The annual six-day SeaJazz program will take place at Kwalicum Secondary School (KSS) next week, with a free public concert taking place July 9.
The jazz program for students has been running since 1998 and has both middle school and high school students from around Oceanside — with the odd elementary school student — learning important jazz performance skills.
“It’s to give them good fundamentals on how to improvise jazz solos and jazz technique and interpretation of music,” said one of the instructors, Dave Stewart.
This year will be a small group of 13 students playing the saxophone, trumpet, piano, guitar, bass guitar and drums. The program aims to give the kids the confidence they need to stand up and do solos, Stewart said, which the concert will feature many of.
The free SeaJazz concert happens at the KSS band room on July 9 at 2 p.m.