Jazz Vibes at BHS

A select group of Brewster High School students share an escape. It’s band room, where they gather to play jazz.

“We get to play great music, music we don’t play in other classes,” said bass player Dylan MacDonald, “and we get to play with other really talented musicians.”

“My favorite musicians are Charlie Parker and Thelonius Monk,” said drummer Jerimiah Goetschkes. 

Goetchkes has only been playing for about a year and a half but is really good and just got accepted to Berklee College of Music in Boston. He wants to be a music teacher.

There’s a pianist, bass player, drummer, saxophone section, trumpet players, and one tuba player. On their stands, they have sheet music for: Spain by Chick Corea, Jordu by Duke Jordan, It Don’t Mean a Thing by Irving Mills but made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Birdland by Joe Zawinul.

Today they are working on “All The Things You Are” by Oscar Hammerstein.

“As a music teacher, part of our job is the cultural preservation of music whether it’s orchestra, band or jazz band,” said teacher Brian Sanyshyn. "We are passing along songs to the next generation of musicians. It’s great to see how excited students get by this music.”

“One, two, one two ready go,” said Sanyshyn, who is conducting and playing second trumpet because of an absence.

As the ensemble starts to play the space is transformed into a jazz club–a la local jazz hot spot Uncle Cheefs, where accomplished jazz professionals play in Brewster. 

The group plays up to measure thirty-six and Sanyshyn stops them with a wave of his hand.

“Lots of you are slurring notes that don’t need to be slurred. And the melody has lots of sustained notes in this part. And when you see an accent note–make it pop!--it has to do with the space in between the notes, articulation, don’t just play louder. Let’s try it again.”

A saxophonist stopped midway through her solo to express frustration, “It’s really difficult. I can’t play it.”

“Can’t is my least favorite word,” said Sanshyn. “Try it again. You got this”

She tried it again. This time with more confidence, intonation improved, and with some stylistic nuance.  The rest of the group jumped in after the solo, Sanshyn smiling as he played his part.