EASTON, Pa.(www.lafayette.edu), February 1, 2008 — Dan Stefan ’10 (Havertown, Pa.) is a member of the College’s Jazz Combo. The following is a first-person account of his experiences.
Upon narrowing down a list of clubs to focus on, in the end I chose Jazz Combo. I thought not only of my experience with music thus far in college, but moreover, all throughout elementary, middle, and high school. Maybe even more important than this, when applying to colleges, my essay was about music, specifically jazz piano. Reflecting on this, I thought it would be best to return to that essay.
Fingers dancing gracefully across ivory keys, intricate patterns of rhythms and tones; watching our friend Marvin play Offenbach's "Can Can" opened my eyes to the wonders of music and convinced me that the piano was the perfect instrument for me. I knew then that as David mastered the mightier Goliath, I too would master this instrument and harness its boundless powers.
I started taking lessons when I was eight years old, but over time my passion for practicing waned. I sometimes heard the "Can Can" in the background, a far cry from the drills and ditties I was learning, and felt as if the piano had come to life and was mocking me for my lack of concern. While I often thought about quitting, my parents would not allow it, and as I matured I came to appreciate music theory and classical piano. However, the discovery of a new universe of music rekindled my passion.
Jazz…from Django Reinhardt to Wynton Marsalis, from improvising to composing chords…the possibilities are endless. I love the sound of jazz…a rainbow of instruments, a mélange of individual passions and emotions. I love hearing how each musician can be alone in the spotlight, but with the blink of an eye part of a synchronized whole. When I play, I feel as if I am having a conversation with the other musicians, one where I respond to their melodic questions with harmonious chords. I also love the freedom of improvisation. Indeed, it allows me to develop a personal relationship with the music and use my imagination to create a sound like no other.
Discovering jazz has made music an important part of my life. Today, I find music everywhere I go: when in a car, the turn signal, as if a metronome, provides a beat, which I can follow. My experience with music has also taught me important life lessons. First, I have learned that it is important to find creative ways to communicate and express oneself to others. Additionally, I have learned how to better approach new challenges and new experiences. When preparing my argument for the Pennsylvania State Debate Finals, for example, I tackled the material just like I would a complex song: I divided the issues into manageable sections, conducted research and analysis to improve my understanding, and combined my findings into a coherent whole.
More recently, while playing for a Board of Commerce Bank executives, I overcame the infamous stage fright by imagining that I was playing a concert in front of a packed house. Finally, I have learned that above all else you must be passionate about what you do in order to be happy and to succeed.
I sometimes still hear the "Can Can" in the background, but I also hear Dr. John playing at an open-air concert in Paris, and renowned trumpeter, Jon Fadis and saxophonist Ted Nash, both of whom I had the privilege of playing with on-stage. While I still have not mastered the piano, I realize that my growth as a musician has complemented my growth as a person - something worth even those once dreaded drills and ditties. I plan to continue studying and playing, and hope that I too can inspire others to discover the magic of music.
The possibilities of music are vast and endless. The more I learn, practice, and play, the more I realize there is to learn and attempt to master as it should be. Jazz Combo is great because there are a few musical conversations going on at once which I can manipulate by providing appropriate chords. The freedom is fantastic, and the class is allowing me to truly develop a personal relationship with the music and my imagination; which is indeed one of the greatest rewards of the class.
In Jazz Combo, I am able to work closely with the professor and a handful of students, getting to know their musical abilities, but also their other attributes as we interact together. I enjoy it because I am able to play with others and can learn about and play new types of music. For me, the class is simply more time to practice, I take private jazz piano lessons and always try to apply my lessons to class or what I learn in class to my lessons. I simply try to expand my knowledge of jazz and music in general to appreciate its different forms. I was in the Jazz Ensemble in high school, but I particularly liked when each section practiced individually, which provides a smaller, homier feel, similar to that of the Combo.
Although this is not a traditional class and is less known on campus, Jazz Combo should be something appreciated and known by all, especially music lovers.
