Willie Thomas, by one of his Orcas Middle School students.
The Jazz Experience with students of Willie Thomas, a renowned jazz artist and teacher, will showcase his talented young jazz students, with help from members of the ever-growing Orcas jazz community.
For the past few months, Willie Thomas and local jazz advocates have been introducing and teaching jazz fundamentals to music students at all levels in public and private schools on Orcas Island. The Jazz Experience concert will feature the Funtime Blues Band, a collective of 7- to 10-year-old students.
The Orcas Jazz Army, comprised of 45 band students in grades 5-8 directed by Lizz Hanks, will present two original compositions with improvisation. Ken Speck’s Orcatrazz will also perform two selections and accompany the Orcas High School Orchestra on a special number directed by “Uncle Willie.”
Additional numbers will feature Robin Gropp and Mackie Blackburn, KT Lazlo (the 2010 Orcas Idol), Martin Lund and Gene Nery, and Willie Thomas and the Orcas Horns.
Since December, Thomas has worked with Orcas School Students of all ages through his program, “The Jazz Experience” which he has developed over the years as a Music Educator. The Jazz Experience is a widely-used classroom curriculum in schools around the country. In 1992, Thomas was inducted into the International Association of Jazz Educators’ Hall of Fame.
He’s learned that music education at early levels is “an essential part of helping kids’ personalities develop – finding their comfort zones and enjoying their peer groups – it’s important to bring this to kids earlier when they may be struggling.”
Thomas “retired” to Orcas Island where his daughter and grandchildren live. He decided to introduce the class to Orcas children, capitalizing on his experience and saying, “I can still dream.”
Following their performance, Thomas’ students will sit in the audience. Tickets are
$5 for the performance, which begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Center on Wednesday, May 5.
Orcas Center
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What dedication by Willy Thomas – what lucky kids!
And a great sketch by that Middle school student,
who is quite obviously a budding Artist.
What a night to remember. The music students were fantastic and it was great to see the parents supporting the program. My band had great fun rehearsing and performing with the kids. Keep music in your life.