Jazz Education Comes to Behrman
Free after-school program expanding

September 23 , 2007
By Brian Friedman
The Times Picayune

For local musician/educator Brice Miller, becoming immersed in the music of his native New Orleans was easy.

"My dad's a jazz musician here in town," Miller said, "so I grew up hanging out with Tuba Fats and all of those guys coming over to our place for practice and rehearsals."

In junior high, Miller began performing in Jackson Square in the French Quarter before receiving a music scholarship to St. Augustine High School. It was there that Miller began to realize just how lucky he was.

"My father guided me toward the music and the culture," Miller said, "but if you don't have a parent who does that, where do you find the music?"

In the years since, Miller has made it his mission -- when he's not touring the world as a performer -- to help youngsters find the music that has been such a big part of his life. That is why he took on the job of coordinating the jazz education program in the New Orleans Public Schools system for six years, and it's why he is heading up the Don Jamison Heritage School of Music's newest campus at Behrman Elementary Charter School in Algiers.

Founded in 1990, Don Jamison is the signature education program of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. In the past year, the free after-school program has expanded from one campus to five, including Behrman.

"Having this program here, it's like we've landed the big catch," said Behrman principal Rene Lewis-Carter. "Our focus is on the creative arts, so having this program on our campus is certainly a realization of what we've been working toward."

"When people go to Jazzfest and spend money, this is their dollars at work," said Scott Aiges, director of programs, marketing and communications for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation Inc. "Plus it gives employment to our music professionals, it puts music back into the school, and it gives the children of our community an opportunity not only to learn music, but also to develop their creativity and talents in many different ways."

The goal of the Don Jamison School, Aiges continued, is not necessarily to find the next jazz superstar. "Exposure to music and to music education is something that can help a child in all aspects of their academics and in their life," he said, "so this is really about life experience and personal growth as much as it is about music."

"I try to allow the kids to realize that music can be the initiation to open up other doors for your life," said Miller. "We're not about trying to make the next Wynton (Marsalis) or trying to make the next Louis Armstrong, but it's about teaching the kids to tap into a talent, to enjoy that talent, and allow that talent to open up other avenues for their lives."

But let's not forget about the music. The classes at Behrman, held every Saturday from 9 to 12 a.m., which began Saturday, will focus on music theory (sight reading and scales) and will feature individual as well as group instruction.

"We have an instructor for every instrument," Miller said.

A music history and culture component will also be part of the curriculum, Miller said.

While classes at the Behrman school are geared toward beginners ages 11-18, some basic musical experience is desired, Aegis said.

The Behrman campus of the Don Jamison Heritage School of Music is actively seeking applicants. For more information, contact the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation at (504) 558-6100 or visit its Web site at www.jazzandheritage.org.