Community Development

• Hello. My name is Don Cosgrove and I direct the bands at Hanshew Middle School in Anchorage, Alaska. My afternoon classes were lucky enough to be on the receiving end of a wonderful performance by the AJW Advanced Band on November 28, 2006. The group came into our band room, took it over, laid down some serious grooves and really rocked the place. It was an excellent performance and educational for my students at Hanshew on several levels. The director of AJW, John Damberg, did an excellent job of communicating what the group was about, what the music performed represented, and how the group came to be. In all, a great visit on both the community service and educational fronts. Thank you to John Damberg and the student performers in AJW.

• The AJW performed for and with my Jazz Band at Romig Middle School on Dec.14th 2006. I must say it was a wonderful experience having my students learn
how to improvise from students near there own age and realize it is not an age thing. I have found that the younger you start the easier it is to get them to try to find there own sound. When a student gets to old they become stuck in there ways and it can be hard for many not to be over critical about their first solos. This two hour workshop allowed my students to try
to obtain the short range goal of learning to improvise. But for many it I will be a long term goal for mastering this Art form that they will enjoy for many years to come.

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"Jazz is the only music in which the same note can be played night after night but differently each time."

Ornette Coleman

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