BE Jazzed!

Unified Jazz Ensemble:
Mike Noonan vibraphone,
Dominic Smith on drums
and John Pineda on bass.

Why Jazz?

Jazz is a uniquely American art form drawn from diverse cultural influences – like so many other aspects of the American experience.  Its development parallels important events and periods in U.S. history, such as the rise and fall of slavery, the Harlem Renaissance, segregation and the Civil Rights movement. 

Teachers can use elements of jazz such as improvisation and teamwork to connect with many parts of the elementary school curriculum.   

Jazz music can be used across the disciplines to stimulate children in their writing, artwork and mathematics skills. 

Jazz is fun!  Take your families to some of the fabulous jazz festivals and concerts the DC area has to offer.  Listen with your children to the music that fellow parents and jazz educators have recommended.  We guarantee your fingers will be snapping and your toes tapping.  BE Jazzed! 

BE Jazzed! at School

The B.E. community had its first taste of jazz at our back-to-school picnic, where the talented members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Jazz Combo provided the swinging background music.

Next, on October 3, the Unified Jazz Ensemble (UJE), professional jazz musicians who perform in schools all over Maryland as well as at restaurants and other venues, gave a school-wide assembly to introduce B.E. students to jazz music and the workings of an ensemble.

The group opened with “When the Saints Go Marching In”, played tunes by Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk, and closed with the theme from “Sesame Street.” Along the way, they taught the students about the jobs of each instrument in the ensemble.

The group included the multi-talented Mike Noonan on trombone and vibraphone (not at the same time!), Dominic Smith on drums and John Pineda on bass. UJE is represented by Class Acts Arts for school bookings; more information about the group can be found on their website, www.unifiedjazz.com.

Jazz is flourishing in other ways during the school day.

Ms. Canatella has been playing jazz music before the morning announcements.

Ms. Calomiris has been working with the fifth graders in their art classes to create beautiful permanent posters for the BE Jazzed! festival. Outside the gym on the day of the UJE assembly, we displayed two of the posters as works in progress, so that the other students, not to mention the musicians, could see them and be inspired. When completed they will be laminated and displayed to welcome each artist visiting B.E. this year.