By Peter Leggett, Walker West Music Academy

This April, Walker West Music Academy will be offering its second installment of the American History Band Project, a performance ensemble program that performs early 20^th century American band music. The AHBP has a strong emphasis on music fundamentals but its main component is historical, playing the same great songs the same way they sounded more than 100 years ago. In the tradition of the beloved town bands, the American History Band Project ensemble will schedule performances for the Walker West, Rondo and greater St. Paul community in the Academy’s music garden.

The first offering of the American History Band Project was held in the spring of 2011 to great success with the ensemble performing tunes like When the Saints Go Marching In, Basin Street Blues, Amazing Grace, Down by the Riverside, Goodbye Sweet Liza Jane and other classic tunes by

John Philip Sousa and Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore. Click here for a great video of the ensemble performing last May. Not only does this ensemble feature the opportunity to perform classic American band music, but it also serves as a bridge for beginning and intermediate students of ensemble performance to prepare for the Academy’s jazz combos. The AHBP is a great ensemble to learn swing rhythms and basic improvisation skills as well as a small group dynamic.

Go to www.WalkerWestMusicAcademy.org for more information or call 651-224-2929.