Get your jazz on...

Here in Albuquerque, we have a fantastic organization that strives to bring jazz improvisation to kids.  Basically they have three different youth ensembles ranging from beginning (very beginning) to intermediate (mid-school with 3-4 years experience) and advanced (high school with 5+ years experience).  They keep the prices low and accessible to everyone in the community.  Each ensemble class runs for 8-10 weeks culminating in a performance.  

We love this program and have participated in 6 series over the past two years.  Gavin is in the beginner's class and Grey is in the Intermediate.  The performance was this past weekend and was by far the best we have seen in a while.  You never know who will be in the ensemble when the series begins, so you don't know what instruments you will have to work with etc.  This round really had a fantastic balance of instruments and talent. 

Unfortunately our video camera battery died after only a couple of minutes.  Hey, believe me, I know how lame that is!!!  In my win column I did have four clean, well dressed, fed and prepared children there on time.  This after my husband and Gavin has to work a shift at the Naturalist Center right up until our departure time for the performance.  Oh, and did I mention that I was helping to clean the LEGO loft all morning too???  Yeah, I know, it is still super lame that I didn't have the battery charged.  There goes a great memory and an inspired performance that I wont be able to get back!!!   

I see all these "Mom Calendars" around and I even have an iphone.  Between all the marketing of Momdum one would think that there would be an app or something that reminds you to charge your camera batteries, or to go ahead and grab that extra diaper or to make sure your kids each have their water bottles.  I know how to not forget a Doctor's appointment for goodness sakes, its the important stuff that I seem to forget!!!  :-)

Ready to get your jazz on?  Check this out...

Outpost Performance Space announces their Summer Youth Jazz Ensemble Classes! Two four-week sessions starting on June 9. Classes are onMonday, Tuesday and Wednesdays from 4-5:30 pm at the Outpost Performance Space, 210 Yale SE, and are open to all young musicians (instrumentalists & vocalists) elementary through High School levels who want to have fun learning more about improvising and playing jazz in a small ensemble. Classes are taught by the Outpost team comprising drummer, Sharon Eldridge; saxophonist, Kanoa Kaluhiwa; and trumpeter,Paul Gonzales. We aim to build positive attitudes, trust, teamwork, cooperation, confidence, compassion, and a sense of humor—everything you could ever want from music. All ensembles perform a recital for family and friends at the end of their second session. It is expected that students will have their own instruments to bring to class, however, Outpost will provide a piano, a drumset, and guitar & bass amplifiers. 

Cost: $25/each four-week session. To register, please call Outpost at 268-0044.  www.outpostspace.org