Jazz band takes on Miley’s Wrecking Ball

Patel Conservatory student plays for renowned pianist Jon Batiste and
jazz band Stay Human

Jazz artists Jon Batiste and the Stay Human band recently gave a master class to students from Blake High School’s and Patel Conservatory’s music programs.

Prior to their performance at the Straz Center, in their Jazz Is: Now! class, the group shared tips on how to become a professional musician and how to bring themselves to every performance.

“No one can be a better you,” said one of the band members.

Batiste invited students to play the piano, and gave feedback on their performances.

“It was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever experienced,” said Conservatory student and pianist Parker Wilkson in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times. “It was really cool to get that close in such an intimate setting with such an incredible musician.”

The Patel Conservatory’s outreach program provides the opportunity for master classes and other arts education experiences like this for our students and our community partners.

The class ended with a jam session with Conservatory jazz and saxophone instructor Matt Weihmuller and Blake students, including Stay Human’s signature version of Miley Cyrus’s Wrecking Ball.

Check out the vocals from the Blake student who joins in on this You Tube video!

 Thanks to Jon Batiste and his band members for sharing their experience and wisdom.

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