WATTS : Students Get Jazzed Over Music Program

Daisy Cervantes is developing an interest in jazz, thanks to Fred and Wilma.

“I like the theme to ‘The Flintstones,’ ” said Daisy, a 10-year-old student at Grape Street Elementary School. “I never really had an interest in jazz or knew what it was, but now that I’ve heard it, I’m interested.”

Daisy was among the more than 150 students who listened attentively last week at the school as the Black Note jazz quartet played the familiar cartoon’s theme song.

Local musicians performed the afternoon music lesson to boost the school’s music program and promote racial unity. About 65% of the school’s 700 students are Latino; 35% are African American.

“As a parent, my goal was to make the music students happy,” said Willetta Adams. “While my kids are only in kindergarten now, unless there are more things like last Tuesday’s event, the music program won’t still be around by the time they are old enough to take part.”

Nearly two years after parents helped launch the music program with a fund drive to raise $700 to buy and rent instruments, the program continues to struggle.

And it was that concern that prompted Adams to approach school officials this month about putting together a one-day event that focused on music and diversity. “This is a way to grab ahold of our black children and say: ‘You can do this,’ ” she said.

Adams enlisted the help of Mike Dickerson, another parent, and D. J. Riley, a UCLA graduate student in social welfare. Together they contacted Black Note, members of the Taumbu Ensemble, members of the Washington High School Marching Band and others who took part in the program.

The event offered school officials a way to supplement a bare-bones music program while giving Latino and African American students a glimpse into jazz, a music shared by both groups.

“There is so much tension between Hispanics and African Americans (in schools),” said Principal Jacquelyn Morris-Mack. “It’s nice to see a program that offered a bit of both (kinds of music).”

“This is a small school and I have a hard time recruiting students,” said Karen Lawrence, a part-time Grape Street music teacher who said that a lack of instruments and a $15 instrument deposit has kept some students away.

“When the kids see someone closer to their own age . . . telling them about music, well, it has an impact that I might not be able to get across.”