Reggie Schive
Every late April to May, I start thinking of what’s to come in the summer. As has been the norm for me the last several years, I look forward to working at the Iowa Lakes University of Okoboji Reggie Schive Jazz Camp that takes place in rural Iowa. It’s not exactly the hub of the jazz world, and yet, every year, here I am back in the area in which I got my start. Such a pleasure to come home as a seasoning veteran (definitely not seasoned, yet!) and give back to the communities that gave to me.
This camp was started by a musician and educator named Reggie Schive. And I’m not only on the faculty of fantastic musicians that come from all over the United States to do this camp, but also a former student of the camp. So it’s something that has a lot of personal meaning to me.
I first met Reggie Schive when I was 15 or 16, around 1987. He was subbing for the lead alto player in my dad’s band. When I heard him play, I noticed right away that he approached the alto with a finesse and language that was atypical of the normal dance band lead alto sound. I loved it.
Reggie was a warm and encouraging presence. I was excited to learn that he took a job in Sioux City even though it was at a different high school than where I went. It was good to know that I would see more of him than just the occasional weekend dance band gig. Indeed I did see more of him as Reggie started performing fairly regularly in Sioux City at a club.
Anytime I went there, Reggie always invited me to sit in. I’m sure he was a patient person, because he allowed me the space to sound like the inexperienced musician I was. Afterward, Reggie would sit and talk music with me, encourage me to keep practicing, and say I was on the right track.
I attended his jazz camp in 1989, just after I graduated from high school. It was probably the first time where I was able to play in different settings with many musicians...and play all day. It also started in motion a series of events that would lead me to move to New York City four years later. (More on that in another article.)
Every professional musician I know has at least one person in their young music life that provides him/her with the needed encouragement and care that fuels the desire to take another developmental step. Reggie Schive was one of those people for me. I’m a better musician, and, even more importantly, a better person, for having known Reggie Schive.
I hope that in some way this short little tribute conveys not only the importance of service-minded individuals, like Reggie, in education, but also the importance of opportunities like this jazz camp for young musicians. The spirit of Reggie definitely lives on in the lives of the many musicians he helped over many years in education and performance.
This camp was started by a musician and educator named Reggie Schive. And I’m not only on the faculty of fantastic musicians that come from all over the United States to do this camp, but also a former student of the camp. So it’s something that has a lot of personal meaning to me.
I first met Reggie Schive when I was 15 or 16, around 1987. He was subbing for the lead alto player in my dad’s band. When I heard him play, I noticed right away that he approached the alto with a finesse and language that was atypical of the normal dance band lead alto sound. I loved it.
Reggie was a warm and encouraging presence. I was excited to learn that he took a job in Sioux City even though it was at a different high school than where I went. It was good to know that I would see more of him than just the occasional weekend dance band gig. Indeed I did see more of him as Reggie started performing fairly regularly in Sioux City at a club.
Anytime I went there, Reggie always invited me to sit in. I’m sure he was a patient person, because he allowed me the space to sound like the inexperienced musician I was. Afterward, Reggie would sit and talk music with me, encourage me to keep practicing, and say I was on the right track.
I attended his jazz camp in 1989, just after I graduated from high school. It was probably the first time where I was able to play in different settings with many musicians...and play all day. It also started in motion a series of events that would lead me to move to New York City four years later. (More on that in another article.)
Every professional musician I know has at least one person in their young music life that provides him/her with the needed encouragement and care that fuels the desire to take another developmental step. Reggie Schive was one of those people for me. I’m a better musician, and, even more importantly, a better person, for having known Reggie Schive.
I hope that in some way this short little tribute conveys not only the importance of service-minded individuals, like Reggie, in education, but also the importance of opportunities like this jazz camp for young musicians. The spirit of Reggie definitely lives on in the lives of the many musicians he helped over many years in education and performance.
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