As a jazz pianist, I have worked with the best in the business and performed at top venues around the world. I get great satisfaction from performing, recording and composing for professional artists. However, the day we saw “Newsgirl Rag” from Holding The Torch For Liberty at the Louis Armstrong Middle School in Queens was unforgettable. The song uses ragtime style music to establish what’s going on in NYC around 1917. We ran the piece to an audience of 500 7th graders and they loved it! This experience shows me the great potential of the JDP. As a teaching artist working in NYC schools for 13 years I have learned a variety of ways to reach young people and teachers. I feel certain that now’s the time for me to put my expertise into establishing a new program that serves the future of jazz. I have been fortunate to work with jazz masters who helped create the art form. I feel it is essential to pass on the knowledge they gave me in an effective and meaningful way.
By Eli Yamin
