DeVante Jackson 鈥�17 performed jazz around campus and across town during his first semester at Augsburg College.

Jackson鈥攁 saxophone player and pianist鈥攔egularly joined the Augsburg Jazz Band on stage in Hoversten Chapel, and had experiences only available to students who study in an urban location. Jackson amplified his formal music education by accompanying professional groups and amateur artists at theaters, jazz clubs, and cultural centers throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul.

鈥淭he Twin Cities are a vibrant area for jazz musicians,鈥� according to Andrea Canter, the Twin Cities Jazz Society鈥檚 chair of education. When compared to other U.S. cities including New York and Los Angeles, the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area is 鈥溾�maller in terms of population, but we have an awful lot going on. We have long been considered one of the top jazz centers in the country.鈥�

Discovering his voice in music

Jackson selected Augsburg for his post-secondary education because he wanted to benefit from the high-caliber instruction at the College and to capitalize on the lively music scene in Minnesota鈥檚 largest metropolitan area.

鈥淭here鈥檚 some debate about the value of what formal schools teach versus the 鈥榣earning-by-doing,鈥欌�� method upon which jazz was founded, according to Canter. 鈥淏ut, I think DeVante鈥攁nd students like him鈥攈ave found the 鈥榮weet spot.鈥欌��

Jackson, a St. Paul native, grew up playing in local student groups, and he is taking his musical talent to the next level with the encouragement and expertise of Augsburg faculty members.

When Jackson was in the midst of his college search, Robert Stacke, chair of music, invited him to audition at Augsburg College and sit in with its jazz group. 鈥淚t鈥檚 when a student comes by and plays with the band that they find out what we鈥檙e about,鈥� Stacke said. 鈥淭hey feel at home, like they鈥檙e already welcome.鈥�

According to Stacke, the College was a natural fit for a musician like Jackson, someone who wanted to combine high-level music instruction with a college degree in a complementary field.

鈥淭he reason I like playing music is because of my relationship with people,鈥� Jackson explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 because I get to be on stage and show people my talent. It鈥檚 a connection I form with them, so I might do communications or I might do sociology. We鈥檒l see.鈥�

Jackson is exploring a variety of College courses during his first year at Augsburg in order to determine which degree program will best match his interest in music. And, no matter which major Jackson selects from Augsburg鈥檚 50 undergraduate offerings, he will continue to mature as a student and as a musician鈥攄eveloping his life story with each jazz composition.

鈥淒eVante talks with his horn,鈥� Stacke said. 鈥淗e really does.鈥�

Jackson attends Augsburg on a performing arts scholarship, a benefit that gives him the flexibility to fuse his desire for a liberal arts education with his passion for jazz.

鈥淎t Augsburg, I鈥檝e been challenged to discover myself as a musician鈥攖o find my own sound,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淭he instructors are also challenging me to try new things and study the basics.鈥�

These 鈥渂asics鈥濃�攈e said鈥攁re often the most difficult aspect of music to master. 鈥淵ou would think practicing a scale would be easy, but there are more layers once you get into it. It鈥檚 like a sport: you practice your free throws, and it helps in the game.鈥�

Faculty-professional networks

The Augsburg Music Department embraces the philosophy that students and instructors alike should share their music with live audiences, according to Stacke.

Instructors are 鈥渃onstantly working to get students engaged with the professional circles,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou need to get out in front of the community because it鈥檚 such a joy to perform.鈥�

Jackson agreed that Augsburg musicians benefit from the College鈥檚 local network, which assists students in finding performance opportunities. He describes each gig as a way to 鈥渆xpress yourself in front of people who don鈥檛 know you, which is a good feeling if you鈥檙e on the path to becoming a musician.鈥�

Live performances and improv opportunities

Each performance couples enjoyment with experimental education, according to Canter.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e playing with professional people, it raises your experience up to a higher level,鈥� she said. Students are 鈥渓earning band etiquette, band performance, and band communication鈥� each time they get on stage.

Jackson plays with the Minneapolis Capri Theater鈥檚 Big Band, the , the amateur group Remember the Planets, and a number of other ensembles through informal arrangements.

Augsburg’s location makes it easy to find a variety of performance opportunities. Jackson has played at the Selby Avenue Jazz Fest and the Dakota Jazz Club as well as the Artists鈥� Quarter鈥攁 venue named in DownBeat magazine鈥檚 list of the 150 鈥渂est places to hear live jazz worldwide.鈥�

Jackson has performed at numerous other engagements in the Twin Cities, and he cites smaller locations including the Acadia Caf茅 and the Red Sea as especially encouraging to student musicians with some previous performance experience. Jackson鈥檚 favorite aspect of a show is incorporating improvisation into his performance.

鈥淚 get tired of just reading what鈥檚 on the paper,鈥� he said. 鈥淛azz is the music I can express myself with.鈥�

Jazz compositions are simply 鈥渁 guideline. It鈥檚 just written like a bunch of eighth notes, and it鈥檒l say 鈥榮wing,鈥欌�� Stacke said, describing the genre鈥檚 intended rhythm. 鈥淪o, if you play it the way it鈥檚 written, it鈥檚 horrible. The style is something you learn over the years.鈥�

The influence of Augsburg

Jackson has found that his first few months at Augsburg have influenced his jazz鈥攁nd his work ethic鈥攊n positive ways.

鈥淛azz reflects your whole day…from the shower you took this morning to the people you talk to,鈥� he said. And, the College鈥檚 鈥渆nvironment to improve鈥� has strengthened his dedication to practicing his instruments and to completing his school work.

鈥淚鈥檝e resolved to not just work hard but to devote all I can into completing my work and finishing a task all the way out,鈥� Jackson explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just the culture at Augsburg College. You gotta grind hard.鈥�

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