Byron Center — After hearing the Byron Center High School jazz orchestra play Duke Ellington’s “Half the Fun,” guest clinician and jazz saxophonist and clarinetist Walter Blanding asked the young musicians, “What do you hear when you play this song?”
Students offered up “rolling sand dunes,” “a boat sailing down the Nile River,” or a “snake in the reeds.”
For their next run-through, Blanding instructed, “Play this like the snake just caught a mongoose,” which elicited some chuckles from the orchestra.
“Imagine these things in your mind and it changes the way we play the music,” he said.
Last month, the jazz orchestra worked with Blanding to prepare for their eighth visit to the 30th annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival, which kicks off May 7 in New York City.
Since 1995, the Essentially Ellington program has provided high school and college band directors with resources for the study and performance of big band music. Each year, high school musicians from across North America are selected to spend three days immersed in workshops, jam sessions, rehearsals and performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Fine Arts Director Marc Townley said he appreciated the expertise and experience Blanding brought to the classroom.
“Students benefit tremendously from working with guest clinicians … (and) were so motivated and excited after working with Walter,” he said.
Under Blanding’s direction, the ensemble played through all four selections from the Ellington music library, including “Jumpin’ Punkins,” “Ring’ Dem Bells” and “What Am I Here For?” The clinician focused on their tone and contrasting dynamics, to ensure a section could be heard when they played the melody and others backed off on their volume until they played the melody.
Preparing Like Professional Musicians
Blanding began his professional career at age 10 in New York City, performing regularly with his parents as the Blanding Family Trio. He has performed with ensembles around the world, including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Now an assistant professor of jazz saxophone at Michigan State University, Blanding said his goal for the BCHS students reached far beyond the Essentially Ellington competition.
“This experience will be one they remember for the rest of their lives,” he said. “I want them to try their best of course, but this is one event. All the things they’re learning are tools to use beyond school — tools to prepare them for their futures.”
Looking forward to his second visit to NYC for Essentially Ellington, senior Nico Sicilia said working with guest clinicians can be intimidating, but Blanding’s teaching style felt familiar.
“Walter Blanding came in to work with us last year and we got him back this year, so now it’s not very scary,” he said. “He helped us work out our counting and breathing at the beginning of ‘What Am I Here For?’ which wasn’t very good to start.”
Junior Lauren Meengs said Blanding brought different insights to the songs they were working on.
“Everyone notices different things and are able to share different knowledge and experiences,” she said. “I’m excited to perform all of the music … It will be fun to play it and show everyone what we’ve been working so hard on.”
When a young musician’s “lightbulb goes off” during rehearsal is the best part, Blanding said.
“Students have a positive energy and optimism,” he said. “They have hope, ideas for the future and they believe in something; that’s important.”
Townley said the Essentially Ellington experience allows students to reap the rewards of learning to perform music at a high level.
“When selected to perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center, students are treated like professional musicians,” he said. “They form trusting relationships with each other, learn how to work on something that is very difficult and come together using the individual strengths of each student.”
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