Broughton HS Band Workshop

For the second year in a row, Wiley’s band director, Lisa Burn, invited Broughton High School’s jazz band to work with the Wiley band students during their before-school band class, followed by an all-school performance.

During class, Wiley and Broughton took turns playing songs for one another. The younger musicians learned what makes a song sound “jazzy,” a typical jazz big band instrumentation, what “doubling” as a musician means, the various sizes of a saxophone, and how brass players use plungers as mutes. They got small group instruction from the high schoolers who play their respective instruments, learned some new notes, and had fun along the way. Some students even learned key bars of “Pop Goes the Weasel,” a fun Wynton Marsalis arrangement played by Broughton to open the class.

During the subsequent all-school performance by Broughton, their director, Ms. Harrison, allowed many Wiley students to ask questions. Topics engaged covered higher band structure, including marching band and concert band, and how many students knew someone named “Eli”…you had to be there… The interaction was inspiring to all and the students were fully engaged, moving heads and bodies to the music.

The deep, long-held relationships between band directors in Wake County provides a wonderful opportunity for young musicians to be inspired by older students who started just like them, not too long ago. Older students in turn gain mentorship skills and teaching acumen, as they inspire and instruct those younger. Ms. Burn continues to be instrumental in facilitating student-to-student learning opportunities between not only our two Wiley bands, but also between high school mentors and elementary students. These types of opportunities provide both a vision and a pathway for young or aspiring musicians.

As director for the Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra, teacher at her own private brass studio, and adjunct trumpet instructor at Duke University, Ms. Burn brings access to her vast network of relationships through these types of opportunities. For this year, like last, Broughton’s visit was a great success and a fun day for all!