The Underrated Bands of Samo

School’s out and you're leaving campus. As you walk past the music rooms, the sound of music plays all around you. Ever wondered what this is? These 4 Samo bands fill the afternoons with the joys of music, uplifting those lucky enough to hear.

Jazz Band: 

As jazz music plays in the band room after school, one can’t help but notice and nod their head to the music. Having two separate levels of jazz groups makes the band more accessible for all levels. Jazz Band 1 is the advanced class while Jazz Band 2 is a beginner introduction to the music. Tom Whaley, the director and teacher of Jazz Band 1 talks about what kind of culture jazz brings. 

“We play a variety of charts every year to expose the students to the different styles and interpretations, from bossa nova to cha-cha to bebop, swing, fusion, etc…” Whaley said.  “I also try to make rehearsals fun because they take plays after school and I believe we have a good time and make good music.” Whaley also mentioned having famous jazz artists come in to inspire and share their life as professional musicians with the students. 

Hosting classes after school from 3:30 to 5:30, the Jazz Band is a creative and incredible opportunity to engage in music at Samo. 

Choir Intro: 

Performing every choir concert, Valkyrie, T-Tones, Barbershop, and Beautys.hop are all student-led acapella groups with each one having a unique style. The student leaders are Kaine Zeoli ('23) and Barney Lanning ('23) leads Barbershop. Ella Crandall ('23) leads Beautyshop. Sadie Lovett ('23) and Emma Tuttle ('23) lead Valkyrie. Justin Xu ('24) leads T-Tones. 

Barbershop and Beautyshop play jazzy, snappy songs and oldies, bringing back nostalgic vibes. Usually consisting of eight to 11 people, the Barbershop is an all-boys group, while the Beautyshop is an all-girls group. Auditions are held yearly by the student leaders for juniors and seniors, and the groups rehearse weekly.

Meanwhile, consisting of around 20 individuals, Valkyrie is an all-girls group. T-Tones are an all-boys group that sing various pop songs. Valkyries accept all choir students from every grade, while T-Tones accept only tenors/basses in the choir. 

These student-led acapella groups contribute greatly to the choir program and Samo’s student life. “It brings a lot out of our front choral programs to show these student-led groups and how we can all work together,” said Crandall. 

Mariachi Ensemble: 

The Mariachi Ensemble is shaking the school with its music. This group represents Latino culture and tradition at Samo through music. Playing from 3:45-5:30 every Tuesday and Thursday, this band rehearses and earns two college units per semester. Working with Santa Monica Youth Orchestra (SMYO), this ensemble was made so that Latino and non-Latino students could learn more about mariachi music and the culture surrounding it. The teachers are Willie Acuña and Mary Alfaro, both professional mariachi artists. Acuña has played for over 25 years and talks about what he thinks. 

In an article from SMDP.com, Acuña talks about what mariachi can do for people. 

“It gives people a chance to either dive into their heritage or, for someone from outside of the culture, to experience the culture more intimately and have a better understanding of it,” Acuña said. 

Growing in popularity, the mariachi band is becoming a group beloved by both students who participate, and their listeners.