Eric Meyer, 17, plays during the Dixieland Jazz Festival at the Goodview Pavilion Saturday. Meyer has participated in the jazz clinic, put on by the Winona State University music department, for the past four years.
For the fourth year, high school students got the chance to play the festival through a Dixieland workshop hosted by Winona State University's music department. The two-day workshop encourages students to explore improvisation.
Gary Urness has worked with the students since the program first began. More than 40 kids participated this year, more than any previous year. We're trying to teach more basic, melodic, grassroots improvisation," Urness, a retired middle school band director, said. It's something they can transfer over to their high school bands."
For more information contact All About Jazz.