The Austin Academy Band program has over 230 students participating in daily band classes ranging in ability from beginning to advanced. Austin’s two jazz bands were created to introduce students to jazz fundamentals and provide an outlet for creative expression. Jazz I and Jazz II meet outside the normal school day for two hours a week. Jazz II serves as a training group for potential Jazz I students. In Jazz II, students learn the fundamentals of jazz, and how to balance and blend in a jazz ensemble. Jazz I students are encouraged to take their jazz experiences to a new level by improvising over more difficult chord changes and performing a challenging repertoire of music. Both bands perform at one or more jazz festivals each year such as the TCU Jazz Festival in Fort Worth, Texas and the UTA Jazz Festival in Arlington, Texas. Jazz I was selected to perform the North Texas Jazz Festival in Addison in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Austin Jazz Ensemble I performed in the first IAJE South Central Regional Conference held in April 2005 at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. The Austin Jazz Ensemble I was also selected to perform at the 33rd Annual IAJE International Conference on January 13, 2006 in New York City, NY. Austin Jazz students perform regularly at community events such as church festivals, retirement homes, and city council meetings.