By Mailan Nguyen
Circulation Editor
Mira Costa’s Jazz Band held its annual concert on June 3 in the small theater.
This was the jazz band’s last concert of the year and 30 of the band’s members participated in it. Six songs were performed by the big band and eight songs were performed by the combos.
“This concert was amazing to perform at, we had so much fun playing together and solo on the stage,” freshman Pol Matt said. “Everyone seemed to have really [enjoyed] the music.”
At the concert there were many songs performed by the jazz band, who had a lot of practice time. The concert included many different styles and genres of music, including swing tunes, ballads and latin charts.
“While I was playing, it was a little frightening, especially soloing and doing improvisatory music,” freshman Jessie Eads said. “You never really know what’s going to happen, but this concert was overall tons of fun either way.”
According to Mira Costa sophomore Emma Hatton, most of the Jazz Band members including herself felt very prepared before participating in the concert because of the previous performances and festivals they have performed at.
“I usually practice a few hours a day every week just brushing up on skills and working on my music,” senior Daniel Popov said. “That translates into my concert skills, and can mostly be applied to most of the other jazz band members.”
To try out for the jazz band, students have to learn a song and play it, then improvise over a few chord changes. This proves to the band instructor that they are able to improve with instructions from the teacher.
“The jazz groups this year have really given it their all and have found some really great notes to play,” band instructor Joel Carlson said. “I have been having a really great time listening to them develop and mature as jazz musicians this year.”
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