Jazz Lab

Pat Absalonson, Instructor

The Jazz Lab class is the entry-level jazz band class.  This class is often comprised of students wishing to pursue a second instrument or perhaps experience jazz for the first time.  Students in this class are early in the development of their tone qualities, reading skills, and technical skill.  Class time tends to be spent on development of these skills more than in the Jazz I, or Jazz II classes.  Literature in this class tends to be grades 2½  to 3 in difficulty.

This year the course is under the instruction of Pat Absalonson.  Mead community members are no strangers to Pat.  He is a graduate of Mead High School where he played lead trumpet in the well-known Jazz I program.

This class typically participates in 3 concerts and 2 festivals per year.  The concerts are held in November, February, and May.  The festivals include the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in February and the Columbia Basin College Jazz Unlimited Festival in April.