Taking care of business: Mt. Si students get jazzed

Published 1:04 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

SNOQUALMIE – On the last day of school before Thanksgiving break last week, Mount Si High School music teacher Adam Rupert walked into an early-morning rehearsal of his jazz band class.

The students were chaotically getting into tune and fiddling around with their instruments, but with one swipe of Rupert’s hand, they all stopped.

“Sax,” was the first word out of his mouth as he pointed to a row of young saxophonists right in front of him.

With that, all the saxophone players got into tune with the help of a student at the piano.

After them, the trombone section got into tune and then the trumpets. Following some adjustments for the lone drummer, and the bass and guitar player, the Mount Si High School jazz band was ready to swing just after 6:30 in the morning.

Well, almost ready. The first number they practiced, “A View From The Side,” had several false starts and Rupert lamented they were playing like it was early.

“I guess that will do for 6:40,” he said.

The practice is serious, because the songs and the venues the band will take them to demand nothing less than perfect execution and style. The band will play its first concert at the school on Dec. 11, along with all the other bands and choirs at Mount Si High School. They will also be playing at Mount Si on Dec. 15 with more than 100 other musicians for a Snoqualmie Valley Arts Live performance. They want to be in top form for both shows.

For the complete story, pick up a copy of this week’s Valley Record