For the artists in the Maui Jazz and Blues Festival and the Lanai Jazz Festival, it’s not enough to perform at sold-out performances across the islands. They’re also eager to share their knowledge and love for music with keiki. At every Jazz and Blues event that organizer Ken Martinez Burgmaier plans, he also coordinates free student workshops. At the upcoming Lanai Jazz Festival, hosted at the Four Seasons Resort in Manele Bay and Lodge at Koele and taking place on Jan. 13 and 14, an educational and free workshop with Grammy winner Skip Martin and an ukulele workshop with Maui’s own Benny Uetaki will benefit Lanai elementary and high school students.
“We always want to do music education in the schools,” says Burgmaier. “I love being able to share these amazing talents with our local keiki in the schools of Maui nui and at our free workshop we do at our all our festivals. We have ukulele, slack key, pu blowing and jazz workshops to pass on the torch and inspire our next generation of artists.”
After November’s Night of Jazz event at the Ritz Carlton with three-time Grammy winner Tom Scott and the Big Island’s 23-year-old Na Hoku Hano Hano winner Brittni Paiva, more than 100 Maui Preparatory students participated in a workshop. Paiva was reminded of herself at the workshop with the Maui students.
“It’s inspiring to be on the other side as an instructor rather than a student,” she says. “Seeing the kids and their love for music really brings me joy and hope that I can inspire them as well. We all go through challenges while learning new music. The worst thing we can do is tell ourselves we can’t do it, or it’s just too hard. When we get into that mindset, we’ll never be able to accomplish anything better. Always stay positive when you’re learning and you’ll be able to play absolutely anything!”
For more information on the upcoming free workshops or the Lanai Jazz Festival call the Four Seasons at 565-2000 or go to LanaiJazzFestival.com.
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