Music Legend Willie Thomas starts “Jazz Experience” at the Funhouse

Orcas Elementary Students dance and play with Al Bentley, who with Emily Miner will assist Willie Thomas as he teaches "The Jazz Experience." Students are from left, Max Clark-Latilla, Michael Mullan, Kayla Champman, Hazel Moe, Alana Lago and Destiny Wright

An early-start program designed to introduce jazz fun and fundamentals to children between the ages of 7-10 will be starting in January at the Funhouse.

Local Jazz Legend Willie Thomas is the instigator behind this program, and he has been working with Orcas School Music teachers Lizz Hanks and Pamela Wright to introduce students to the wonders of music and jazz, “the American musical invention.”

Thomas met with the Orcas Elementary 7-10 year-old students in Pam Wright’s music room on Monday, Dec. 7, to introduce them to 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.

After a career as a professional jazz musician, playing and recording with the likes of  Freddie Hubbard, Peggy Lee and Woody Herman, Willie Thomas moved to Orlando, Florida, where he ran a music store and became a music teacher and National Outreach Director for the International Association of Jazz Educators.

When he started helping music students with jazz, there were no materials around to help them learn and practice. He started “putting stuff together” for band teachers and leaders, and within 10 years, he discovered, “Hey, you’ve got a little curriculum going here.”

Warner Brothers bought his company and he began to travel, promoting and developing the material, especially for the early levels. “It’s important for kids to have jazz experience at this level,” Thomas says.

Willie Thomas (in trademark red hat) and Al Bentley introduce Orcas Elementary Students to the Jazz Experience.

Kids can work effectively “without having to go through the rigors of learning basic music,” Thomas says. “It’s a good way to teach basic music fundamentals.” 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.”

Thomas himself is a product of elementary school band music programs, where he knew from an early age that the trumpet was his “axe.” He started his professional career right out of high school, and attended the University of Alabama where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree.

Kai MacGregor, Alana Lago, Destiny Wright, Max Clark-Mattila, Michael Mullan, Hazel Moe, Kayla Chapman.

The Orcas Jazz Experience is open to all Orcas children between the ages of  7 and 10 years old. Thomas will be joined by Emily Miner and Al Bentley in instructing the class; both are musicians who have experience working with children.

Thomas is one busy jazz trumpeter and teacher, developing an online teaching site, www.jazzeveryone.com (offering a free lesson), assisting Lizz Hanks with middle school students’ music enrichment classes, and putting together a program called Jazz Cats for professional musicians such as Steve Alboucq, Gene Nery and Tony Morales to help develop younger musicians’ talents. Thomas’ goal is to establish a “Funtime Blues Band” of musicians young and old to get together periodically and jam and have fun.

Music is everywhere, Thomas says; “There is spirit in sound and voice.”

The Jazz Experience class will be limited to 24 children who will meet once a week on Monday afternoons for 12 classes ending April 24.  During the Jazz Experience, the kids will sing, play, dance and perform, with a concert scheduled for May 5 at the Orcas Center.

Although Thomas is also known as “Free Willie,” the $75 cost for the class is being supported by several “Jazz Angels” who are asked to contribute to instrument, scholarship, service and activities or the general fund. Christa Smith at 376-7070 and Susen Oseth at 376-6911 are available to discuss the program and help find funds. Currently the Jazz Angels are:

• The FunHouse,
• Eastsound Instrument and Supplies,
• Office Cupboard and
• erb’s Vegetarian Restaurant.

Registration and Donations can be made at the Funhouse at 30 Pea Patch Lane in Eastsound, or by calling 376-7177. Willie Thomas can be reached at 376-4766.