← Back home // upright bass, since 3rd grade

The Musician

I disliked classical orchestra — the upright bass part is often limited and repetitive. Jazz gave me something classical never did: the agency to improvise and experiment right alongside the rest of the band.

9+years on upright bass
2×weekly rehearsals, Milton Jazz Band
// from classical to jazz

Finding the agency to improvise

I started upright bass in 3rd grade and only played classical music until I joined Milton Academy's middle school jazz band in 8th grade. I disliked my time in classical orchestras — the bassist's role there is typically narrow and repetitive — while jazz let me improvise and experiment like everyone else on stage. Since then, I've played upright bass in Milton's Jazz Band, meeting twice a week as part of my class schedule and performing roughly every two months.

A young me practicing upright bass at home, next to a door labeled AARAV
// summer intensive · grade 10

NEC Jazz Lab

A one-week intensive at New England Conservatory — mornings practicing with my assigned jazz ensemble, afternoons in workshops, days running 8am to 8pm, capped by a weekend performance. I went in as one of the weaker players there, surrounded by people with far more jazz experience — and came out having connected with the music in a way I hadn't before.

// New Orleans

Jazz Education Network Conference

I traveled to New Orleans with Milton's Jazz Band for the Jazz Education Network Conference — a chance to hear and learn from jazz musicians and educators from around the country.

Photos from the New Orleans trip are on the way.
// on stage & at home

Field footage

Jazz band rehearsal on stage Practicing upright bass at home Jazz band performance Milton Academy Jazz Band on stage A youth orchestra group with string basses