• Welcome to the Scarsdale 
    All-District Jazz Band Website! 
     
     
    superpower  
    Dr. Jessica Slotwinski
    JSlotwinski@scarsdaleschools.org
     
     
     
    Welcome to the All-district Jazz Band for 2024-2025
     
    - The All District Jazz Band is open to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders who are interested in learning about jazz and playing fun, exciting music! Note: 4th graders are welcome, however, please know to anticipate practicing at home between rehearsals. You will have support in rehearsal, for sure, however, home practice (for all members) is expected. 
     
    - The All-District Jazz Band is open to students who play the following instruments: flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, drum set, piano, bass, and guitar. SMS has drum set, amplifiers, keyboards, and bass available for students to use. Students should bring all other instruments.
     
    - Drum SET (not just snare drum), guitar, piano, and bass players should have experience (at least 1 or 2 years) on those instruments before joining the jazz band. Please reach out to Dr. Slot if you have any questions. 
     
     
    - Rehearsals for this ensemble are on every Thursday in the afternoon from 3:30pm-4:45pm and will begin ON OCTOBER 10, 2024. (Please see below for the SPECIAL START SCHEDULE. Not all students are called for all rehearsals). THERE ARE JUST A FEW REHEARSALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT ARE NOT ON THURSDAYS DUE TO PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES AND OTHER CONFLICTS.
     
    - We rehearse in the SMS Band Room. Students should be dropped off at the SMS lower circle (enter via Catherine/Kelwynne Rd.). MS students can stay through after school ends but should attend extra help, intramurals, clubs, etc. until jazz starts at 3:30pm. Students can also do HW in the library. All students will need a ride home promptly at 4:45pm. Thank you. Kindly reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I'm happy to help!
     
    I look forward to seeing you all soon and learning jazz together! :)
     
     
     
    NEW INTERESTED STUDENTS: In order to get to know the musical backgrounds of each of our new members, we have a "Meet and Play" day for new interested students. This allows Dr. Slot to choose music that is appropriate for the students in each year's group. Dr Slot meets with each student individually and asks the student to play something they know that can showcase their skills. She teaches each student a little about jazz or asks them to try some new music on their instrument.

    Students: Please bring your instrument (and reeds, etc.) AND a piece of music you feel comfortable playing. It can be a piece of band music from last year or any music you feel shows your musical skills. If you know a scale, please plan to play that too. If not, that's fine.

     
    - The "Meet and Play" for 6th graders is September 19, 2024. YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR THIS BY CLICKING HERE
    - The "Meet and Play" for 4th and 5th graders is September 26, 2024 in the SMS Band Room YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR THIS BY CLICKING HERE
    * The SMS Band Room is located off the lower parking lot on Mamaroneck Road across from the tennis court. The Band Room is the large octagonal windowed room. Please enter via the lower circle (between the auditorium and the gym - by the flagpole). 
     
     
    If there are no blocks of time left, please email Dr. Slot at jslotwinski@scarsdaleschools.org.
    If it is after October 6th, please email Dr. Slot if you are interested in joining the group.
     
    NEW INTERESTED STUDENTS ALSO: Please complete THIS FORM by September 26, 2024.
     
     
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    RETURNING STUDENTS: Please complete THIS FORM by September 26, 2024 to let Dr. Slot know you're continuing in the group. Yahoo! Our first rehearsals are listed below (horns and rhythm section start separately. Please read carefully. I look forward to seeing you and making great jazz music!
     
     
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    REHEARSAL SCHEDULE 
     
    Students are expected to attend all rehearsals. It is not feasible to maintain an ensemble of integrity for our students without consistent attendance. Kindly let Dr. Slot know ahead of time if you have an unavoidable conflict so she can plan accordingly. Each person is an important member of our ensemble. Thank you. 
     
    *** Please note that some of the rehearsals at the beginning are only for certain instruments/students. This is to help our growth and development as young musicians. In a jazz band, the "horns" and "rhythm section" have unique roles, and by having the groups separately a few times, we can develop some of that uniqueness before bringing the whole group together again. 
     
     
    *6th graders, you can go to office hours, intramurals, library to do work, etc. from 2:36-3:30pm then come to rehearsal, or you can go home and come back. Please do not wait in the band room hallway the whole time. Thank you.
     
    DATES:
     
     
    ALL REHEARSALS are from 3:30pm - 4:45pm unless otherwise noted. Everyone will need a ride home promptly at 4:45pm. Thank you. There is no busing available for this club.
     
    - October 10 - ONLY woodwind, brass, and mallet players (flute, clarinet, sax, trumpet, trombone, xylophone/mallets/bells)
    - October 17 - ONLY rhythm section (guitar, piano, drums/percussion)
    - October 24 - ONLY woodwind, brass, and mallet players (flute, clarinet, sax, trumpet, trombone, xylophone/mallets/bells)
    - November 7 - ONLY rhythm section (guitar, piano, drums/percussion)
    - November 14 - ONLY woodwind, brass, and mallet players (flute, clarinet, sax, trumpet, trombone, xylophone/mallets/bells) 
    - November 21 -  ONLY rhythm section (guitar, piano, drums/percussion)
    (Thanksgiving Break)
    - December 5 - EVERYONE
     
    ** All rehearsals from November 30th ON are for EVERYONE.
    - December 12
    - December 19
    (December Break)
    - TUESDAY, January 7, 2025 (due to SMS P/T Conferences)
    - WEDNESDAY, January 15, 2025 (due to SMS P/T Conferences) 
    - January 23
    - January 30
    - February 6
    - February 13
    (February Break)
    - February 27
    - March 6
    - March 13
    - March 20
    - March 27
    - April 3 (last rehearsal before April concert)
     
    - April 10, 2025 - CONCERT! There will also be a rehearsal on the same day/evening before the concert. We will NOT rehearse at our normal time. We WILL instead rehearse at 5:00pm. The concert will start at 7:00pm. More details TBA.
     
    (SPRING BREAK - week of April 14)
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    - April 24 - NO rehearsal
    - May 1 - NO rehearsal
    - May 8 - NO rehearsal
    - May 15 - likely a SHORT REHEARSAL (3:30-4:15pm)
    - May 22 - regular rehearsal (3:30-4:45pm)
    - WEDNESDAY - May 28, 2025 - LAST REHEARSAL - SHORT REHEARSAL (3:30-4:15pm)
    FIELD TRIP PERFORMANCE (We are gone all day, and students are excused from their regular school classes. More details coming.) It's a wonderful day!
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    Audio Tracks for Practicing

    Here are links to audio files of all the pieces of music we're playing this year. The tempos are faster than we start out learning, but they are still great tools. Listen whenever you have a chance even if you're not playing along! LISTENING is a huge part of being a great musician! Play along when you're feeling ready - even a few measures. If the recording is on YouTube, use the gear in the corner to SLOW DOWN the video to .25, .5, or .75 speed to practice along.