This week, students in both the Beginning and Advanced Band classes at Tibbetts Middle School had an unforgettable experience. Ms. Jennifer L. Lasley welcomed a very special guest, Mr. Delbert Anderson, an award-winning Diné jazz trumpet artist, composer, and educator.
Mr. Anderson shared his passion for music while teaching students the basics of breathing and trumpet playing. He also spoke about how music has taken him around the world and helped him connect with people from many different cultures.
During his visit, Mr. Anderson answered student questions and shared stories about one of his musical inspirations, jazz legend Lee Morgan. He even performed in Morgan’s style. He also played “Narbona,” a piece from his album Manitou, which blends ancient Native American melodies with jazz and funk. It was an incredible experience for everyone in the room.
We are very grateful to Mr. Anderson for taking time out of his incredibly busy schedule to inspire our young musicians and share his love of music with them.
This is not his first visit to Tibbetts. Last year, he also performed with his band for our students.
This time, he practiced low notes and holding them for as long as possible with our students.
We are also excited to welcome a large group of new sixth graders to our music program this year. More than 100 students are beginning their musical journey with Ms. Lasley. The first concert of the year is coming up soon, so stay tuned to see all the amazing things our Titans Band is doing.
Ms. Jennifer L. Lasley has been the Band Director at Tibbetts Middle School since 2013, after spending a year at Mesa View and eight years teaching in Virginia and North Carolina. She continues to build an incredible music program that helps our students grow as musicians and as people.