Jazz Band Moroccan Dinner Silent Auction

Arno Tuts

Jazz Band Moroccan Dinner Silent Auction

15/04/11

Hours: 3

1.                  In this activity I played the Alto Saxophone in the Jazz Band for the Moroccan Dinner and Silent Auction. We played many of our best songs and played for the people as background music. There were many ambassadors and other diplomats who came to the Silent Auction to raise money for the wife group that used the money to fund several projects in Kenya. We also played a few songs that the South Africa band played so many of us had to sight read the music. We got dinner there so we were able to take a short break during our playing. We interacted with each other in the band and we also interacted with a few of the guests. We played for them while they enjoyed the music.

2.                  During this activity I hoped to accomplish playing music for a good cause. We wanted to create a pleasant atmosphere during the night so that the guests felt comfortable and were willing to participate actively in the silent auction. I also hoped to gain extra experience as an Alto Saxophonist and as a sight-reader.

3.                  I believe that I was successful in achieving my goals. I was able to play in the Jazz Band for a good cause and for important people. I also believe that we created a pleasant atmosphere for the guests that allowed them to enjoy the night. My experience increased and I was able to develop my sight-reading skills. We sometimes had some difficulties with the transformers but we managed to adjust and fix them. It was also challenging to play some parts of the sight-reading pieces but I was able to cope with them and quickly master them.

4.                  I learned that my sight-reading skills are very good and that I can quickly learn a piece that I have not yet seen before. I am able to follow the music at the right speed and I am also able to play the rhythms correctly while playing the correct notes. My experience as a saxophonist is clearly growing and I am gradually able to play pieces that are above my level.

5.                  My peers in the band helped me sight read at a quicker and higher level and the saxophonists that had already played the sight-reading songs before gave me good advice on how to play the pieces correctly. Mr. Ligon, the director, also helped us enjoy playing our music and helped us realize the significance of music as a background during such events as dinners and silent auctions.

6.                  This activity helped others by giving the diplomats background music to create a pleasant and comforting atmosphere. Some diplomats also observed us so they could learn from our playing and possible get inspired to learn to play an instrument themselves if they did not already play one. This event was organized for a good cause so this activity helped fund several charity projects in Kenya.