Organized by Leicester Jazz House in conjunction with Leicestershire Schools Music Service (LSMS) during the Covid-19 pandemic - in the event the project was curtailed by the pandemic (in particular the local constraints in Leicester) after only one performance, but we hope to revive the concept.
Project detail below:
Aim
To provide the opportunity for students in (secondary) education to experience jazz performance at professional level, through the delivery of small band jazz concerts in their school environment, with the opportunity for students actively to engage with the musicians during the event.
A secondary aim is to provide opportunity for local professional jazz musicians/teachers to gain from engaging with young people in the arena of performance, within the school environment.
Organisation
In partnership with the Leicestershire Schools Music Service (LSMS), on the basis of a co-ordinated approach to project delivery and 50:50 funding for the musical artists, LJH identified suitable small jazz bands to deliver “jazz performance” to schools on pre-arranged days, from 10am to 3pm. A “Small jazz band” to consist of a “rhythm section” and lead instrument and/or vocalist, usually being four artists. At least one artist will be expected to be a professional music teacher and have current experience of working with children.
LSMS, to coordinate the schools and student attendance.
The pilot project envisaged three days of the above (6 schools in total), to be delivered before the end of the academic year, before exam times. In the event the project was curtailed by the COVID 19 pandemic and one performance was conducted by lead delivery artist Lee Allatson, an experienced drum teacher, and jazz band leader (Fourmasons, Ka Safar), and Richard Everitt, jazz educator and band leader and a LJH Director.
In the longer term, we plan to continue to deliver this project to schools in Leicestershire, and taking into account the diversity of jazz performers and of jazz music itself, it may be that visiting concert artists could participate in such a programme, which would be a welcome contribution to the national jazz scene. A major aim will be for a wide range of students to be inspired by the experience of live group-improvised music. It is expected that there will be opportunities for further jazz educational development through our other projects being developed currently with the Music Hub.
