Do you know a young musician who loves playing jazz, rock and/or blues music? Perhaps that musician no longer plays in the school band and needs a musical outlet. Or perhaps he/she would enjoy playing in an ensemble in addition to the school band. The Broadmoor Academy of Music (BAM) has the solution. The school is opening a satellite location in Monument. Starting August 20, 2007, students with at least two years experience, interested in improving their jazz, rock and blues skills, as well as music fundamentals of sight-reading, ensemble playing, improvisation, jazz theory, and other professional musician skills, are invited to join a new small group jazz ensemble. Details about the new group follow, but first some information about my son's and other students' experiences with BAM.

I spent years playing in the school band, so having a musical child was always a fantasy of mine. My 14-year-old son, Riley, started lessons the traditional way - studying classical piano with a neighborhood teacher. It quickly became clear music is "his thing" and, after I stopped doing cartwheels, my husband and I were left to figure out how to nurture his talent without spoiling the fun.

Enter the Broadmoor Academy of Music. In 2006, Riley started taking piano lessons from professional jazz musician Brad Bietry. As luck would have it, Brad and business partner Steve Draper, were about to open the Broadmoor Academy of Music. In September 2006, the school commenced its first year at their Colorado Springs School location, offering private musical instruction for ages 5 to adult for all instruments and voice, as well as small group jazz and rock ensembles for students and adults. The ensembles are typically small - about 4-8 musicians per group - and the time commitment and cost is minimal compared to other music schools in the Colorado Springs area. The small student-to-teacher ratio allows for individualized attention. Students ages 13-19, with at least two years experience, can participate in the jazz ensembles.

Riley, who will be a freshman at Lewis Palmer High School this fall, joined a BAM ensemble playing trombone and keyboard. The ensembles meet weekly for two-hour practice sessions directed by college educated instructors who are professional musicians. Last year, students gained performance experience in a variety of venues including appearances for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), art openings, jazz festivals, weddings, private parties and at coffee shops. Additionally, they entertained audiences with three formal concerts at the Colorado Springs School. Riley has had the privilege of performing with a diverse group of talented students, as well as the instructors of BAM who are some of the area's most sought after professional musicians. Local residents had the pleasure of listening to BAM ensembles perform at the Tri-Lakes Performing Arts Center last spring during an art exhibition.

Another student who is thriving in BAM's unique environment is 15-year-old saxophone player Greg Kournis. Greg, a junior at Rampart High School, said "BAM has helped me to become a more creative musician since I am encouraged by my teachers to try new techniques and learn new approaches to jazz. I have also improved my knowledge of music by studying jazz theory at BAM." Greg went on to explain that he's had more opportunities through BAM to perform in front of audiences and "that increases my confidence as a musician since I get to improvise on my own as well as play regularly with the BAM ensemble."

Greg started at BAM last January and instructor Brad Bietry is impressed with his progress. "When Greg started he had bad tone," states Brad. "His sight-reading wasn't all that great and he had very little knowledge of jazz theory and jazz improvisation. But now, after 6 months of private lessons and playing in BAM's ensembles, he's able to improvise well, playing all the right notes in the chord progressions and both his sight- reading and saxophone tone have greatly improved. I can't wait to hear him a year from now." Brad went on to say most students begin BAM with very little understanding of jazz theory and improvisation and that BAM helps them learn to improvise by teaching jazz theory, jazz vocabulary, how to build a jazz solo, and how to be a professional musician.

BAM can already boast of many accolades bestowed upon its students. Riley auditioned and was chosen as pianist for the middle school All-Region Jazz Band. I am confident this honor is due to his participation in BAM since Riley did not play piano (he only played trombone) in his middle school band. Riley is not alone as six of BAM's students were chosen for honor jazz bands, orchestras and choirs.

The honors don't stop there. Sixteen-year-old Travis Henry, a senior at ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Woodland Park High School, has been accepted to GRAMMY Camp™ two years in a row. This prestigious, residential summer camp allows teens to learn from Grammy Award winners/nominees and other professional musicians in Los Angeles. Musicians from around the world audition for the camp and Travis was one of only four keyboardists selected. (Visit www.bamatcss.com for more on Travis Henry's GRAMMY Camp™ experience.)

Furthermore, last year three BAM students - seniors Ron Logan, Steve Sherlock and Zak Antonio - received college scholarships where they will continue their music studies. Zak and Steve both won scholarships to the highly respected Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Berklee is internationally famous for their training in contemporary music styles such as jazz, rock, latin and film. Brandford Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Quincy Jones, Cyrus Chestnut and Walter Beasly are some of the famous jazz musicians that graduated from Berklee. BAM Director Brad Bietry received his music degree in jazz piano performance from Berklee College.

As if all of this isn't enough, students can enter the realm of music arrangement while studying at BAM. Riley wrote a jazz arrangement at the age of 13, an accomplishment owed to the tremendous skills and patience of his instructor. As Brad Bietry explains it, a music arrangement is the adaptation of a musical composition set to a specific set of instruments using, melody, harmony, and rhythm. Students learn the ranges of all the instruments, transpositions, voicing techniques, and how to write out parts for all the instruments. Arranging is usually not taught to musicians until they reach college. Imagine the pride we felt when Riley's arrangement was performed by eight student musicians at a concert last year. Throughout the year various student arrangements and original compositions were played during BAM concerts. Students are encouraged to write original tunes and try them out with their jazz groups.

By now I hope it's clear BAM provides students with a fun and challenging experience. If BAM sounds like it's for you, or a musician you know, here are specifics for the Monument group. The new combo will be directed by JR Erb, a bass player, jazz educator and professional musician who is a member of the Brad Bietry Jazz Group, as well as the Air Force Academy Band, and a graduate of the prestigious University of North Texas. The Monument ensemble will meet Monday evenings, 6 to 8 PM, in the Monument Hill Church Youth Room (18725 Monument Hill Rd., Monument, 80132). Classes begin August 20, 2007, but students can join anytime during the school year.

Interested musicians please call 719-475-9747, Ext 121 for more information. You may also visit BAM's website: www.bamatcss.com and/or e-mail questions to info@bamatcss.com.