Trombone in hand, junior Steele Jacobs works to keep up with new Jazz Band Director Dr. Albert Miller. Playing every note with confidence as Miller preaches about swinging eighth notes, Jacobs can see himself improving under Miller’s teachings.

Miller taught jazz at the collegiate level for nearly three years and still directs the jazz band at Kansas Wesleyan University. He also received a doctorate in Musical Arts with an emphasis in Low Brass Performance from KU.

“Dr. Miller is great, he is very relatable,” Jacobs said. “He’s just a really nice guy and I’m glad he’s working at Free State.”

In previous years, Miller sat in on and helped out during jazz practices, but currently is the full time director of the jazz band, and the students appreciate his expertise.

“Dr. Miller is really good and knows what he’s talking about,” junior Sydney Gard said. “He has like three degrees in music, he’s funny, and he’s just a lot of fun.”

Miller’s upbeat and fun style of teaching brings out passion and a desire within the students to learn difficult music.

“We’re taking a different approach (from last year),” senior AJ Zarnoweic said. “Instead of practicing a set of pieces we will practice a bunch of different pieces and then see what we want to do.”

Not only is Miller setting the jazz ensemble up for a successful high school career, his biggest goal is to teach his students how to be successful musicians in the real world.

“The biggest thing I want them (the jazz band) to learn is how to be independent musicians,” Miller said. “When you go out and play in any kind of jazz ensemble, you have to be able to play your part correctly the first or second time.”

As a result of Miller’s positive teachings, the jazz band has performed well this year.

“We have a lot of fun,” senior Eliza Anderson said. “And when we have fun, we make good music.”