Learn to count to four in more exciting ways with The Grindstone Factory as the quartet creates a solid (but cool) program exploring the origin, culture and swing of jazz!

About the program

Jazz is a great way to teach about the basic fundamentals of music, and this group did a great job in 2008-2009 with syncopation, polyrhythms, and the history of jazz in America. These programs give students an opportunity to explore the cultural world of America’s classical music as well as receive instruction on melody, harmony, tempo, improvisation, and rhythm—all of those things that make jazz swing! It's a participatory program K-12, involving lots of highly accessible music—an experience that students and teachers always enjoy!

Comprised of saxophone, piano, drums and bass, the Grindstone Factory took students from Africa to Brazil, New York to New Orleans and lots of stops in between -- not to mention discussions of the role of the audience, and how a jazz tune is constructed. If jazz is on your wish list this year, this is a program to have!

Availability:	March 8-12, 2010
Costs for programming:	$610/two assembly programs*
Program format:	Assembly
Audience limit:	250/elementary 300/HS
* Prices above reflect significant subsidy from New Performing Arts' fundraising with arts education supporters statewide and nationally.

About the Artists

The Grindstone Factory is a high-energy quartet of young musicians who have studied at Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory in Berea, OH, with Greg Banaszak, who was recently appointed to the National Academy of Arts and Sciences as a voting member for the annual Grammy Awards ceremony and has performed as saxophonist for the Cleveland Orchestra as well as throughout Europe. With members who are interested both in music performance as well as music education, the ensemble brings a passion for jazz as well as a clear sense of their role as teachers during their programs.