Kevin Torres likes the way his saxophone sounds.

The 11-year-old has been playing the instrument for two years and jumped at the chance to join the Sallie B. Howard School for Arts & Education's Jazz Ensemble, which formed about a month into this school year.

"I wanted to find something new to play so I can get real, real good," Kevin said of learning jazz.

A fifth-grader, Kevin is one of several soloists within the ensemble. He finds stepping out from the group and standing alone on the stage fun and exciting.

"It's nervous but when you go to the microphone and just play, it's like nobody is there," Kevin said. "You just enjoy yourself."

Roger Walker, the school's band director, decided to create a jazz ensemble to encourage the students' musical interests and to introduce them to different types of music. Talk about creating a jazz ensemble started because some of Walker's students enjoyed stopping by the band room to listen to and play along with tapes Walker had of the band he plays with outside of school.

The ensemble was created last September and opened up to students in fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

The ensemble, which consists of 13 students total, makes regular appearances at school functions and Walker has exposed the students to jazz festivals and events at the university level. The group attended and performed at the jazz festival at East Carolina University and has attended jazz events at North Carolina Central University. The North Carolina Central University jazz band performed at the charter school earlier this year.

This year, the ensemble has practiced after school. However, Walker wants to make jazz a part of the school's regular music curriculum starting next school year. His vision is to offer concert band for 45 minutes and to offer jazz ensemble for 45 minutes per day. This school year, concert band is a 90-minute class.

Walker expects a lot from his ensemble. Walker stresses what he describes as Mr. Walker's Five P's: Perfect Practice Prevents Poor Performance. Walker makes the students practice as if they are giving an actual performance. He said it keeps the students focused. Walker also stresses the importance of the students' behavior and dress when attending or performing at functions outside of the school.

Seventh-grader Jesus Ferrer said he thinks the jazz ensemble has been a great experience for him, especially going to competition and "knowing we're good."

Jesus has been playing the saxophone for five years. He appreciates the freedom playing jazz offers.

"You can have fun with it," Jesus said. "Not everything is strict."

Walker, 56, has been around music all of his life. His early years were spent performing in church with his family. Professionally, Walker retired in 2007 after spending 30 years teaching music. Most of his career was spent at Charles B. Aycock High School leading an award-winning music department. During his career, Walker helped create the jazz curriculum taught in North Carolina's public schools. Walker decided within a few weeks after retiring that he wanted to return to the classroom. He heard about a vacancy at the charter school and applied.

He looks forward to growing the program at the charter school and grooming younger students to fill slots when students move on to high school.

Walker said it hasn't been hard starting the ensemble because he has students, like Damion Coleman, who have been willing to learn.

Damion, a seventh-grader, has been playing trombone for five years. He chose the instrument because he "likes the way it moves."

"I wanted to help out and make this band better than it was," Damion said of why he participates. "And I enjoy playing."

Like Kevin, Damion plays solos.

"It's scary but once you know everything you have done this year has come together, it's not scary anymore," Damion said. "You just forget everybody is watching."

creech@wilsontimes.com | 265-7822

 View Video   View Photo Gallery