DESCRIPTION:
Longfellow Elementary School, Berkeley CA, @ the "Reno Jazz Ensembles Festival", March 1970. The kids are grades 4-6, ages 9-11! Directed by Phil Hardymon and Dick Whittington. All arrangements by them as well.

According to the late Phil Hardymon, this appearance at the festival was intended to showcase jazz in an elementary school, still a new concept in 1970. I believe they were the first elementary school at the Reno festival.

This is a great document of the beginnings of the jazz program in the Berkeley public schools, the brainchild of Dr. Herb Wong, who speaks in the first video. It was one of the first school jazz programs in the country - possibly THE first in elementary school!

The kids' performance is a testament to the masterful teaching skills of Hardymon & Whittington, as well to their own talent. And, it didn't hurt having a rhythm section with 5th-grader Rodney Franklin (keyboards) & a 4th-grade Peter Apfelbaum (drums).

And lastly, it is proof of what a high level music in the schools can rise to when there is a full music program, with kids learning their instruments starting in 4th grade. This bands plays so beautifully!