Jazz seminar brings musicians of all ages together at Santa Barbara City College

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Forget the sheet music. At Santa Barbara City College, jazz students are learning to trust their ears, find their rhythm and make music together.

It’s part of Santa Barbara City College's Summer Jazz Seminar that’s open to all ages and experience levels. 

"Put the music book away. Put the sheet music away," said Rob Moreno, an SBCC jazz instructor. "Just put your horn together and start playing some melodies that you hear,” said instructor Rob Moreno. 

For seventh grader Zoe Tamayo, that freedom is part of what makes jazz so much fun.

"I like how you get to really make the music your own, and it's not like really strict about like, oh, you have to play this composition this way," Tamayo said.

The seminar brings together musicians across generations, creating an environment where students can learn from one another.

David Parker, who lives in Santa Barbara, said he enjoys seeing younger musicians share his enthusiasm for jazz.

"I like the fact that we've got the younger people in here, and it's really nice to see people that are enthused," Parker said.

For 10th grader Dean Plowman, playing as a group is the highlight of the class.

"The best part of this class to me is like playing as a group, because it's a big difference between practicing on your own or with a recording and then playing with other people," Plowman said.

Plowman said the experience is also helping him work toward a bigger dream of writing his own music.

"I've always kind of wanted to write my own songs," he said. "I feel like this class and like jazz and being in a band really helps."

The class also pushes students to learn by doing.

"It throws you in the water and it goes, okay, it's now swim. And you either learn to swim or you drown," said jazz student Paul Schiess.

Just two weeks into the class, Schiess said he has already learned about theory and improvisation.

Moreno said students don't necessarily need to understand all the theory before they begin playing.

"You don't need theory. If you can hear all this stuff," Moreno said. "So you can just sidestep that whole thing and deal with it later if you want."

At the heart of the seminar is the idea that musicians learn by playing together — listening, responding and finding the music as a group.