The holiday season can be hard emotionally for those in prison, so we create winter programming for EJP students and affiliates that is fun and festive. For instance, this winter break, we offered a two-part music workshop titled, “Snap Clap Sing Whistle Stomp.” It took place in a room with a digital keyboard, which allowed the eight students to receive hands-on experience in writing music, playing piano, and improvising. The instructor Amy Young says she was “really happy” with the workshop.
A media communications specialist for a physics professor at the University of Illinois, Amy has taught other classes for EJP on computer programming, generative AI, creative writing, and film studies in recent years. She became involved in EJP in 2020, prompted in part by the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. “I was horrified by what was happening,” Amy says. “I felt I needed to do more than I was doing.”
Around that time, Amy watched an interview conducted by her friend Endalyn Taylor, then associate professor of dance at the University of Illinois, with Rebecca Ginsburg, EJP director, for a series called We Got Next. “I listened to it,” Amy recalls, “and I thought, ‘Oh, this sounds like a really well-run program.’” It was during the COVID-19 pandemic, and all EJP programming was cancelled at Danville prison, but she applied for clearance. When things opened up again, she started teaching for EJP.
Last year over the winter break, Amy taught her first music class. One student from last year told her about the new class, “I’ve been waiting all year for this.”
For her first workshop this December, Amy chose the song “Peace Piece” by Bill Evans from his 1958 album Everybody Digs Bill Evans to teach improvisation on the piano. “It’s a very beautiful piece,” Amy said, “using a specific harmonic series that’s open to any kind of improvisation.” Amy played the left hand and students played the right hand. She provided a steady accompaniment, while each student improvised for about a minute. They learned foundational scales (pentatonic, C major, blues), basic harmony, common jazz chords, and practiced reading notes and rests. For about half the students, it was the first time they had played piano.
Students were “pleased,” Amy said, “and a bit surprised, that their improvisations sounded like ‘real jazz.’”
Amy played Pachelbel’s Canon in the second class to teach about melody and harmony. Students practiced ear training which is, “really important for music composition theory,” Amy said. “It’s always a fun debate, is this a major sixth, or is this an octave?”
They listened to DVD audio and video examples of other songs, including “Girl from Ipanema,” the classic bossa nova song by Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto.
Students shared personal reflections, and one said they planned to seek access to the prison music room to continue practicing. Amy also prepared some full-size piano keys printed on a piece of paper so that students can practice.
Over the rest of the winter break, Kelli McQueen and Thomas Stromblad will continue offering music activities.