Jazz Band

Last updated on 12/08/2009

The Miller Jazz Band is taught by Mr. Steve Tyler, an excellent professional musician and music educator. Mr. Tyler has worked for many years as a freelance musician in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas, and he toured as the lead trombonist for the orchestras of Mel Torme, Bill Watrous and Harry James, as well as many other groups (not Aerosmith, but that's OK!). Mr. Tyler directs De Anza College's "Daddios" evening jazz ensembles (you can hear Ms. Moser on saxophone and her husband "Mr. Ken" Feliciano in "Daddios" performances). Mr. Tyler also teaches Latin Jazz and Jazz Improvisation classes at De Anza, and he has a full schedule of private low brass and jazz students.


The Miller Jazz Band is open to any Miller Mustang or Advanced Band musician (on any instrument) who has at least one year of experience on their instrument, and who knows all or most of the major scales. Students in Beginning Band should wait until at least the second semester before taking Jazz Band. Please note that students must be enrolled in a Miller band class in order to be eligible to participate in the Miller Jazz Band.

 

Jazz Band meets on Wednesdays before school (during "late start") from 7:45-8:45 am, and on Fridays after school from 3:10-4:10 pm.


Click here for Jazz Band Audio Examples to download

 

JAZZ BAND NOTES: We will perform Autumn Leaves, Straight No Chaser, and La Noche del Burrito Picante at next week's Miller Band Concert on Tuesday night, December 15. Be at both of the next rehearsals, Wed. morning and Fri. afternoon. Please practice your parts for these songs, and be sure to go to the Audio Examples page and practice along with the recordings!

 

We are also planning to perform the following songs for the CMEA Jazz Contest at West Valley College on February 6: Autumn Leaves, Harlem Nocturne, Straight No Chaser, and La Noche del Burrito Picante.

 

ATTENDANCE: If a student has to miss a jazz band rehearsal for any reason, I need to hear directly from the student or from his/her parent or guardian. Hearing about it second or third-hand from other students ("Oh, he wasn't in class today, I think maybe he's sick") doesn't work. It's important for all jazz band students to make the commitment to the group, and to be there for all rehearsals. It's also important that I know in advance of a student's absence, as it affects my planning for rehearsals and what we will be able to cover that day. Please contact me directly and let me know if your student has to miss. My email is sktyler@yahoo.com; my cell phone is (650) 224-8094.

 

PERFORMANCES: The Miller Jazz Band's next performance will be at the Miller Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 15.

The Jazz Band will be participating in the "CMEA Jazz South" contest on Saturday, February 6, 2010, at West Valley College in Saratoga. Please mark your calendars and bookmark this page for later information.

 

Keep checking this page for more details!