SKANEATELES - For Lily Jarvis, music is a way of life and jazz is a form of expression, a philosophy she would like to convey to her Skaneateles High School classmates.

Expanding upon her skills as a musician, 16-year-old Jarvis recently played with the Salt City Jazz Collective at Sudds in Syracuse's Armory Square.

After seeing the positive effect the collective had on Jarvis, high school band director Angelo Candela invited collective members Tom Witkowski, Joe Riposo and Jeff Stockham to come to the school and run a series of workshops for band members.

"Kids need to do more then just play an instrument," Candela said. "They need to listen to it and see it played live, it gives them a better understanding of what music is all about."

Riposo, Stockham and Witkowski listened to students play "My Funny Valentine" and "You Do Something to Me." After each song ended and instruments had been lowered, the men suggested ways to make the song better and what students should try.

"I could tell these kids the same thing every day and sometimes they just don't listen," Candela said. "Put three new men who are professionals in front of them and all of a sudden they get it."

In addition to interacting with students and giving them tips on finger placement and how to make notes float, the three men agreed to play in Thursday night's district jazz concert.

"Today we coached the kids in an attempt to bring more music out of them," Witkowski said. "Performing with us will help them to add a different perspective to what they already know and improve their skills as well."

The Salt City Jazz Collective is a 16-piece band from Syracuse. Members not only play works by jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Stan Kenton, but also perform original compositions written by Riposo and Candela. Visiting local schools is just one of the ways the collective encourages young people to get involved in music.

"Music is not on paper," Witkowski said. "In order to make music, you have to put energy into it, engage in it and interact with it. We want kids to get involved and go for the top."

At Thursday night's concert, the collective not only added a new sound to middle and high school bands, but Jarvis added some of her own sounds when she sat in with the band as they played "The Smile on Your Face."

"Lily is very receptive to new ideas; you give her something new to do and it becomes a part of her," Candela said. "She is at the point where she can start to take all of this knowledge and start to get something of her own out of it."

Jarvis sits as first chair saxophone player in the school jazz band and has played in several all-state concerts. Jarvis has been involved in musical programs since she played violin for an orchestra in third grade.

A Frank Sinatra and Charlie Davis fan, Jarvis thinks that working with the collective has taught her a lot of skills she said she would carry with her as she continues to develop as a musician.

"It is even little things, like using my mouth piece differently and using different techniques" Jarvis said.

"It really is an honor and has been a great experience working with the collective."

Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235

or ashley.lipsky@lee.net