Jazz and Blues for Anna Hause Elementary Students

A quartet of jazz-oriented musicians plan to perform Tuesday for students at Anna M. Hause Elementary in Beaumont.

Three music assemblies, at 12:30 p.m., 1:15 p.m. and 2 p.m., are intended to expose the children to "the American music art form of jazz," said Sean Longstreet, band director for Beaumont Unified School District and organizer of the performances.

Merced Ramirez, president of the Anna Hause PTA, said students appreciated a recent music performance at the school so much he thought it worthwhile to expose students to more.

"We had a cello quartet come in December," Ramirez said. "They played a little of everything - ragtime, classical, Led Zeppelin.

"I heard only great things from teachers saying that they never had their students so attentive at an assembly, and they could see sparks of interest flying in some of the students eyes," Ramirez said. "There is so little exposure to live music for kids at this age, and the music they hear is the kiddie music or worse."

Ramirez said the PTA hopes to encourage more children to take music lessons, and to make it affordable by easing their access to instruments.

"We are asking for donations of some music instruments," Ramirez said. "Flutes, clarinets and trumpets are the most needed. My hope is that we can start a program at Anna Hause of lending them out for free to students.

"Instruments are usually expensive to just rent not even talking about buying," Ramirez said.

Students who study music often do better in school, Ramirez said. Music students will also find an avenue into college, Ramirez said.

The group performing Tuesday at Anna Hause Elementary will feature Craig Yancey on saxophones and flute, Blake White on bass, and Jeff Olson on drums, said Longstreet, who will play guitar.

"Children are the future," Longstreet said. "These are the kids who will be making music and listening to and purchasing music. Part of out mission is to get young people excited about the American music art form of jazz."

More information is available at the Anna Hause Elementary PTA web site, www.annahausepta.com. Ramirez can be reached by email at voitkampf@aol.com.