The following essays were written by Orcas elementary and middle school students. The winner was “When You Play Music.”

When You Play Music

By Adia Dolan, Keith Light, and Devon Mann

If you could go back and do anything, anything at all, what would you do?

Would you kiss that girl who smiled at you, would you stand up to that bully, or would you find that instrument at the back of the closet?

When you open your case to play music it’s like you’ve opened a case of chocolates. Each note is a new flavor. You just want to play more and more.

To me, music is just a way to express myself. I believe jazz has its own language. I wish I could do what Beethoven, Louis Armstrong, and the Beatles could do. If I want to do that I have a long way to go. But I hope that band class stays the way it is. If it doesn’t, I’ll keep on playing. I hope all my peers do the same.

That’s what I, with the help of my teachers, the support of my friends, the trumpet in my hand, and the hope in my heart, plan to do. I’m going to take risks, fall down and get back up again because life is just a party and I’m going in my best dress, ready for anything!

When I first got my instrument it looked like a lot of work. I started playing and the notes didn’t always sound right. It made me so frustrated. All the instruments around me were making the most amazing music. Now I realize that everyone thought the same thing about other people around them. Today I would say that to have an instrument is a privilege and it gives me all the pleasure in the world to be playing my music.

Music is a way of life new strategies around each corner. I haven’t had more fun in a class before. Having Uncle Willie in the class with Mr. Speck and Ms. Hanks is a lot of fun. Uncle Willie comes to band with a great sense of humor. I am in percussion. All the teachers play percussion. I get a lot of help.

So remember first impressions are not always correct. Anything and everything can change, so sit down or stand up, and enjoy the ride. I come home and put my instrument near the door. I get some food, then see it laying there it’s like a relief pill. I get it out of the case. I start out slow. Then I play some songs. At the end all I’m doing is just playing random notes, but it feels good, like I just took a big bath and washed all of the bad things of the day out of me and into my instrument. Then I take care of my instrument by giving it a little sparkle here and there.

In this community we have so many musicians and singers and players. Let’s not forget our lovely teachers who have taught us all we know. Our lovely minds that let us go into and out of this new world of music! We thank the teachers for all their help and we thank the community for being there to maybe build the shops that carry instruments or the papers that show us how to work them – even those parents for being at our concerts and performances.

Now ask yourself four things. Do you want to help the world around you? Will music help you learn because there is always more to learn? Can you make a difference in the world of music? What kind of pie should you get at the new pie place in town?

The answers are: yes, yes, yes, and blackberry. There are always “yes’s” in the world of music.

When you open up your case to your instrument what do you feel? Happy, sad, afraid, confident, small, or big? Anything you feel you can express it through your instrument.

Play and you will succeed. Just play and you will have accomplished music!

Music

by Hannahkate Lewis

I have loved music since I was a little girl. I can remember playing on a pot while my dad would play the piano. I started lessons when I was about 8. I played piano. Piano was just super great. I have been composing my own songs on the piano since I was about 9 years old. Anytime something would pop into my head I would just go and get my piece of paper and write it down. As I got older I got a lot better! So I started to play my music at church and at talent shows. It was definitely amazing. About a year ago I started to play guitar, another thing that I would compose on. But that still wasn’t enough. About 6 months ago I started to play flute. I didn’t like it so much. It was just kind of boring for me, so I decided to play the drums. Let’s just say I was super surprised. They are so much fun.

Now I play the drums in the Orcas Island jam-rock band! It is super duper fun. I have the best teachers ever. One of them being Tony, an absolute legend who is full of energy and just super fun to work with. He has taught me so much, like how to slow down and not play so fast. Also just to have fun. I think my favorite thing that he told me was that I was the queen and that everyone had to follow me, just to think of it as me ruling over my throne. I don’t really think there is any better drum teacher that anyone could ever ask for. My other one would be Uncle Willie! Aaaaa, I don’t know what to say. All I know is, well, he’s one of a kind. He is so much fun to have as a teacher, and I am so glad that he is mine! When we play our instruments well he always gets up and dances. It might shock you at first, but you get used to it. It’s an amazing dance. He also is a great inspiration. He makes you want to follow his path. He has definitely inspired me.

When I started band I thought that I was going to hate it. I mean, come on, jazz? I thought that it was just for old people who haven’t realized how amazing modern music is. Well, it turned out that I was wrong. Jazz has been super fun. I mean, it’s something that I look forward to on my Mondays and Wednesdays. To anyone who says that they hate jazz, and it’s the most stupid thing ever, my advice to you is to play it and try it out before you judge it. That’s one thing that I learned. Also I have learned rock beats, jazz beats, and military beats, about every kind of thing that you could think of. I absolutely love band. It’s amazing! Go Orcas Island Jazz/Rock Band! If you don’t believe how cool and good we are, then come to our concerts, one being on the 27th! I bet you will get a kick!

Jazz

by Melanie Flint

Jazz has a lot of meaning. It’s not just music, it’s a way to express yourself. You could go and play up and down the blues scale and sound amazing. All that you need is an ear for music. Have you ever heard a song on the radio that you really thought expressed yourself? But then after a couple days it annoys you so much? Well, jazz never does that. It’s always fresh and clean and new. Sometimes in music class Willie would pick up his trumpet and start playing. While we would be playing our songs, Willie would pick up his trumpet and play improvisations. It wouldn’t sound unrehearsed or spontaneous. It sounded good. Not the type of good that’s two out of five stars, the type of good that made you feel warm inside. The type of good that made you want to get up and dance. Which is why jazz is the easiest to learn and play.

My Jazz Experience

by Ray (the man) Doss

March just so happens to be “Music in the Schools” month. And is there any better music than Jazz Music? All music is good, but jazz is something else.

I feel very good having Uncle Willie here to teach me and my fellow classmates the art of jazz. Also, a free cookie at Teezers doesn’t hurt.

Jazz means more and more to me the more I play it. It almost makes me want to become a professional jazz man. Playing the trombone means a lot to me and I would not trade the experience I have had for the world. I just can’t wait for the OJA to play for the whole island. It just feels Right!

My overview of Jazz!

by Gwydion Marreth

Jazz class has been teaching me a lot, but first and foremost it has taught me how much the band depends on percussion for guidance in the beat. They do well without us (the drummers), sure, but to be a complete band and to really capture the audience’s attention you need that background beat that keeps the band in time! I also learned from Tony Morales, the drummer, about how important the percussionist is in keeping the rest of the band in time and rhythm when creating jazz “doodles”. For example, as the rest of the band is exploring improvisation the drummers are always there to get them back in time. I think Willy Thomas is one of the best band teachers I’ve ever had. He has taught me a dazzling amount of new concepts in music and I know we will have a wonderful show at our next concert.

The next thing I wanted to mention was the jazz jam sessions. I think the fact that the whole jazz program is playing together with some guests to give us some pointers really helps the school band members understand what’s new in the class and how to get better at the more familiar concepts, too! I think it’s great how Willie has brought in the jazz players like Tony. I feel really inspired by them and I hope Willie can bring in the trumpet player from the Dallas Brass in to help us. I have really enjoyed having Willie as our band teacher, he has showed us how much practicing at home can help the band and I hope he will teach us next year, too!