture. With such high standards to hold and not many practices under it's belt, the ASB Jazz Band performed admirably with several exciting improvised solos -- see picture of a flute solo in action -- and a traditional swing band sound. I even briefly taught the audience how to clap after each solo. Many Bollywood stars were in attendance and the press crews were hilarious to watch. It was a great event to give our band a goal to practice for and the students played really well under the pressure of the enormous crowd filled with their movie star heroes.

It's been a great week here in the ASB Band room and we look forward to many more interesting performing experiences. A HUGE thanks to the ASB Admin and staff for helping move equipment, transport students, and arrange our quick security in and out of the Consulate.