Band Quote by Dianne Reeves
“In high school, we had a really great jazz program that I finally was able to be a part of. They only wanted instrumentalists; they didn't want any singers. But I made my way in, and I remember the conductor of the band wrote a lot of arrangements and asked me what I wanted to sing.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Jazz Education Podcast, 2015
A talented vocalist overcame exclusionary policies to join a jazz program, highlighting persistence and challenging norms.
In simple terms: She broke barriers to join the band.
Key Takeaway
Persist despite gatekeeping.
Themes
determination
inclusion
music
gender
creativity
Mood
inspired
hopeful
Type
personal
motivational
When to use this quote
- College auditions
- band rehearsals
- seeking mentorship
- advocating for inclusion
Key Concepts
Barriers
Self-advocacy
Artistic expression
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions become more inclusive?
- What personal strategies help break barriers?
A Different Perspective
Success may still depend on institutional openness.
![“Justin [Di Cioccio] was [at Laguardia School of Arts]. He later took over at Manhattan. But I knew Justin through the McDonald's band, which at the time I was finishing high school and starting college, I got involved with. I was not that heavily involved with the school at MSM my first year…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/275/jon-gordon-1655_art_justin-di-cioccio-was-at-laguardia-schoo_2555432.jpg)
![“[Manhattan School Of Music] were kind of just getting the jazz program up and going when I first started there. I was 17 in September of 1984 when I started there.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6c2/jon-gordon-1655_firsts_manhattan-school-of-music-were-kind-of-j_2051074.jpg)
