Garfield...Garfield...GARFIELD!!

[Silscio]

I'm a senior at a Washington state high school, and every tuned in high school jazz band member knows Washington is home to some of the world's finest high school jazz programs--Garfield High School, primarily, winner of the Essentially Ellington contest and have been everywhere, and Roosevelt, second only to Garfield. These high schools produce jazz bands of college quality constantly, and have proven themselves to be best in the nation. Well, I hate it! My jazz band is missing a drummer and pianist, and nobody cares enough about the music to even somewhat learn their part. Our school is thrown into shadow by the high school titans, and all I ever hear about is Garfield, Garfield, Garfield. Garfield won this. Garfield won that. Garfield's first tenor can play this fast. Garfield is going to Japan. Garfield is on the Today Show. Garfield is on National TV. Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! Its so frustrating to try and be a decent tenorist and have a chance at scholarships and colleges when my program is so monumentally inferior and underfunded. Its just not fair...

[professorofsax]

There's nothing wrong with life. You can either complain about it and let everything pass you by, or you can pick up your sax and start blowing!
As for colleges, No college is going to judge your playing by the kind of band you play in. All that colleges look for is what you can bring to their program. Your scholarship will be determined by your playing alone!
Hope you can see a brighter future ahead of you. Remember, things might not always go the way you want them to but life is good!
good luck

[Silscio]

Sighh..I know, and the people in there do have phenomenal talent, no two ways around that...there's so much opportunity there for instruction and education--but colleges often do look at what school you have come from for a reference on your admissions, to say you were first tenorist at Garfields holds a lot higher esteem than the first Tenorist at a school with barely one jazz band. It's going to be awesome playing with Garfield musicians in the future.

[BlueNote]

I almost decided to go there for this year and next year (senior year). I'm probably good enuogh to play either 2nd alto or lead Tenor in the 1st jazz band at Garfield. I hear them whenever I can -- hot stuff! I'm not so much listening to their amazing sax solos anymore. Now it's more about ensemble playing. I want to know how they are so together, so versitle.

[Gandalfe]

Kentridge used to have a reknowned jazz band too when Dr. Harshman was the director. Wonder what ever happened to him. I was so jealous that my son got that kind of instruction. When I went to high school there was no zero hour improv training. So I delivered papers then. :roll:

[bluesaxgirl]

Why can't we be the best of the best? The way I think of it as is get really good with the sax and see who's the next John Coltrane or whatever--you or that tenor at Garfield? I'd say it's about time for you to get some well deserved revenge.

[HUTMO]

Sounds like life to me. Get used to it.

You can sit around, whine and expect others to fix things for you and dare I say make it... fair, or you can work harder and set an example for others to follow.

Practice harder, play your best and that is what matters.

Good luck
HUTMO

[A Greene]

Doesn't sound like HS was what you wanted. BUT you don' always get to pick your HS. I suggest getting your stuff together for the ALL IMPORTANT College auditions or after High School move to NY and Go For It!!!

Trust Me - I wish I went to a school like Garfield and I'm 38 so try to move on. Where I grew up there was a school called Chentille (or something like that in VA) there was also the Baltimore School for the Arts. Same deal - awesome players. Find a Killer local jazz instruction, practice 5 or 6 hours a day and audition at N. Texas, Miami, or Eastman. You'll find out if YOU got IT.

Good Luck

[bluesaxgirl]

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!

Who's Marsha?:?

[jimmehMarkVI]

Brady Bunch reference ;)

[bluesaxgirl]

Brady Bunch reference ;)

Oh! Then you mean Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!

[sjkoelle]

I am a sophmore at Garfield, 1st alto in B band. I just want to say that the people that go the GHS are not cocky or anything, just glad to be part of the program.

Also, we have a tiny budget. We are in the ghetto of Seattle.

Anyway, I'm glad you guys realize that we own Roosevelt.

Other than that, good luck.

[SaxJazz12]

Jazz is not...and never will be...a contest.

[Saxaholic]

Jazz is not...and never will be...a contest.

I respect this statement. All over the world jazz is starting to become some kind of competition..."I can play better than you" syndrome. It's very sad. You can go to alot of places and when you play, everyone is judging your ability instead of enjoying the emotion you're putting into the music.

Jazz is about expressing yourself and having a great time...not trying to be better than anyone. It really bothers me when it's lowered to that kind of level.

Saxaholic

[hakukani]

That's what happens eventually to any art form that gets caught in Macadamia--oops I mean Academia.