Improvising Life: a Jazz Journey with SJHS
The art program has always been a staple of SJHS, gaining more and more additions daily, it seems. The Jazz band was recently revamped and reimagined by none other than the director of bands, Mr. Joshua Doe. The SJHS Jazz band used to be the best in the area, but due to the COVID shutdown, the band was disassembled. Mr. Doe has been working tirelessly to bring back a jazz band since COVID ended, because for him and many of his peers, jazz is the reason he started his music career. Jazz also offers opportunities for students to try new instruments and new ways of playing familiar ones. This allows students in the jazz band to explore different types of musical expression and different genres of music, such as jazz, blues, rock, and swing.
However, students don’t go to the jazz band just to play music; it is also a social club filled with students from all different grades, instruments, and backgrounds. This club lets students build friendships and musical skills in an environment filled with supportive peers.
“Last year, when there weren't even 10 of us playing, I remember we would sit down with our instruments out, waiting to play as it was halfway through rehearsal. Mr. Doe, on the other hand, would continue his rant about “The Last of Us” from band earlier in the day, which would continue into another rant about a TV series, then a movie, then a game,” Lucas Zahrt, 11, said.
Most recently, the SJHS jazz band visited the District Jazz Festival and the 2025 Hastings Jazz Festival. After this trip, the band’s featured soloist, Sofia Hall, 11, said, “It's a completely different experience than concert band, and although it's scary at first, you can really grow as a player from learning to make your own music.” Of course, Sofia is referring to improvising, where students can make their own music and express themselves more freely through said music. During their concert in Hastings, Sofia, and many others, improvised solos on the spot in front of a live audience.
Last year, the jazz band was struggling with only one or two players per instrument, but this year, the numbers have skyrocketed to 29 members. Despite meeting only once a week, the jazz band has managed to prepare four songs for their concerts, demonstrating the dedication of every member involved. One of these pieces features vocalist Betsy Feisbeck, 12. Betsy was featured in the song “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones, and Betsy said, “Jazz band feels a lot closer than regular band. We get to have more fun sometimes, but we also all care a lot, and it's been really cool to see the group come together over time.” This year marked a welcome revival of the music program at SJHS, even combining the jazz band with a group of vocalists from the Choir. Combining with the choir, the jazz band plays a mix of different hits by Earth, Wind & Fire for the Variety show.
Finishing the jazz band's run, they will be performing on our very own stage this spring. This year marks a new start for the jazz band, and every member looks forward to improvising in all that they do, next year as well.