The lessons that Shaker Heights High School freshman Thomas Schinabeck has learned from his passion for jazz music extend far beyond music theory, the notes on the page, or the importance of practice. The jazz world also has shown him the value of mentoring, the fulfillment that comes with giving back and the importance of living a balanced life. On September 9, Thomas had the opportunity to play in a Parkinson’s Disease research benefit concert called Shaking With Laughter at Playhouse Square, alongside world-famous jazz trumpeter (and Cleveland native) Dominick Farinacci. The experience and Thomas’ growing relationship with Mr. Farinacci left a lasting impression.
How did you meet Dominick Farinacci? He came to the Middle School last year and I knew he was looking for people to put together in a band. He heard me play and then he sent an email to my parents to ask if I could be a part of this group called the Stokes Legacy Jazz Orchestra---it was a mix of high school and college students and professionals musicians. We played music by Duke Ellington and Count Basie at NightTown. It was cool to be a part of that kind of big band setting. I also had the opportunity to play with him another time at NightTown. I’d heard he was going to be there, so I emailed him and told him I was going to go. He told me to bring my sax so I could play a song with him. That was really cool.
How were you selected to play at Shaking With Laughter? Mr. and Dr. Jaffe [the founders of Shaking With Laughter] saw me play at NightTown with Mr. Farinacci and asked him if I could play with him at the benefit at Playhouse Square. I’m just so thankful for that. Because not only did I get to do something that I love so much, but it was for a great cause.
Would you say that Mr. Farinacci has been a mentor to you? For sure, he’s been a mentor to me and to so many other students. He’s someone that I look up to for sure. He’ll ask me sometimes what I’m working on and he helps me out. It’s really cool. In the jazz world, the great jazz players usually take younger musicians under their wings. There’s a video on YouTube that I watch a lot---it’s of Wynton Marsalis and Dominick Farinacci playing together at Lincoln Center. There are so many cases where someone mentors someone else. So I know that if I ever become a jazz musician, I’ll do the same.
Do you want to become a jazz musician? It’s hard to say. My mom told me about this partnership between Harvard and the Berklee College of Music in Boston where they offer a dual degree. I’ve always wanted to be a doctor, so maybe I could do something as a doctor and something with music. My mom has a friend who studies how the brain changes with music---something like that might be interesting.
Why are you so drawn to music? I think it’s because there’s always room to grow. And because for me, there’s just such a clear way that I can get better. And that’s just practice.
So how much do you practice? Well, I play golf and lacrosse, so I do other stuff, too. I just try to practice as much as I can. And I really enjoy practicing. If I didn’t have any joy in practicing, then I’d have a lot of trouble improving.