This year, the Olympia High School Jazz band traveled to Olympia Elementary schools to encourage younger students to get involved with the music department when they reach middle school.

The past few weeks the Olympia Jazz band has traveled to Olympia South, Olympia North, and Olympia West to play some hit songs for the younger elementary age students and introduce them to their instruments.

Different than Concert band, a Jazz band plays with a different style than normal contemporary pieces. Students can also improv solos in the middle of the song.

Jazz Band meets every Tuesday after school to learn more about the style of Jazz music. They have also played at every band concert this school year too, including the second year running-Saturday Night Live.

Olympia has not always had a Jazz band- last year there was not enough interest from students. This year, however, the group runs from 10-15 musicians.

Freshman Neil Alford said, “My favorite part of the Jazz band traveling was that I got to teach younger students how to play a little and what a tenor saxophone even is.”

When Jazz band plays for younger generations it can peak the interests of those students- which means they will be more likely to pick up an instrument in middle school because they understand how absolutely life-changing it can be to be involved musically.

The Olympia Jazz band has worked very hard this year to improve as a group, and they looking forward to future years together.