Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/5283/-1/140/
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Teacher Kimba Tells of Students' Interest in Jazz Festival
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Musician Kimba Southwell, one of two teachers in the Music Department of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, has expressed gratitude on behalf of her colleague, Lennox Vanterpool, and their students, for the new type of jazz music they were assisted in having introduced in their classrooms.
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Mrs. Southwell
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Speaking at the launching of the Fifth Annual Jazz Festival, Mrs. Southwell commended Festivals Coordinator, Fitzroy Tomlinson, who approached her department. She said he had spoken on “the educational component of jazz in order to make Anguillians more aware of the music and the decision was taken to start with the youth.” Accordingly, it was arranged for a team of US jazz instructors to coach a number of students last summer.
She noted that over the past three years the school held a summer camp to introduce students to band instruments but that the only component used was classical. This year, however, the summer training focussed on jazz instead and, according to Teacher Kimba, the American facilitators did a good job.
“I must tell you that it was amazing,” she reported. “We started out with 60 students and reached 150 at the end of the camp. Word spread that it was not a boring camp as they used to call the classical really refreshing to see what the facilitators did with the children. Every morning the students came in, they watched promotional videos on some jazz artistes and they really got into it. They came with nothing and left with a vast knowledge of jazz.”
The Anguillian Music Teacher said that the highlight of the summer camp was the production of a DVD. “Parents were appreciative of the camp,” she went on. “Up to now I have parents coming to me. They want a copy of the DVD. Children did not watch BET Jazz and now I think they do so more than they do regular BET. I must admit that the camp has made students aware that…music is not just music but it can involve a lot and can take them to different experiences and different journeys. It is really a pleasure for me to stand here and [to thank you] for having invited us into the Jazz Festival.”
She was appreciative that the decision was taken to reduce the admissions fees to the performances as a means of ensuring that more persons, particularly young people, could be in attendance.
“I am very appreciative of what is being done. Keep it up. I am also a jazz lover and I look forward to the continuing relationship that we have started to build for our students,” Mrs. Southwell added.
The Tourist Board normally provides free passes for a number of children and corporate sponsors are being encouraged to purchase tickets for children.