Sax and the city: a prince of jazz returns to class

Courtney Pine aims to turn schoolchildren on to jazz. By Joanna Skailes

Courtney Pine, a prince of British jazz, only got to play the saxophone at the age of 14 through a stroke of luck. A saxophone player had failed to turn up to the school orchestra rehearsal, so the sax-struck Courtney took the instrument out of its case and started playing. On that day he fell in love with the saxophone.

"Long before then, I'd fallen in love with the instrument's appearance and the fact that I could see my own reflection oddly distorted in it," he says. "I had always been passionate about the tales of King Arthur and, to me, that saxophone was my Excalibur."

That's one reason why Courtney Pine has decided to bring the world of jazz to children in schools across the United Kingdom. They won't have to rely on a chance encounter like he did. This month Pine is holding a series of workshops at disadvantaged schools in Leicester, Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham to introduce young people to jazz.

Young musicians will be put to work on rhythms, vocal work, solos and improvisation, alongside turntable artists, DJ Pogo, DJ Biznizz and MC Sparkii.

A musical career was not an easy option for Courtney Pine. Having failed all his O-levels except music and having no A-levels, he worked in Sainsbury's while touring with a reggae band. His motivation for working on this project is to help those who are just starting out and facing the same problems he did.

He wants to encourage young people, who may ordinarily be overlooked, to believe in themselves and to seize the chances they have. Awarded an OBE for his services to jazz, Courtney Pine has given up a large number of stage performances to do this work, but he sees it as a priority. "My live performance and workshops I see as one. In these workshops I provide a platform for all around to create. If its two-step, drum'n'bass, hip hop, ragga, the objective is to be creative, regardless of ability, culture or any other hang-up. Having started my musical career in the inner-city, I feel the need to go back to the inner-cities to inspire and be inspired."

The sax star's success ensures dynamic workshops where everyone is keen to learn from the master, and his interactive approach allows everyone to have a say. His aim is to make schoolchildren focus on enjoying their own music-making and think about where they go next. One pupil at Kingsland School says: "He's doing it for us in our style... sneaking jazz into our music."

Pupils at Stoke Newington School in Hackney were among those to benefit from the scheme last year. Lucy Bryant, head of music, says they were falling over themselves to be involved. "Every kid who could pick up a brass instrument was there tooting," she says.

Ms Bryant notes that Courtney Pine's emphasis on commitment and incessant practice has been an important factor in raising confidence and achievement. Some pupils go on to do B-techs in music and he acts as an inspiration to them.

Similarly motivated, a Kingsland School pupil, says: "Thanks to you, next week I'm getting my first sax lesson... I was having second thoughts about continuing music at college but now I've realised I can't give up something that means so much to me."

education@independent.co.uk