TYLER, Texas — For some students at Boulter Middle School, music is a way of life.
"Music isn't just a hobby, it can be a community," band member, Jesus Martinez said.
Some students say behind every note, there's a lesson. As students learn the tempos and beats of rhythmic Jazz for their Festival there's a melody that echoes history.
"My mom was known as Tyler's Jazz Queen back in the 90s when they had the Jazz Festival downtown," band director, Karen Norman said. "She played for LBJ Senate race when he was in East Texas, Gerald Ford, Duke Ellington, Count Basie," Norman added. "She played for various parties, dances, you name it, she played it."
For years, Karen Norman watched her mom, Nora Cecil McDaniel-Davis sing and perform. Eventually, she decided to take her mother's teaching and teach others.
"[Music] gives us our emotion. And it also teaches us to think," she said.
It's one of the reasons why Norman advocates for music and arts to stay in public schools.
"Not only are we teaching music, but we're teaching life skills," she added. "Everything that we do, is associated with everything that they do academics and music can enhance them academically."
Boulter Middle School's Jazz Festival will be this Friday at 6P.M. Composer, trumpeter and producer behind every Dallas Cowboy game, Freddie Jones will be a special guest. Ray Scott will be the EMCEE. The event is free for the public.